An area of low pressure is pulling down a cold air from the north with temperatures set to drop as low as -10°C in places this week. Areas of Kent and Northumberland saw some snow on Monday morning, and there is a yellow warning for snow and ice in place in parts of Wales over a 24-hour period.
The Met Office says that showers will fall increasingly as sleet and snow in the north, and "even to lower levels". Overnight frost will become more widespread by Monday night, with overnight temperatures below 0°C across much of the UK. Temperatures could get down to -10°C in sheltered glens, or across high ground areas of Scotland where there is lying snow.
Deputy chief meteorologist, Helen Caughey, said: “After a spell of wet and mild weather to start 2023, a brief cold spell will change the feel of our weather across the UK for a few days next week. As a northerly flow establishes, we’ll see temperatures decline with overnight frosts returning and the chance of wintry showers in the north. It will certainly feel cold in all regions too, with the northerly winds creating a notable windchill.”
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The colder spell is expected to be short-lived, with milder air moving in from the Atlantic bringing wet and windy conditions back to the UK towards the end of the week. They Met Office adds: "There is a chance of some transient snow on the leading edge of the frontal rain as it moves through however the detail on this is currently uncertain."
BBC weather forecaster Carol Kirkwood said on Monday: "The next few days are going to be cold by day, and by night. There is going to be widespread frost and a risk of ice, and also the chance of seeing some snow. We start off the week with temperatures below average, but by the weekend they will be above average once again."
Monday
A yellow weather warning for snow and ice in parts of Wales kicks in at midday on Monday (January 16) and runs until midday on Tuesday (January 17). The areas in Wales covered by the warning in Wales are Conwy, Denbigshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey and Wrexham. Here are the temperatures expected in the UK at 3pm.
The Met Office forecast for the whole of Wales today says: "Mostly dry and bright with sunny spells, however a few wintry showers are possible, particularly in coastal areas exposed to the north-westerly breeze. Winds becoming light later but feeling cold. Maximum temperature 5 °C.
"A few wintry showers will continue this evening and overnight, especially in coastal areas. However, most of Wales will turn dry with clear spells. Becoming cold with a widespread frost. Minimum temperature -5 °C."
Tuesday
We are going to see another cold start to Tuesday morning with temperatures as low as -3°C and -4°C in parts of Wales. BBC forecaster Carol Kirkwood says: "A new weather system coming in from the south west in the early hours of Tuesday morning will bring some sleet and snow. It is going to be another cold night." Here is the weather map for 6am on Tuesday:
The yellow weather warning for snow and ice in parts of north Wales is also in place until midday. BBC forecaster Darren Bett said in the Countryfile forecast for the week that there could be some snow in Pembrokeshire in the early hours of the morning.
The Wales forecast from the Met Office says: "Another generally dry day with plenty of bright sunshine. Scattered snow flurries are possible, these most likely in coastal areas by the evening. Turning breezier later and feeling cold. Maximum temperature 4 °C."
BBC forecaster Carol Kirkwood says: "A new weather system coming in from the south west in the early hours of Tuesday morning will bring some sleet and snow. It is going to be another cold night."
Through the day that weather front bringing sleet and snow to the south west of England moves away into the Channel, according to the forecaster. "A lot of dry weather across the UK on Tuesday, with a fair bit of sunshine," she added. "Still some wintry showers across the north and west of Scotland. A few coming in on the wind across Northern Ireland and north west England and Wales."
Wednesday
It will be windier on Wednesday with sunny spells and wintry showers, according to the Met Office forecast for Wales. BBC forecaster Carol Kirwood said: "It is going to be windier and coming from the north or north west, so that is going to blow in some showers to areas that are exposed to the wind. Once again a lot of dry weather and a fair bit of sunshine, but still feeling cold."
The BBC Weather chart for Wednesday:
This Met Office charts shows where sleet, hail and snow could fall on Wednesday between 9am and 3pm. The orange represents hail, while the grey is hail and snow showers.
This is Wednesday morning, according to WX Charts - the darker the purple, the heavier the snow. It's important to remember that while WX Charts uses recognised modelling for their forecasts, it should be read in conjunction with other forecasts.
Thursday
The Met Office forecast for Wales says: "Mostly dry on Thursday and Friday with some sunshine, but a chance of rain later. Cold with widespread overnight frosts."
BBC weather presenter Darren Bett said on Countryfile: "There are fronts out in the Atlantic, but they appear to be slowing down. There is also a ridge of high weather building in so that will push away most of the wintry showers on Thursday. Most places in the UK will be dry, and it will be sunnier towards the south east.
"There are the first signs of a bit of damp weather coming into the west later in the day. It is slowly pushing its way eastwards overnight into Friday." This is the Met Office weather map for Thursday between 9am and 3pm.
Friday
In the early hours of Friday morning there could be some snow over the hills of Wales. This is the weather map from the Countryfile weekly forecast.
Darren Bett said: "That band of wet weather will get ripped apart, and it will become dry but we are left with a lot of cloud. Temperatures could be double figures in the west."
BBC weather forecaster Carol Kirwood said: "It is when we get to the weekend that something milder from the Atlantic looks like it is going to try and come in.
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