Forecasters are warning of ‘wintry hazards’ this weekend as two yellow weather warnings for snow and ice have been issued in Scotland over a three-day period.
The alerts have been put in place from Sunday (November 17) until Tuesday (November 19) as Arctic air is set to hit the country. They warn that as much as 20cm of snow (7.8 inches) is to fall on higher ground, while lower areas can expect 10cm (four inches).
The Met Office has predicted that the early winter cold spell could bring ‘potentially disruptive’ conditions to the whole of the UK with warning that the weather will take a ‘major change’ after weeks of unusually mild temperatures.
While today Friday (November 15) and tomorrow (November 16) is forecasted to be cold with the possibility of some hill snow, things are set to really take a turn on Sunday (November 17) when low pressure moves in and the temperatures plummet.
Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Rebekah Hicks said: “A notable early winter cold spell will arrive across the north from Sunday and will likely reach all parts of the UK by midweek.
“Temperatures will drop as a northerly airflow develops, bringing in colder Arctic air. This introduces the possibility of snow, initially over high ground in the north from Sunday, with gusty winds also a potential hazard.”
WX Charts state that temperatures will hit lows of -5C in Scotland on Sunday (November 17) with up to 15cm of snow depth expected in the Highlands before the freezing conditions will plunge even further to -12C on Tuesday (November 19).
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The Met Office has highlighted that there is still a lot of uncertainty about what conditions next week will bring as forecasting ‘impactful snow’ can be very tricky in the UK and it’s too early to forecast which areas will see significant snowfall.
Computer models are said to be showing a number of different weather scenarios with Rebekah explaining: “There is a lot of uncertainty in what might happen after Sunday, but there are a number of scenarios which could bring some more widespread rain, along with some hill snow and stronger winds.
“It is possible that there may be some more widespread snowfall across lower ground, but the chance of this for any given region is low at this stage. What we do know is that the whole of the UK is likely to experience a spell of several days of cold, potentially disruptive weather next week.”
“Warnings for wintry hazards, including snow and ice, are possible, so it’s important to stay up to date with the latest forecast.”
The Met Office has urged people to prepare for the colder conditions in advance by reading more about how to keep your home warm and the ways in which cold weather can impact your health as part of their WeatherReady campaign.
Age Scotland’s Chief Executive Katherine Crawford has asked everyone to ensure they are checking in on their elder family, friends and neighbours during this period who may be struggling to leave the house for essential shopping or medical appointments.
She said: “A friendly phone call or an offer to help with shopping, collecting prescriptions or de-icing paths could be a lifeline for someone who feels isolated at home during this cold spell.
“Older people, their carers and families in Scotland looking for help or advice can call Age Scotland’s free helpline on 0800 12 44 222.”
Long range forecast (November 19 – November 28)
“Cold or very cold conditions are likely to affect most if not all parts of the UK early in this period, with wintry showers affecting in particular northern parts and exposed coastal districts. Overnight frost will likely be widespread and occasionally strong winds will result in significant wind chill.
“However, there may be more organised areas of rain and snow, accompanied by strong winds, which run across some parts. This could lead to some disruptive weather at times, especially at the start of this period. Briefly milder conditions may accompany these in the south. There is a hint that it may become less cold late in the period, but still likely remain mostly unsettled with further spells of rain and snow.”
The Met Office has advised people to keep up to date with the forecast in their local area.
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