The Met Office has issued its latest forecast for the week leading up to Christmas, and it may be good news for those hoping for a sprinkling of snow. According to the weather experts, it'll be a mixed bag in the run-up to the big day across the country, but there is a possibility for snow across "many parts of the UK" close to or on the 25th.
And there is not sign of it getting warmer before then - with ice and snow showers being forecast for Nottinghamshire this week. For the week commencing Friday December 16, a spokesperson said: "Sleet and snow showers are likely to continue across the north and east, and perhaps into the southwest of the UK at the beginning of the period, although these should be mainly confined to coastal regions."
Elsewhere, it should be mostly dry and clear. Further inland it's likely to be more sunny, with light to moderate winds. However, it will generally feel cold to very cold, alongside the risk of widespread overnight frosts and a chance of freezing fog in places.
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Towards the end of that week, the spokesperson added: "A more unsettled regime is likely to develop later on in the period, bringing spells of rain and possibly snow into many parts of the UK, especially the south and the west with strong winds in places. Temperatures are likely to turn less cold through the remainder of this period."
Meanwhile, from Boxing Day (Dec 26) to the first week of January, conditions may be "widely changeable, with some spells of rain, and at times snow." The forecast continues: "Colder and more settled conditions with occasional wintry showers could continue, particularly in the north.
"The south will possibly see more unsettled conditions. Temperatures staying colder than average towards the end of December and start of January, although perhaps less cold in the south."
It comes as a number of warnings have been put in place across the country for wintry hazards thanks to the cold weather continuing into next week. The Met Office says the UK will stay cold through this week with the risk of sleet and snow at times continuing, especially in northern and eastern coastal areas. Overnight frosts will be severe in places and we will continue to see some freezing fog patches.
Chief Meteorologist, Matthew Lehnert, added: “The cold conditions will remain in situ during this week. In many places daytime temperatures will struggle to get above freezing, while overnight temperatures have the potential to drop below -10 C in rural parts of Scotland.”
Although these temperatures aren’t exceptional for winter in the UK, it is the most significant and widespread spell of cold conditions since February 2021. A Level 3 Cold Weather Alert -issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) - covering all of England is currently in place until Friday, December 16.
In Nottingham, it will be staying very cold. Tomorrow (Dec 13) is set to be the coldest day of this week due to the mercury plunging to freezing and as low as -3C overnight.
On Wednesday the temperature will rise ever so slightly to 2C under cloudy and sunny skies, but feeling a bit colder overnight with -4C lows. it'll be a similar picture for the remainder of the week.
However there's likely to be a rise on Sunday of 5C highs and 2C lows, though, it's forecast to be raining for much of the day. Below is a quick overview of what you can expect in Nottingham:
Today:
A cold and mostly cloudy day with areas of freezing fog which will be slow to clear, perhaps lingering all day in some spots.Wintry showers possible at times. Maximum temperature 2C.
Tonight:
Cold once again with a frost for many. Often cloudy overnight with further freezing fog patches. Any isolated wintry showers clearing. Minimum temperature -4C.
Tuesday:
Cold again with a widespread frost, but dry through Tuesday. Areas of freezing fog slowly clearing, perhaps lingering all day in some spots. Despite this, some sunny spells developing. Maximum temperature 1C.
Outlook for Wednesday to Friday:
Very cold with widespread frost and freezing fog patches forming overnight, slow to clear by day. Wintry showers near Lincolnshire coasts Wednesday and Thursday.
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