With high to the north and lows redirected to the south across France and Spain, we have a nice settled spell of winter weather. Bright sunny days, cold, frosty nights but the real focu of ‘weather’ will be southern France and Iberia this week into the weekend as a series of lows swing underneath the UK. Expect coastal storm-force wind, widespread gales, rain and significant snowfall. The toughest weather of winter is on the way for Southwest Europe.

For the UK we have a slack northerly flow that’s drawing down modest brand arctic air. That means chilly days and cold or very cold nights. I suspect days turn colder as nights turn colder with a struggle in recovery through daylight hours.

Below is the ECMWF surface through the rest of this week. Some snow is possible over parts of the UK but the more noticeable aspect through the second half of this week will be the east wind which develops as lows sweep into France and Iberia. It will feel cold when exposed to a wind blowing off a cold Denmark. This east wind could spread snow showers across pretty much anywhere in the UK, especially southern parts.

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While a brisk easterly develops over the southern UK, to the south of the Bay of Biscay low, it’s downright stormy.

Should see significant snowfall over Iberia with this setup that’s likely to grab headlines.

Snowfall next 7 days.

Snow cover next 7 days.

Each night this week will be cold with UK-wide frost. Towns and cities widely -1 to -3C, rural -3 to -6, locally where there’s snow cover and shelter, -10C or lower.

See video for today’s discussion.

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