Weather maps reveal that Scotland could be first to see flurries and icy blasts between Monday, October 20, and Wednesday, October 22, as temperatures plunge across parts of the UK
Brits could be in for an early taste of winter later this month, with advanced weather charts suggesting that the first snowflakes of the season may soon fall.
Forecast data from WXCharts, using MetDesk’s GEFS model, indicate that parts of the UK – particularly the Scottish Highlands – could see snow between Monday, October 20, and Wednesday, October 22. Scotland is expected to bear the brunt of the chill, with temperatures dipping close to freezing in the mountains and just a few degrees above 0C elsewhere.
Flurries could develop from early Monday morning through midday over the northern and western Highlands, though lowland areas like Edinburgh are likely to see only cold rain.
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However, it’s not just Scotland that could catch a glimpse of winter. The charts show small patches of white shading appearing across parts of northern England, particularly around the Pennines and higher ground between Newcastle and Manchester.
This could mean wintry showers in these areas from around Monday evening through to Wednesday evening, though any snow is likely to be brief and mainly over the hills. The rest of the UK – including southern England, Wales and Northern Ireland – and Ireland are forecast to stay too mild for snow.
The Met Office long-range forecast suggests high pressure will dominate in the coming days, from Tuesday, October 14 to Thursday, October 23. The agency notes that the second half of this period shows signs of low pressure systems moving in from the west, but that “details of any wetter and more unsettled weather are still very uncertain”.
Between Thursday, October 24 and Friday, November 7, the Met Office forecasts “changeable conditions across the UK with low pressure systems tending to dominate. Showers or longer spells of rain are likely at times, perhaps heavy in places. Temperatures will probably be close to normal.”
In the meantime, conditions are expected to stay mostly dry and settled. Friday’s forecast suggests “largely settled” conditions, “with variable amounts of cloud, but some sunny spells too, the best of any sunshine across the northeast. Thicker cloud and patchy rain across western Scotland”.
Looking ahead from Saturday to Monday, the forecast reads: “High pressure dominates into the weekend and Monday, bringing mostly dry conditions, light winds, sunny spells, and near-average temperatures, but with chilly nights and patchy fog. Near normal daytime temperatures.”