After a week of surprisingly mild temperatures, the UK is in for a chilly wake-up call on Wednesday morning, with snow set to appear. Just last week, parts of the country basked in temperatures reaching 16C—well above the usual for February. But things are about to take a turn, with colder conditions creeping in overnight and bringing a wintry mix of snow, hail, and rain.
According to the Met Office weather map, snow will start drifting in from the west from around 6 am. It’s set to strengthen over Kendal and Dumfries, with snowfall rates reaching over four millimetres an hour in some spots. Preston and Manchester could also see a dusting by 6.30 am, though it’s unlikely to stick around for long.
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Alongside the snow, light hail is expected to hit parts of the Midlands, stretching from Birmingham up towards Manchester and Kendal. Meanwhile, down south, heavy rain will roll in from the southwest and move eastwards, bringing a soggy start to the day for many.
The wintry showers are expected to ease off by midday, with temperatures creeping up slightly to around 7C.
Met Office meteorologist Honor Criswick said: “Plenty of showers on the cards, once again may even bring a sprinkling of snow across parts of the Pennines, some hail, possibly even some thunder.”
A spokesperson for the Met Office added: “As a front moves in from the west on Wednesday morning, there could be some snow for a time over higher ground in southern Scotland and northern England. Snow could fall in locations in the Pennines and Southern Uplands at elevations over 300m but is only likely to settle in locations above 400-450m in elevation.
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“Any accumulations are expected to be modest, with no warnings issued. The front will move through and weaken through the day, leaving mostly showers by the afternoon.”
Wednesday evening will stay chilly, with a few lingering showers. The east should stay mostly dry overnight, though mist and fog patches may develop. Western areas, however, can expect cloud and rain to creep in by dawn, with a patchy frost forming under the clearest skies.
Looking ahead, Wednesday will bring heavy rain sweeping across the country, followed by brighter spells and scattered showers. It’ll feel breezy and cool throughout the day.
Thursday and Friday are looking drier for most, with sunny spells and just a few showers. By Saturday, patchy rain will gradually move southwards, and where skies stay clear overnight, frost is likely to develop. So, after an unseasonably warm spell, it looks like winter isn’t done with us just yet.
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