A blizzard stretching 750 miles will drop snow right across the UK – including Northern Ireland – next week, a long range weather forecast has predicted
The UK could see some regions facing a 90% risk of blizzards, forecasters predict.
Advanced modelling on WXCharts maps showed the perishing new snow front could hit Northern Ireland and Scotland on Thursday February 9.
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At least one inch of snow is forecasted to settle on the ground in Belfast and Glasgow, and blizzards may lead to up to three inches of snowfall in some areas.
Snow is most likely to strike rural areas in the north of the UK.
These areas are highlighted in a light purple colour inside dark purple on the maps.
Further south, the east coast of Ireland and Wales will be hammered by rain a week on Thursday February 9 afternoon. But rain is expected to give way to snow later in the day.
The blizzard is expected to stretch an estimated 750 miles from the Shetland Islands right down to Southampton.
Major cities including Belfast, Derry, Dublin, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen were also forecasted to expect flurries.
WXCharts showed the areas which would see the worst of the blizzard, including the Midlands and northern England, where three inches are predicted to lie in areas between Manchester and Birmingham.
In these areas, snow will fall at a rate of at least one inch per hour.
By the time Friday morning (February 10) comes, the perishing weather front will continue to move.
Catastrophic winds and snow were expected in Scotland and northwest England, with sporadic snow showers in some areas.
The bulk of the gusts of wind and snow were expected in the Highlands, but forecasters warned urban areas may be get a sprinkling of snow.
The Met Office also issued a yellow wind warning for areas of Scotland yesterday, which had the potential cause a "danger to life" because of the risk of flying debris.
Netweather has identified February 10 as the day to brace for snow, and has calculated the snow risk for cities across the UK.
The chances of snowfall are: Southampton 40%; London 67%; Birmingham 90%; Leeds 90%; Manchester 80%; Belfast 35%; Newcastle 80%; Glasgow 18%.
The Met Office has not completely acknowledged a snow prediction for next week – but said it was possible.
In its long-term forecast, the weather expert said: "The most likely scenario is for wetter, windier, and milder weather to move in from the west, however there is a small chance of easterly winds developing bringing colder weather and some snow showers."
Long-range weather maps also showed there could be a likelihood of snow falling across Ireland next week.
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