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Scotland

Scotland faces quite the next 24 hours packed with plenty of winter weather. Through tonight, clear skies, light winds, snowcover and very cold air aloft, will drive surface temperatures below -10C for the first time this season over the Highlands and even in rural parts of the Central Lowlands, temperatures locally may hit -7 or -8C. Expect towns and cities to hit -3 to -5C.

During the overnight a significant change takes place as a frontal system pushes in from the Atlantic and while clouds fills skies and temperatures rise, so rain turns to snow as the moisture pushes into the cold air. While significant accummulations are expected above 1,000ft with perhaps 2-4, locally 6″, we may see anything from a coating to as much as 2 inches at low levels of the Central Belt. Watch on all roads but especially the higher routes of the Highlands and Southern Uplands where near blizzard conditions are possible due to strengthening winds.

For low levels, snow is expected to change over to rain through Thursday morning as milder air comes in behind the front, however I think some, low lying areas may see snow linger and despite rainfall, enough snow may be on the ground for it to stay on the ground once the skies finally clear tomorrow afternoon. It should be an all snow event for the higher routes such as the A9 and Dalwhinnie and the M74 at Beattock, so expect several inches and poor driving conditions.

Skies should in the west by late morning/early afternoon with snowcover remaining even in Glasgow etc. A cold night will follow with icing issues recurring and temperatures falling well below freezing, helped by the fresh snowcover.

For eastern areas, it will be a messy afternoon with initial snow to all levels but, like in the west, rains follow at lower levels.

England

A hard frost and freeze across England tonight with temperatures even in towns and cities plunging into the -2 to -4C range with rural parts expected to sink to -5C widely. In the North, parts of Yorkshire up into Cumbria may see favoured cold spots dip to -7C tonight.

Tomorrow morning dawns with the arrival of a frontal system which will bring initial snowfall to all levels over Northwest England, so if you live in Carlisle or are driving down the M6 in the morning, don’t be surprised if you experience a spell of moderate to heavy snow. The Cumbrian Fells down and across to the Pennines and North York Moors through Thursday morning could collect anywhere from a coating to as much as 3 or 4 inches of snow. Watch out on Trans-Pennine routes as driving could become tricky as snow covers roads and winds make for poor visibility.

Eventually, skies clear in the west but not before snow changes over to rain at low levels (all snow abve 1-1,500ft). Eastern areas may see snow and the snow at low levels may extend as far south as Manchester and certainly across the mountains of North Wales.

After a cold morning, the rain eventually pushes down through the Midlands and South later into the afternoon.

A cold night to come tomorrow night, especially where skies are clear and there’s snow on the ground.

Wales

A cold, frosty and icy night to come throughout Wales with towns and cities dipping to between – and -4C, rural areas perhaps down to -6C. During the later part of the night and just prior to dawn, a band of wind and rain will sweep in from the west. Rain may turn briefly to snow down to low levels before changing back over to rain. Snowdonia could see a significant accummulation of snow.

Tomorrow will start off wet and windy but as we progress through the afternoon, skies should brighten in the west with a fresher northwest winds kicking in late in the day. Another cold, blustery night to come tomorrow night but not as cold as tonight.

Northern Ireland

Tonight starts off cold with a widespread frost but during the night a band of wind and rain sweeps in. Watch out for rain falling on frozen surfaces as this could pose a significant ice problem around rush hour. As the morning wears on, so the wind and rain exits off into the North Channel with showers following behind on a freshening west to northwest wind. Tomorrow night will be another cold and frosty one.

Ireland

A cold night across Ireland but a band of wind, rain and perhaps high-elevation snow tonight. Lows drop to near or slightly below freezing tonight. That band of rain will cross the country through the morning with blustery showers to follow. Highs tomorrow 5 to 7C. Tomorrow night will be another cold night with frost in places.
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