The Met Office has significantly extended its weather advisory, issuing a comprehensive five-day forecast that now spans from today, Thursday, February 5, through to Monday, February 9. This updated prediction highlights the potential for snow flurries to impact specific regions across the United Kingdom as the weekend approaches, with meteorologists naming the areas most at risk.
Unsettled Weather Pattern to Dominate the Weekend
According to the latest meteorological analysis, the UK is set to experience a period of predominantly wet and windy conditions, punctuated by occasional bright spells, particularly in the northwestern parts of the country. However, the overall outlook remains largely cloudy and damp for most regions.
On Thursday, outbreaks of rain are anticipated, some of which may be heavy, especially across southern and southwestern England. The forecast indicates that this precipitation could transition into snowfall in certain areas as temperatures drop heading into the weekend.
Regions Identified for Potential Snowfall
The Met Office has explicitly named the following areas that are facing the highest likelihood of snow flurries before Monday:
- Hilly regions across the UK, particularly later in the forecast period
- Northern England
- Scotland
In its detailed forecast, the Met Office states: "It will be mostly cloudy overnight with further rain and snow falling on hills, especially in the north. Cold and windy in the north, less windy and milder further south."
Detailed Day-by-Day Weather Breakdown
Looking ahead to Friday, the forecast predicts rain across most areas, with snow expected on northern hills. Conditions are set to remain generally rather windy, although brighter spells may develop in the northwest. However, heavy showers are likely to persist towards the southwest.
The unsettled weather pattern is expected to continue throughout the entire forecast period. All regions across the UK will experience further rain at times, with some precipitation potentially turning heavy. Windy conditions are likely to persist, with the added possibility of further snow and ice, particularly in northern areas.
Extended Outlook: February 9 to February 18
The Met Office's extended forecast for February 9 to February 18 suggests that cyclonic patterns will dominate across the UK during mid-February. Frontal systems approaching from the Atlantic are likely to become slow-moving as they encounter a blocking area of high pressure to the northeast.
This meteorological setup is expected to result in showers or longer spells of rain spreading across the UK, which may be heavy at times. Rainfall amounts are projected to be highest in western parts of the country, including areas already sensitive to flooding.
As these bands of rain spread northwards, snow remains possible across northern England and Scotland, mainly over high ground. Strong winds could develop in places, particularly along coastal regions. Temperatures are expected to be close to normal overall, with any colder conditions more likely in the north.
The Met Office emphasises that this extended forecast indicates a period of significant weather variability, with residents in the named areas advised to stay updated on local weather warnings and prepare for potential travel disruptions due to snow and ice conditions.
