The Met Office has activated yellow weather warnings for rain and melting snow across multiple regions of the United Kingdom, with forecasts indicating potential snowfall before Friday arrives. These alerts highlight concerns about hazardous conditions developing during the latter part of the working week.
Detailed Forecast for Thursday and Beyond
Looking specifically at Thursday, February 5, the national weather service has forecast "possible snow" in a series of areas. The Met Office indicates that rain will move northwards throughout the day, potentially turning heavy in places and again bringing the possibility of snowfall.
Regions Most Affected by Snow
The Met Office has particularly highlighted three regions where the white stuff is most likely to appear: north Wales, the Pennines, and the Scottish mountains. These areas are expected to experience the brunt of the wintry conditions.
In their written forecast, the Met Office states that tonight will see conditions "turning cloudier once again as rain continues for Scotland with hill snow again in the east. More rain moves into the south overnight as winds pick up for many."
Weekend Weather Outlook
The Friday to Sunday outlook adds further detail: "Wintry hazards continuing for the northern half of the UK, with outbreaks of rain in the south. Some drier spells on Saturday, but remaining mostly cloudy into the weekend."
Expert Analysis from Weather Specialists
Jo Farrow, from Netweather TV, provided additional context: "Overnight, the Midlands saw a wintry mix of sleet, icy rain and some short-lived snow even to low levels."
Farrow explained the meteorological situation: "A warm front, followed by an occlusion, moved northwards over Britain, coming up against the cold air in the north. With lower temperatures overnight and heavier frontal precipitation, there was a brief wintry interlude."
Temperature Variations Across the UK
The weather expert noted significant temperature differences: "Milder air is following from the south, allowing temperatures in southern Britain to reach 8 to 10C on Wednesday, whereas further north they will reach 5 to 7C, but feel more like zero for the areas exposed to the wind and icy rain."
Road Safety Concerns
The Met Office forecast suggests that melting snow could cause significant disruption on the roads during Thursday, the penultimate day of the working week. This combination of precipitation and temperature fluctuations creates particularly challenging driving conditions.
Contrasting Weather in Southern Europe
While the UK prepares for wintry conditions, Spain and Portugal are experiencing dramatically different weather, being battered by Storm Leonardo. Thousands have been evacuated in Andalucia as the Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) raised the alarm on Wednesday.
The agency enforced a red warning in Serrania de Ronda, northwest of Malaga, signifying "extraordinary danger" as forecasts predict rainfall of up to 200 litres per square metre in 24 hours.
This stark contrast between the UK's impending snow and southern Europe's severe rainfall highlights the diverse weather patterns affecting different parts of Europe this week.
