It could be time to get out the woolly jumpers, the UK Met Office has warned, as an Arctic blast brings the threat of plummeting temperatures, sleet, snow and ice.
The unusually mild and dry weather conditions of November so far are set to be replaced by more typical patterns. A yellow weather warning for northern Scotland kicks in at 4pm on Sunday, extending to southern Scotland and northern England on Monday evening into Tuesday.
The Met Office posted on X on Saturday: “Woolly jumpers at the ready! Temperatures are set to drop next week with wintry weather on the way.”
The Met Office meteorologist Ellie Glaisyer said it could be “quite a chilly start to the day” for many on Sunday and plenty of showers were expected to hit, particularly across northern parts of Scotland in the afternoon.
Sunday’s yellow weather warning from 4pm to 11am Monday is for northern Scotland, including the Orkney and Shetland islands. It warns of wintry showers with hail, sleet and some snow leading to slippery surfaces and difficult travel conditions. Snowfalls of up to 10cm are possible on high ground by Monday morning. On lower ground, the snow could rise to between 1cm and 3cm.
A second weather warning for southern Scotland, northern England, the East Midlands and north Wales is in place from 7pm on Monday until 10am on Tuesday. Forecasters predict rain, sleet and snow, with snowfall of up to 20cm on ground above 300 metres.
The forecast adds: “There is a small chance of snow settling at lower levels, where 5cm to 10cm would prove much more disruptive, but this remains very uncertain.”
The wintry weather will mean there is a risk of power cuts, travel disruption and icy surfaces, as well as a “slight chance” that rural communities will be cut off.
Drivers have been advised to allow more time for journeys and make sure they have the winter essentials in their cars: “Warm clothing, food, water, a blanket, a torch, ice scraper/de-icer, a warning triangle, high visibility vest and an in-car phone charger.”
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued yellow cold weather alerts for large parts of England, stretching from Sunday evening to Monday. It covered the east and west Midlands upwards.
The Met Office said temperatures overnight on Sunday into Monday were likely to be below zero in much of northern England and Scotland. Glaisyer said there could be “quite a hard frost likely on Monday morning, and this could lead to some icy stretches”.
She urged travellers to “take care during Monday morning’s rush-hour”.
