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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
World
Tim Hanlon & Beth Cruse

UK weather: 'Arctic freeze' set to hit bringing six inches of snow

A weather warning for snow is in place for parts of the UK today (April 5) while other areas are set for sunshine, in what has been described as a 'weather divide.'

Sleet, snow and sub-zero temperatures are forecast for Scotland as Arctic air moves in, while it could rise as high as 16C in the south of England thanks to a high pressure system from the Atlantic.

BBC weather maps shows that 10 to 15 centimetres of snow could fall amidst freezing temperatures in the north and east of Scotland today. The cold blast is set to head further south during the week bringing sub zero temperatures for most of the country by Wednesday and Thursday.

Also read: Fire rips through flat in Southmead prompting huge emergency response

But for Tuesday it is set to be a sunny spring day in England and Wales, even reaching a balmy 16C, as the Mirror reports. The yellow warning for snow is in place in Scotland from 4pm on Tuesday until 10pm.

The Met Office stated: "Snow may cause some disruption across parts of Scotland through Tuesday before clearing northwards. People have been told to expect disruption to transport. It said: "Some roads and railways likely to be affected with longer journey times by road, bus and train services."

Arctic air moving down will bring freezing temperatures for Scotland (WX Charts)

Met Office forecaster Alex Deakin said: "It may have been a milder Monday but don’t get used to it as colder weather is on the way for all of us over the next few days.

"At the moment though we are tucked in here and there is some pretty warm air in here as well. Notice, however, northern Scotland is back in the colder air and it is here where that colder air could pose some problems with some snowfall as we go through Tuesday night and into Wednesday.”

He pointed to the divide in the country with the cold weather in the north. "There will be a frost across northern Scotland as we sit in the cold air here and increasingly that means the wet weather will be turning to snow," said Mr Deakin.

"Initially just over the hills but as we go through Tuesday more and more of that snow could start to come to lower levels across the far north of the mainland, certainly wintry showers across Shetlands and Orkney."

And Mr Deakin compared it to the sun in England and Wales where it could reach 16C. "Much of the south sunny and bright, yes a fair bit of cloud but where we see some sunshine across South Wales, southern parts of England, eastern England, temperatures will really jump up," he said.

"That’s where the mild air is still in place, 14C, 15C, 16C is possible. Compare and contrast with low single figures at best across northern Scotland, and feeling colder as that snow continues to fall with that Met Office yellow warning in place as that snow could cause some disruptions."

South West weather forecast

Today:

A mostly cloudy start this morning, however cloud holes will soon open up and sunny spells will develop more widely by this afternoon. Another breezy day, but feeling pleasantly warm in the sunshine. Remaining dry into this evening. Maximum temperature 14 °C.

Tonight:

Dry this evening but a fragmenting band of rain will spread southeast through the early hours, leaving a few showers in its wake. Rather windy, especially on western coasts. Mild. Minimum temperature 8 °C.

Wednesday:

Some places starting off mostly dry, however bands of heavy showers, these possibly containing hail, spreading across the region with sunny spells in between. Feeling colder with strong westerly winds. Maximum temperature 14 °C.

Outlook for Thursday to Saturday:

Feeling much colder to end the week with overnight frosts. Scattered wintry showers on Thursday with blustery winds. Cloudier on Friday with possible rain and hill snow. Brighter on Saturday.

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