Brits are set for heavy snow as temperatures plunge to -10C this week in an Arctic blast and the wintry conditions are expected to remain over the coming weeks.
Snow this week is mainly going to fall in Scotland but maps from WXCharts show that by mid December there will be flurries up and down the country with as much as 50 centimetres in the coming days.
There is a Met Office yellow warning for snow which will run all day Wednesday and cover northern Scotland.
Met Office forecaster Aidan McGivern said: "Showers continue to fall as snow and we’re expecting two to five centimetres to build up at lower levels, five to 10 over the hills, perhaps more over some higher peaks and as a result a yellow warning is in force for snow."
Cold arctic air is moving across the UK bringing temperatures down to -10C overnight and frost will hit areas from Tuesday evening.
The Met Office and UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) have issued a severe cold weather alert for England and warned the plummeting temperatures could increase health risks to vulnerable people and disrupt deliveries.
Met Office forecaster Dan Stroud said: “We’ve got a spell of showers feeding into North Sea coastal areas during Tuesday. They will turn increasingly wintry across parts of northern Scotland, with accumulations on higher ground.
“Elsewhere, while sunny, there will be a cold feel, with temperatures just below average. But with some strong winds it’s going to feel a lot cooler than it actually is.
“Into Tuesday night an organised band of showers will sink south, (with) that wind changing direction and coming in from the north, turning it colder with an increasing risk of some frost, mainly in central and western areas. Once that wind rears around to the north, we’re going to pull in that colder arctic air, so the story will be about cold and frost.”
Mr Stroud said day temperatures will range between 4C to 6C in the north, reaching highs of 8C in the south, while it will drop to as low as -6C overnight.
It comes as a level three – or amber – cold weather alert was issued on Monday morning and warns of severe conditions in England between 6pm on Wednesday and 9am on Monday December 12.
The alert requires social and healthcare services to take action to protect high-risk groups.
Temperatures are expected to turn colder across much of the UK late on Wednesday and through Thursday as air from the Arctic spreads south across the country.
Mr Stroud said: “Into Wednesday, (there will be) frequent showers across north Scotland, some of those locally heavy, with snow away from the coast. Some accumulations are possible.
“It will start to feel very cold, with wintry showers moving in to parts of Northern Ireland and eastern England.”
Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Rebekah Sherwin added: “We can expect to see some snow and wintry showers further south as the week progresses, particularly in coastal areas or over higher ground.
“There will be widespread frosts with temperatures falling to as low as minus 10C overnight in isolated spots by the end of the week.”
UK 5 day weather forecast
Today:
Showers affecting northern and eastern coastal counties, becoming increasingly wintry across northern Scotland with snow beginning to accumulate on hills. Sunny spells elsewhere but feeling cold.
Tonight:
Further showers in north and east, some heavy and turning to snow across north of Scotland; some accumulations by morning. Clear spells inland elsewhere, where turning frosty.
Wednesday:
Showers across north of Scotland, falling as snow away from north facing coasts, some travel disruption possible. Wintry showers also affecting Northern Ireland and eastern England. Elsewhere dry and cold.
Outlook for Thursday to Saturday:
Remaining cold with widespread, locally severe night frosts. Further wintry showers each day, mainly around coasts but perhaps extending inland at times, mainly northern Scotland.
