The Met Office has announced the precise date when the United Kingdom can expect to see its first snowfall of the season, marking a significant shift towards winter weather.
When and Where Will the Snow Arrive?
According to Met Office forecaster Simon Partridge, who spoke exclusively with the Independent, the cold snap is expected to begin by the end of next week. The possibility of snow is forecast from Thursday, November 13, onwards, extending into the following weekend. This timing is not unusual for mid-November as the country moves closer to the Christmas period.
Partridge elaborated on the meteorological models, stating, "There are lots of different computer models and they all run multiple times a day, but some of them are coming up with some cold air coming in from the north that might result in some snow across most likely Scotland." This indicates that the initial snowfall will primarily affect northern regions.
Detailed Weather Outlook from the Met Office
The official Met Office forecast for the period starting November 12 describes a period of transition. Initially, the weather is expected to be "largely unsettled and mostly mild," with rain bands moving across the UK, particularly focused on western and southern areas. These conditions may be accompanied by locally strong winds.
The forecast also highlights the potential for drier spells, most probable in the east and north. However, it warns: "Where skies are clear and winds light overnight, frost and fog are likely, the fog slow to clear."
A key change is anticipated around the middle of the month. The Met Office predicts "a transition towards more generally drier weather across the UK, and with this it is likely to turn a little cooler overall, with a greater risk of overnight frost." This sets the stage for the colder conditions necessary for snowfall.
BBC Weather Aligns with Chilly Forecast
The BBC's weather forecast corroborates this outlook, predicting that changeable and mild conditions will give way to a drier and chillier pattern later next week. This shift is expected as high pressure builds to the north-west of the UK.
The BBC outlines a week of mixed conditions leading up to the change, with a band of showery rain moving east on Sunday, followed by a potentially drier Monday. However, hefty and possibly thundery showers could follow across parts of England and Wales.
Further frontal systems are expected to bring more rain and brisk winds in the middle of the week. The BBC notes, "Wind flows will mostly be between southerly and westerly, so it will stay mild for a while, with temperatures above the November average."
The latter part of the week, from Friday into the weekend, carries more uncertainty. The BBC suggests, "Colder air could start to infiltrate Scotland by Sunday with some snow over higher ground, although nothing notably cold." This aligns with the Met Office's prediction of a turn towards colder conditions capable of producing the season's first snow.
