Brits are facing heavy snow during a -4C Arctic blast in March – with 5cm of snow falling per hour.
Advanced weather modelling maps show the cities which are going to be worst affected by a low pressure system sweeping in and mixing with cold northerly air by March 4.
The GFS weather model indicates that around midday the worst of the flurries will come in northern regions, although Cardiff and Birmingham can also expect some snow. Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Belfast, Glasgow and Edinburgh all appear to be in the firing line. Where flurries are most intense, in northern parts of England, the data suggests snow could be falling at a rate of around 5cm per hour.
Throughout March 4 the snow is expected to become more concentrated in northern regions. By 6pm, the data shows 3cm per hour flurries around Manchester, Birmingham and in the northern parts of Scotland. And although the snow is then expected to subside, temperatures will remain bitterly cold during that week – likely reaching their lowest on March 7 when the mercury could dip as low as -4C in some areas.
The Met Office’s prediction from February 26 to March 7 warns of heavy rain and gales, but also of the possible “short-lived colder spells”. It states: “Changeable weather is expected across the UK during this period with Atlantic weather systems spreading in from the west at times. These systems will bring periods of wet and windy weather, with a risk of heavy rain and gales at times.
“The heaviest rainfall and strongest winds are most likely to affect western and northwestern regions of the UK, with rainfall totals typically lower and winds lighter in the southeast. Between weather systems, some drier and brighter interludes are likely to develop with lighter winds, spells of sunshine and perhaps a few showers. Temperatures are likely to be above average overall, although some short-lived colder spells are possible at times, particularly in the north of the UK.”
Before that though we can enjoy milder temperatures this weekend – albeit with yellow warnings from the Met Office for strong winds and heavy rain on Sunday. Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Steve Willington, said: “As we shift from a cold easterly weather regime to milder westerly conditions, the Atlantic air brings with it some potentially impactful weather. Over the coming days, successive weather fronts bring strong winds and bands of rainfall across the UK with a risk some areas, particularly in the west later in the weekend, could see some low or even medium impacts.”
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