Snow For Some Today But Bigger Threat For Heart Of England/Wales Thursday Night

Written by Mark Vogan on March 2, 2016 in Rest of Europe, United Kingdom & Ireland, Winter 2015/16 with 0 Comments

It’s a rather snowy start to Hump Day across higher elevations of Scotland, Northern Ireland and N England as a cold front swept through overnight bringing the return of winter!

Credit: Traffic Scotland

TOP IMAGE CREDIT: Traffic Scotland

[s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level1)]

The main system, which actually came off southern Greenland progresses SSE over England in weakening and more showery from today, eventually clearing into France and the Low Countries tonight.

We have further wintry showers blowing in across NI and Scotland through the rest of today on a stiff NW flow. Thermometers will read 3-6C in North, 5-9C in South but factor in the wind and it feels colder.

Winds are noteworthy across Southwest England on the back edge of the front, we could see gusts on the Cornish coast and through both Bristol and English Channels of 60-70+ mph.

Credit: AccuWeather Pro

Blustery showers continue sporadically across the UK tonight with minor issues here and there but clearing skies mean an ice risk.

We start Thursday fine, dry and chilly and it shall remain that way through daylight hours but as we progress into the evening, the next system makes an approach on the western UK. As it bumps up against the cold air and it’s core of forced south. Precipitation spreading into this cold air mass means rain turns to snow. Rain for some but significant snow is likely over particularly the Southern Uplands, Cumbrian Fells and down the spine of the Pennines. The heart of England, anywhere from Lancaster down to Manchester and across to Leeds could see a decent covering. 1-2 inches but I expect 3-6 over the higher ground.

ECMWF surface

Credit: AccuWeather Pro

Snow through 72 hours.

Credit: AccuWeather Pro

As for the weekend, it’s a touch quieter with higher pressure and weak north, northeast flow keeping temps pegged back but out of the wind and in the sunshine, it feels pleasant.

I am keeping a close eye on late weekend and early next week. With high pressure building over a potentially decent snow cover, I suspect we could see some pretty cold nights with the chance of -10C in places Sunday night/Monday and possibly Tuesday morning too. Widespread frost for most.