Scotland and the rest of the UK could be in for a blast of heavy snow, with a weather forecaster warning that a ‘Beast from the East‘ event may bring “chaos.” Back in 2018, Britain was hit by freezing air and heavy snowfall from the east, prompting the Met Office to issue a rare red weather alert.
While it’s unclear whether conditions will be as severe this time, one forecaster has identified a seven-day window when the country is set for a “very snowy period.” In a TikTok post, James Madden of Exacta Weather suggests the Beast from the East is “waking” and warns that heavy snowfall could bring “chaos for commuters”, Scottish Daily Express reports
He has pinpointed February 8 to February 15 as the period when heavy snow is expected to hit. He noted that while snow showers are already in the forecast for the coming week, the real impact will come “before an easterly influence and widespread snow showers for most.”
He adds: “Towards the end of the working week and into next weekend will see more of an Easterly and/or northerly/NE influence starting to take shape across our shores to deliver at least a several day cold and very snowy period for our exact quoted and much earlier dates starting around ‘February 8-15’.”
WXCharts forecasts snowfall across Scotland on February 14, with significant accumulations expected in central and eastern parts of the country and northern England. While heavier snowfall is likely in higher elevations, lower-lying areas could also see some accumulation.
As mid-February approaches, weather patterns are likely to shift. While the Met Office has not ruled out the possibility of cold air moving in from the east, it maintains that the chances remain low.
Its forecast for the period from February 7-16 states: “There is a very low chance that if the high orientates in such a way that a more easterly (rather than southerly/southeasterly) flow develops, a spell of much colder conditions could develop across the UK, with a risk of wintry showers in some parts.”
However, moving beyond that period, it states: “It is most likely that high pressure to the east or northeast of the UK will dominate at first in some form or another.”
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