As meteorologists predict that temperatures will drop to -8C, thundersnow could strike Scotland next week.
The Met Office has warned of dangerous weather conditions on Thursday and Friday with as much as 10cm of snow falling on the highest ground, as well as the risk of dangerous icy patches and of lightning strikes from isolated thunderstorms.
Forecasters have now issued a yellow weather ‘snow and ice’ warning for tomorrow, covering much of western Scotland, down through Manchester in the north-west of England and even reaching the edge of Stoke-on-Trent in the Midlands, along with the western half on Northern Ireland.
Frequent sleet, hail and snow showers could ‘lead to some disruption to travel during Thursday night and Friday morning’, meteorologists said, warning that roads and railways are likely to be affected.
Some ‘brief power outages are possible’, the Met Office said, adding there was a risk of ‘isolated lightning strikes’. The snow and ice warning runs from 8pm tomorrow to 11am on Friday.
As winter begins to bite after a record-breaking mild new year, in the early hours of Thursday temperatures could feel as cold as -4C in Glasgow while in Edinburgh the Met Office has said commuters would face temperatures as low as -3C.
In Braemar, Aberdeenshire, the mercury could plunge to -8C in the early hours, and when the wind is taken into account it could feel as cold as -11C.
A skier on the slopes at Allenheads in the Pennines to the north of Weardale in Northumberland this morning
According to the Met Office, there are dangerous weather conditions for Thursday and Friday. There could be as much as 10cm snow on top of the ground. Pictured: Skier on the slopes at Allenheads in the Pennines to the north of Weardale in Northumberland
This morning, snow covered rooftops and fields in Allenheads in Northumberland’s Pennines.
Castle Hill in West Yorkshire, this morning. Forecasters now issue a yellow weather advisory for tomorrow. This will cover most of west Scotland down to Manchester in the North-West of England. The warning also extends into the Midlands and Stoke-on-Trent.
Traffic passes the A470 in Brecon Beacons, South Wales this morning. The Met Office also issued an additional warning about snow on Thursday. It stretches across the Highlands and through Glasgow, Edinburgh and northern England.
As the sun rises on Boscombe Beach in Dorset, this morning, a swimmer makes his way to the water.
Met Office has issued a yellow weather advisory for tomorrow. This warning covers most of west Scotland as well as Manchester in the North-West of England. Stoke-on-Trent is also included along with Northern Ireland’s western half.
Weather experts warned that heavy snow, hail, and sleet showers may cause some travel disruptions on Thursday and Friday mornings.
The Met Office also issued a warning about snow on Thursday. It stretches across the Highlands and through Glasgow, Edinburgh and northern England. They warned that roads could be disrupted.
Many areas will see snow in one to two hours, and there’s a possibility of snow accumulating temporarily above 100-150m.
Forecasters predict strong winds on higher routes could cause drifting or temporary blizzard conditions. The alert will be in effect from 10am until 4pm.
Grahame Madge of the Met Office spoke out, saying: “We have an area of high tension across the UK. That will stay in place until the early hours tomorrow morning. The weather front is expected to arrive shortly thereafter.
We are seeing temperature drops to below freezing as the weather conditions become more colder. The cold air will drop the temperature as we receive it. We have a weather front from the west, and the moisture will bump into cold air. You will see snow where that happens.
Forecaster said that thundersnow could be caused by the same factors as thunder in the summer, namely the temperature differential between the ground below and the air around it.
Today’s snowy walk by a woman in Birmingham, Lickey hills. Today’s yellow weather warning, which covers much of the UK, including parts of Scotland and Manchester, has been issued by forecasters. It also includes the Midlands and Stoke-on-Trent.
Fudge the dog running through the snow at Lickey Hills, Birmingham this morning. A separate alert was issued by the Met Office on Thursday about snow that stretches through the Highlands, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and north England. The Met Office warned of road disruptions
England is likely to be spared the worst effects of snow and ice. However, it still has 11 flood warnings from government, meaning that flooding will occur as a result of flooding. There are 47 flood alerts which warn of floods and warnings about possible flooding. Flood warnings are concentrated in eastern England.
A yellow snow warning was issued for another day, from tomorrow morning at 10am to Thursday afternoon. It overlapped with the earlier warning but it generally covers more terrain inland than the east.
Today, people jog on Boscombe Beach in Dorset. Northern England may see temperatures drop to -6C tonight. It could also be as low as -4C (25F), in the south.
He explained that because of that differential, it is possible for the warm air at ground-level to begin rising very rapidly through the colder air. That’s why thunderstorms are possible.
Thundersnow does not differ from thunder in the summer. But, rather than hail or rain, there’s snow that could affect thunder’s acoustics.
Traffic Scotland has warned people that ice can be dangerous and has advised them to take extra care when they drive.
The record-breaking New Year’s weather of recent days brought the mercury to 16.3C (61.3F), however, Britain faces colder conditions. Sub-zero temperatures are forecast for much of this week and heavy wintry showers will be the norm.
The temperature in Northern England could drop as low at -6C, while it could reach -4C in the South (25F).
Forecasters have warned of winds reaching 80mph in the Highlands with up to 6in (15cm) of snow potentially causing blizzard conditions.
England is likely to be spared the worst effects of snow and Ice, but England still has 11 flood warnings from government, meaning that flooding is “expected” and 47 flood alerts, which warn of floods being a possibility.
Flood warnings are concentrated in eastern England.
In Scotland tonight, temperatures could dip to -8C (17F), or lower.