White-out Wednesday
4in of snow and -8C forecast ... and cold snap ‘will last a week’
AN ARCTIC chill will bring sub-zero temperatures and heavy snow to Scotland this week as the mild autumn becomes a distant memory.
Forecasters have predicted ‘very significant snow’ in the North on Wednesday, with higher ground expected to be blanketed by four inches and around two inches falling at lower levels.
A yellow weather warning has been issued for the Highlands, North-East, Orkney and Shetland, and widespread disruption is expected to bring misery for motorists as well as those using the rail and bus networks.
Temperatures are also likely to plummet below -8C overnight on Wednesday and it will become much colder than average for the time of year.
The change to biting, wintry weather will start tomorrow as the wind switches to a northerly direction, bringing Arctic air sweeping across Scotland with flurries of snow in the North as well as sharp frosts.
Wednesday will see the harshest conditions and the weather warning is in force for the full 24 hours – with the cold snap then set to last for a week before milder air pushes in from the South.
Met Office forecaster Alex Burkill said: ‘We have a snow warning across the northern half of Scotland for Wednesday and that is when the snow showers coming from the North will be most impactful.
‘They will probably start on Tuesday and we will see very significant snow in the North.’
A bitter wind will make temperatures feel even colder but areas unaffected by snow conditions are likely to be dry and bright by day.
Night-time temperatures will be around -2C tonight before plunging much lower from tomorrow night. Wales and parts of southern England will also see ‘exceptionally cold’ temperatures for early December.
Mr Burkill added: ‘At the moment our winds are coming from the East and that is a cold direction and it is making it cold out. However, from Tuesday onwards we are going to get a northerly flow, so that is Arctic air, leading to our temperatures dropping even further as we go through this week.
‘It’s going to turn even colder and feel even colder still, with temperatures well below average for the time of year both by day and by night. It looks like it could last a week. The northerly flow is going to stay with us.’
Weather Outlook forecaster Brian Gaze said: ‘Forecast models suggest colder-than-average conditions could last until Christmas. A potentially significant and lengthy cold period is forecast.’