The UK is set to experience a substantial snow event next week, with a “wall of snow” forecasted to sweep across Scotland and northern England over December 9 and 10. According to maps and charts derived from the Global Forecast System (GFS) model and Met Desk data on WX Charts, this winter weather will bring temperatures dropping as low as -2°C—about 9°C colder than the typical December average of 7°C.
Snowfall rates are expected to reach approximately 5mm per hour, particularly affecting regions such as the North West, North East, and the northern Midlands of England. The Pennines, a mountain range spanning several northern counties, will likely see notable snow flurries. This area includes Northumberland, County Durham, Cumbria, and extends further south to North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Derbyshire, and Staffordshire.
Despite this cold snap, the BBC Weather outlook from December 8 to 14 suggests that much of the UK will experience mostly mild and unsettled conditions, with frequent rain interspersed with brighter, showery periods. Southern and eastern areas might encounter less rainfall compared to northern and western regions. Winds are expected to be strong at times, with temperatures hovering near or slightly above the average for December. Occasional chilly nights and frost are possible between weather systems, but no severe cold outbreaks are anticipated shortly.
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This weather pattern aligns with the positive phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), characterized by lower pressure near Iceland and stronger high pressure near the Azores. While a negative NAO phase could bring increased risk of cold weather, such a shift is not expected in the coming weeks.