UK weather: Met Office forecasts snow to hit this weekend as cold Arctic air and strong gales sweep into Britain
THE Met Office have forecast snow to hit this weekend with Arctic air and strong gales set to sweep the UK.
Brits are braced for the white stuff after temperatures across the country recently took a chilly plunge.
A northerly airflow will develop over the weekend, bringing colder Arctic air to some northern areas, forecasters say.
It means snow is on the cards, particularly across northern England and parts of Scotland.
And the Met Office says there is a "possibility of snow" as early as this weekend.
It understands high pressure will gradually subside this week and allow winds to start to come in from the north or northwest.
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Met Office forecaster Alex Deakin said: "Cold air will be flooding its way south over Saturday night.
"By the time we get to the early hours of Sunday morning, much of Scotland will be covered in freezing levels where ground is only at 400m."
But the forecaster added that snow can still fall at temperatures that are just a little bit above freezing.
On Saturday, there will be some snowfall on higher ground in areas of Scotland and it will not be heavy snowfall.
This will be the first "proper cold push" of weather we have had this year, said forecasters.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Meteorologist Mark Sidaway added: “The high pressure that has been responsible for the mainly dry weather through much of this week will retrogress into the Atlantic as we get towards the weekend.
"This will gradually introduce more unsettled weather, initially in the north from Friday but more widely from Sunday.
“In addition to this increased rainfall, which could be heavy at times on Sunday, temperatures will also drop, especially for those in Scotland, as a northerly airflow develops, bringing colder Arctic air to some northern areas.
“This shift does introduce the possibility of snow, initially over high ground in the north from Sunday, with gusty winds also a potential hazard.
"There is a lot of uncertainty by Sunday, but there remain a number of scenarios which could bring some more widespread rain, along with some hill snow and stronger winds.
"Warnings for winter hazards are possible later in the weekend, so it’s important to stay up to date with the latest forecast.”
Temperatures dropped to below freezing in several regions of the UK on Tuesday.
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It was a chilly -0.4C in Chillingham, Northumberland and the mercury struggled at -2.5C in Shap, Cumbria.
It was -0.9C further south in Benson, Oxfordshire, the data recorded by the Met Office shows.
Met Office long range weather forecast
Sunday November 17 - Tuesday November 26
Turning more unsettled and significantly colder as we head into the weekend with rain or showers for most regions.
The heaviest and most frequent spells of rain are most likely in the north where they are likely to turn wintry, especially to the hills of Scotland, but perhaps also to lower levels in the far north as colder air digs south.
The chance of any widespread or disruptive snowfall affecting more populated areas at this stage however remains low.
Less certainty for the south but even here there is a chance of some more organised rain, and potentially some hill snow.
Often windy, with a chance of gales at times, especially in the north and east.
Temperatures falling below average and feeling particularly cold in the strong winds.