The latest weather modelling maps show a ‘Beast from Europe’ storm is set to bring heavy snow and rain to the UK – with only one part of the country missing out on the white stuff.
Snow and rain will make landfall in southern parts of the UK on March 3, when the ECMWF weather model shows a massive storm front moving across the English Channel. By 6pm the maps show rain falling across most of England and Wales, with snow falling in Gloucestershire and the Midlands. Snow could be falling at a rate of around 5cm per hour where flurries are most intense, according to the data.
The storm is tracked to move northward thereafter, and maps for 6am on March 4 show northern parts of the UK taking a battering. Manchester, Yorkshire, North Wales, the north-east and Edinburgh all appear to be in the firing line around this time, with snow falling at a rate of around 3cm per hour where flurries are most intense. The maps also show some scattered snow could come down in southern parts of England as well as Northern Ireland around this time.
Snow depth maps for the same time show snow settled on the ground in the south-west, Wales, the Midlands, northern parts of England, as well as in some parts of Northern Ireland and Scotland. The south-east of England appears to be the only major area that will miss out on snow entirely. Accumulations of 1cm to 5cm can be expected across the rest of England.
Flurries should keep moving northward throughout March 4, covering most of Scotland by midday. Again 3cm per hour flurries are possible with Inverness, Aberdeen and Edinburgh all likely to see snow, according to the ECMWF weather model maps. Further snow depth maps for this time show as much as 9cm could settle in the far north of Scotland, with 4cm coming down in the Pennines in northern England.
The Met Office‘s long range forecasts are yet to mention snow for this period, but the national weather agency does admit the outlook is “uncertain” and conditions could turn “colder”. Its forecast for February 23 to March 4 states: “Next week and into early March is uncertain. It is possible that further spells of mild, wet and windy weather affect the UK, interspersed with cooler, showery conditions, but there is also a chance that drier, more settled conditions develop, especially towards the south of the UK.
“Temperatures are likely to be close to or a little above average overall, although should drier, more settled conditions develop, then nights may become colder with a risk of frost.”
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