The UK is bracing for a significant snow event stretching an impressive 724 miles, expected to affect a wide swath of counties across England starting next week. According to weather maps and charts from WX Charts, temperatures in Scotland could fall as low as -12°C, with England experiencing lows near -6°C.
Snow is forecast to begin around 6 PM on February 17 and persist into February 18, as indicated by blue-shaded areas on projected Met Desk maps, signaling widespread snowfall across the region.
The 14 English counties anticipated to be impacted include Cumbria, Durham, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Northumberland, the West Midlands, Staffordshire, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Greater London, Oxfordshire, Hampshire, and Suffolk. Devon may also see a light dusting.
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Looking at short-term conditions, Jo Farrow from Netweather TV explained: “This weekend will see a shift with milder air moving in behind multiple occlusions associated with a large low-pressure system over the Atlantic named Leonardo.”
Farrow further detailed the forecast for Saturday, February 7, and Sunday, February 8: “The freezing level will rise, meaning snow will be limited mainly to the tops of Scottish mountains by Saturday, with rain expected elsewhere. Scottish ski resorts, having received substantial snow earlier this month, will hope to maintain good conditions for the February break.”
She added: “Winds will be relatively light this weekend, but as freezing levels climb, rain is likely to return, especially by Sunday afternoon in eastern Scotland, continuing the gloomy weather seen throughout the week.”
Temperatures will vary significantly across the UK. Shetland is expected to remain at around 4°C, while southern England may experience milder conditions ranging from 9°C to 11°C, potentially higher if sunshine emerges. Northern Ireland and central Scotland could warm up to 8°C, providing relief from the recent cold, damp weather.
Winds will generally blow from the south, southeast, and east, drawing air from France and the Bay of Biscay, which will help keep the colder winter air confined to northeast Europe and Russia.