Snow alert as Arctic blast brings widespread risk of wintry showers
EARLY APRIL temperatures promised the onset of spring but a chilling setback in the form of a biting Arctic blast looks set deliver a throwback to winter across parts of Britain today.
Forecasters have warned that a wave of wintry showers could hit just about anywhere in the country as the snow that arrived in northern Scotland yesterday began moving south.
The Met Office said the northern hills are most likely to see snow as the cold weather moves into England over the next 36 hours.
Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge said the air moving over Britain from the Arctic will bring large thunder clouds which could result in hailstorms, thunder and lightning as well as the possibility of sleet and snow flurries.
Speaking yesterday afternoon, he said: “There’s a possibility of wintry showers just about anywhere in the UK tomorrow but more likely is that people anywhere, really, could see hail.”
Mr Madge said: “The more at risk areas for seeing snow are obviously the northern hills and we could possibly see some settling as far south as places like the higher tops on the North York Moors.
“But, generally, what we’ll see in those very showery conditions is that when it starts to rain, it’ll drop the temperature maybe enough to trigger the development of sleet or even the odd snow shower for a time.”
The Scottish Highlands were the among the first to feel the brunt of the wintry conditions.
Photographs taken in the town of Aviemore yesterday showed brave souls wrapped up in weather proof clothing as snow began to fall and temperatures dipped.
The more at risk areas for seeing snow are the northern hills. Grahame Madge, spokesman for the Met Office.