Weather map shows date snow bomb ‘splits UK in half’ as temperatures plummet

The latest weather maps show the exact date when Brits can expect to see parts of the country blanketed in snow.

Maps suggest parts of the UK will be in the grip of a polar blast days before Christmas as temperatures look set to plummet. A weather chart generated on Saturday (December 9) by WX Charts using data from MetDesk shows up to a centimetre of snow falling in an hour over parts of Scotland at midday on December 19.

Scotland is set to bear the brunt of the late-December freeze, though snow showers may creep south, according to the charts. The snow bomb is set to ‘split Britain in half’ as the southern part of the country is set to remain bone dry why pockets of rain and snow barrel into Scotland and the north of England.

Maximum temperatures in Britain on December 19 vary from 0C-4C in Scotland, 4C-8C across much of Wales, northern, central and eastern England and up to 10C along southern coasts, according to WX Charts.

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UK weather forecast: Storm Elin gradually moving off the UK

The Met Office’s latest, long range forecast – covering December 14-23 – says there is the potential for a band of rain across the UK before it becomes more settled later in the week as high pressure builds over the south. It expects more wet and windy weather as fronts occasionally push into northern areas.

The forecaster notes: “As such, the wettest weather likely across western high ground, mainly in Scotland and occasionally parts of Northern Ireland and northwest England.”

There will be settled conditions in the south with temperatures average for the time of year though it will be cloudy at times with patchy light rain near the coasts and over higher ground.

Clearer spells are forecast to favour the southeast, but these will also allow potential fog or frost overnight.

High pressure will potentially decline the following week, allowing a return to unsettled conditions and typically average temperatures, with the northwest bearing the brunt of the wind and rain, according to the Met Office.

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Meanwhile, Storm Elin has seen strong winds and heavy downpours across parts of Britain and Ireland.

The storm was named by the Irish meteorological service, Met Eireann, as a series of weather warnings were issued across the British and Irish isles.

Parts of northern England were expected to see up to 30mm of rain on Saturday (December 9), with a yellow warning in place for an area stretching from Carlisle to Sheffield until 3am on Sunday (December 10).

A second weather system, moving in on Sunday, has been named Storm Fergus, with fears it could reintroduce some gusty winds, especially in western areas, alongside further rainfall. Ireland is expected to be the hardest hit.

The Environment Agency has issued 33 flood warnings for England – meaning flooding is expected – including for the River Ouse at York.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist Andy Page said wet and windy weather is the main theme of the forecast this weekend, although there will be some drier interludes in the south on Saturday afternoon.

He added: “Winds and rain could be disruptive at times, which has resulted in the issuing of weather warnings for both wind and rain. Winds could peak around 70mph on exposed Irish Sea coasts, with gusts of around 45-55mph likely quite widely in England and Wales.

“A further 20-30mm of rain could fall over parts of Northern Ireland, northwest England and into southwest and central Scotland, with 40mm over some high ground.”

The Met Office said Sunday will see continued unsettled conditions with periods of heavy rain affecting most of the UK, with western areas of Britain most likely to see further heavy rainfall into the evening.

It added there will also be a deep area of low-pressure moving towards the Republic of Ireland later in the day, which will reintroduce some gusty winds, especially in western areas alongside this further rainfall.

Met Office five-day forecast

This Evening and Tonight:

Rain continues for many parts of Scotland, northern and central England this evening, slowly clearing through the second half of the night as strong winds begin to ease. Clear and dry in the south and later the west. Mild again.

Sunday:

Rain moves into from the west, heavy for some. Clearing eastwards leaving sunny spells in the south by the afternoon. Winds increase in the south, gales along western coasts.

Outlook for Monday to Wednesday:

Some sunny spells on Monday, but further heavy rain arriving from the west overnight and into Tuesday. Drier on Wednesday. Often windy and less mild than over the weekend.

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