Wintry Arctic blast is set to hit UK

AN Arctic blast is forecast to bring snow and icy winds to parts of the UK as temperatures plummet. Forecasters predict the winter weather could hit as early as this week, with weather site wxcharts suggesting northern areas and Scotland could get snow on November 18 and 19.

It comes as a strong jet stream is expected to cause unsettled conditions following a mostly dry weekend, according to the Met Office.

But wet and windy weather is expected to hit earlier in Scotland, with yellow weather warnings in place for Thursday and Friday.

British Weather Services’ senior meteorologist Jim Dale said some parts of the country are likely to see a dusting at the very least. Across Staffordshire and Derbyshire and, in particular, Burton, temperatures will dip to 11C during the week with winds still giving a chill in the air. It will turn foggy at the weekend with a few light showers in the area, the Met Office predicts. No snow is yet predicted for this area.

Around 1cm of snow is expected to fall in towns between Manchester and Birmingham, increasing to at least 2cm further north, in areas near Newcastle. Some very slight signals also point towards rural and higher land in northern

Wales being hit by lighter showers.

Mr Dale said: “There will be some limited snow in the north west highlands by November 17 in the northern Pennines. It will be just a dusting for now, but a growing threat for Scotland on November 19 and 20. It will be colder for all, though, within that period.”

However, parts of south-eastern, central and even some northern areas of England will escape the snow - but people are likely to feel colder anyway as we head into winter.

Mr Dale added: “It’ll be notably colder in south east but nothing out of the ordinary for the time of year. This will be caused by the movement south of the jet stream - pulling in moderated polar air from Greenland and Iceland way.”

The Met Office’s longrange weather forecast from November 15 to November 24 says: “Conditions are likely to remain unsettled with further outbreaks of rain and showers, especially in the west, where winds could be strong at times.

“Eastern parts of the UK are likely to remain the driest, although could still experience intermittent rainfall. Moving further into November, high pressure may become more influential, bringing longer spells of dry and settled weather, with lighter winds.”