Forecasts have predicted a large expanse of snow and low temperatures.
New weather maps have suggested that the UK is in for a huge blanket of snow next week as temperatures dip to -3C. According to forecaster WXCharts, Scotland’s 32 counties look to be covered by up to 30cm of snow on the map for January 7, as it stretches over the English border into Northumberland, Cumbria, Lancashire, North Yorkshire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire.
The wintry precipitation then travels over the Bristol Channel and over parts of Devon and Somerset. On the way, it is hard to tell exactly, but the forecast suggests that around 16 counties in Wales will be impacted, excluding Pembrokeshire in the far west and some districts in the south east, such as Monmouthshire and Newport. Every county in Northern Ireland will apparently be affected, apart from Armagh and Down.
Snow is predicted for many areas of the UK (Image: Getty)
A different map estimating upcoming temperatures suggests lows of -3C in East Anglia, the north of England and Scotland at midnight on January 7.
In its own long-term forecast for January 6 to 15, separate from that of WXCharts, the Met Office said: “The recent spell of cold, northerly winds should begin to ease by the middle of next week, with snow showers in the north and east becoming lighter and less frequent.
“However, bands of rain seem likely to gradually move in off the Atlantic and, as these encounter the cold air entrenched over the UK, some further snowfall is possible, particularly in central and eastern areas, with rain more likely in the west.
A huge part of the country is expected to see snow (Image: WXCharts)
Up to 30cm of snow is expected in Scotland (Image: WXCharts)
“From next weekend, the outlook becomes more uncertain.
“Most likely is that conditions will be less cold than recently, but there still remains potential for further spells of snow, especially in northern and central areas. Further south and west, some milder interludes are possible, with the chance of some heavier rain and stronger winds at times.”
Experts add that forecasting snow in the UK is £complex£ because conditions can change rapidly.
“Small variations in temperature or wind direction can mean the difference between rain, sleet or snow,” they add.
“Meteorologists use high-resolution models to predict precipitation type, but these models can struggle with marginal situations where temperatures hover around freezing.”
Temperatures are due to dip to -3C (Image: WXCharts)
