Storm Claudia may have finished lashing the UK with wild winds and heavy rain, but Brits aren’t off the weather rollercoaster just yet. Rumours are swirling that snow could soon make an appearance, sending shivers across the country. But how much snow, and where is it actually expected to land?
Here’s what the Met Office and BBC Weather have to say about those flurries.
The Met Office – chilly showers and warnings up north
If you’re dreaming of a snowy whiteout for the whole country, don’t get too excited just yet. According to the Met Officethere’s a chance of “sleet and snow showers possible, mainly focused towards north facing coasts and hills” between Sunday, November 16 and Tuesday, November 18. The real action? A yellow weather warning for snow from 3am to 6pm on Tuesday, November 18 – specifically targeting higher parts of Scotland.
But what about after that brief snowy interlude? The Met Office predicts things will clear up by Wednesday, switching over to “very cold northerly winds with sunshine and wintry showers.” Towards the end of the week, there’s a hint of more hill snow potentially arriving in western areas on Friday November 21.
London – coldest day so far, but little hope for snow
Londoners have enjoyed an unusually mild autumn, even celebrating Bonfire Night in shirt sleeves. But that’s about to end: temperatures will drop sharply, bottoming out at just 2°C overnight throughout the week, and feeling as cold as -2°C or -3°C on the coldest nights.
Thursday, November 20, is slated to be the capital’s chilliest day of winter so far, with highs of just 5°C and a “feels like” temperature closer to 2°C. Rather than snow, London will see “widespread overnight frosts” according to the Met Office, and the BBC predicts some sleet showers from 6am to 9am Thursday. Genuine snowfall looks unlikely unless forecasts change, with northern UK cities far more likely to receive wintry flurries.
BBC Weather: Scotland on snow watch
BBC Weather is also waving the snowy flag, but with a pretty tight focus. The broadcaster confirms that the yellow warning applies to Central, Tayside & Fife, Grampian, Highlands & Eilean Siar, and Strathclyde. Expect snow in the Highlands tonight (Monday, November 17), and North Scotland could see more on Tuesday November 18.
After that, though, the snow seems to tap out, with no major flakes on the radar for the rest of the week.
So, is the UK really getting snow this week?
In summary: Yes, snow is very likely this week – especially if you’re in the Scottish Highlands or surrounding high ground. A powerful yellow weather warning is in play, so if you’re travelling in those regions, keep an eye on updates and be prepared for wintery disruptions.
Elsewhere, any flurries in northern England and the Midlands look fleeting, prone to melting or turning to rain before they can show off.
