Parts of the UK could see heavy snowfall next week thanks to an arctic air mass spreading across the UK, prompting yellow weather warnings for snow and ice for Scotland on Sunday and Monday.
Deputy chief meteorologist David Hayter said a flow of air from the north would bring arctic air to the UK from Sunday, with snow showers focused on Northern Ireland and northern parts of Scotland. He said some devastating snowfall is “an ongoing possibility.”
Hayter said the snow would initially hit coastal areas in the north, then move southwestwards as cool air hits the milder air, adding: “Where these air masses meet, there’s a chance of significant amounts of snow in some places. Right now, models are telling us that this is exactly what’s happening.” “It shows a variety of options for when and how it will happen, and this is something we will be able to add more detail to in the coming days.”
The UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) also warned that it could be upgraded to yellow alert for some areas on Sunday. A yellow warning means weather impacts may be felt across the healthcare service.
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for snow and ice for Scotland, saying showers could cause travel disruption and icy surfaces. He said people should expect some roads and railways to be affected by longer journey times due to road, bus and train services, as well as some areas of ice on some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths, and the potential for injury from slips and falls on icy ground. surfaces.
Derek Brockway, senior meteorologist at BBC Wales, told X: “There is a risk of heavy rain and heavy snowfall next Wednesday as low pressure approaches from the Atlantic.” But he added: “Snow forecasting in the UK is difficult and never trust snow forecasts more than three days in advance.”
RAC Breakdown said travel plans may be affected and advised drivers to be prepared in the event of a breakdown in cold weather.
It comes after the UK Health Safety Agency issued a cold weather warning covering the East and West Midlands, the North West of England, the South East and the South West from Tuesday to Friday.
Cold weather can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke and chest infection and have serious health effects on the elderly and people with pre-existing health conditions. There is also a yellow cold health alert for the North East of England, Yorkshire and the Humber, the East of England and London.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, from the UKHSA, said: “The temperatures we will see towards the weekend could quickly have a serious impact on the health of those over 65 and those with pre-existing health conditions, as this increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and chest infections.”
The UKHSA said on its site: “This alert may be upgraded to AMBER for some areas on Sunday 14 January 2023. Please note that the Met Office may issue National Severe Weather Warnings (e.g. snow and ice) at short notice so be aware so you can prepare You can take appropriate action.”
The Met Office has published forecasts for where snowfall may fall in the coming days.
Sunday 18.00
Monday 18.00
Tuesday 6 a.m.
Wednesday 3 a.m.
Below, Yahoo reveals what the weather will be like for each part of the UK.
Scotland
Heavy rain, which will hit the northwestern tip of the country on Friday evening, is expected to move southwards and turn into hail in some regions on Friday night. Temperatures will remain above freezing.
Temperatures will begin to drop below freezing and could drop as low as -3C in some areas. Heavy snow and rain is forecast to be almost constant across much of the mountainous areas throughout the start of the week, but clearer skies are expected over Glasgow and Edinburgh. A yellow weather warning for snow and ice has been issued for Sunday and Monday.
London and the South East
The weather is dry and cloudy, but cold across much of the region, with temperatures hovering around freezing.
As the week begins, temperatures drop towards minus and it rains around the capital on Sunday evening. Heavy hail and snow were expected off the coast, but it is not expected to hit the region until the end of the week.
South West
It is stated that the temperatures will be around 3-5 degrees during the day, will reach the freezing point after dark, and sometimes cloudy and occasionally showery rains will be expected.
Significant rain is expected to arrive from the east on Sunday, with hail expected to turn into hail in north Cornwall in the evening. On Monday and Tuesday, hail and rain will spread throughout the region, and temperatures will remain between 0-5C.
midlands
Temperatures are dry and cloudy, around 2-5C, until showers are felt across the region on Saturday evening.
While clouds cover the sky for most of the week, temperatures cool down and drop to -2C. Showers are expected across much of the region until Monday evening, when heavy snow cover is expected to land just north of Birmingham.
Northeast
Mostly dry and cloudy for most of the weekend, with light showers expected in some areas and hail expected north of Newcastle on Saturday morning. Temperatures are expected to stay between 2-5 degrees.
Temperatures are dropping to as low as -3C, with clearer skies than most of the rest of the UK predicted. Most of the snow will fall just south of the area, with a chance of spreading northward later Tuesday.
Northwest
There will be showers in most of the region on Friday, and it will rain more widely on Saturday evening. Temperatures are hovering above freezing with the possibility of reaching 7C around Liverpool.
There is a chance of rain and snow near Kendal on Sunday morning, but the rest of the area did not get snow until Monday evening. Heavy snow, rain and hail are expected to cover the region from 18:00 on Monday until the early hours of Tuesday morning. The heaviest snowfall in the country is expected to occur south of Preston on Tuesday morning. Temperatures will remain around freezing.
North Ireland
Rain is expected in the south of the country on Friday and Saturday, with clearer skies expected in Belfast. Temperatures will remain around 5 degrees.
As we begin the week with sub-zero temperatures expected in the evening hours, temperatures will trend towards freezing. While rain and hail are expected in most of the country on Sunday and Monday, it will turn into snowfall as Monday progresses. Heavy snowfall is expected in most of the country by the end of Monday.
Wales
While light showers will be seen in most of the country on Friday and Saturday, rain will become more widespread in the north by Saturday evening. While temperatures hover around 5 degrees in the north, temperatures approach freezing in the south.
Temperatures are expected to reach freezing across Wales at the beginning of the week, with occasional showers turning to hail over time.
Snow was forecast around Snowdonia, Cardigan and Wrexham on Monday evening, and large hail fell in the north of the country on Tuesday morning.