SNOW will fall in a matter of days as a harsh Arctic blast makes it way towards the UK and pushed temperatures to below freezing, forecasters say.
The Met Office has warned about a "severe frost" as snow is predicted to fall within the next seven days – with some claiming snowfall could started as early as THIS Sunday, January 30.
Forecaster James Madden told the Express: “We are expecting to see some changes as we head into the final month of the winter.
“Cold and snow will encroach from the north during the early part of February, and some of these wintry downpours may reach as far south as central England and the capital."
Read our weather live blog for the latest news and forecasts
- Louis Allwood
Edinburgh outlook for Saturday to Monday
Rain clearing to leave a few showers on Saturday with strong to gale force northwesterly winds at first.
Lighter winds on Sunday with further rain. Breezy with showers on Monday.
- Louis Allwood
Edinburgh weather for the early hours
Dry and chilly overnight with long clear spells developing.
Light westerly winds will give a few mist patches and a touch of frost in sheltered spots. Minimum temperature 3 °C.
- Louis Allwood
UK Saturday to Monday outlook
Changeable with periods of rain spreading from the west at times, these interspersed with cooler, drier spells.
Often rather windy with a risk of gales, especially in the north.
- Louis Allwood
UK forecast for the early hours
Many areas dry with clear spells, leading to a colder night.
Frost will be fairly widespread in rural southern, central and eastern regions, with patchy fog in the south too.
- Louis Allwood
Households warned about electricity blackouts if temperatures fall again
Should a cold snap hit the region, demand for gas could soar and hit supplies, meaning blackouts are "likely", investor Goldman Sachs said.
Even though enough is currently stored up, bad weather could mean supplies could drop below lows seen in 2018, Sky News reports.
It comes as Brits are bracing themselves for a -7C Arctic blast to hit the nation, brining severe frost and even snow in some areas in the coming week.
The bank also said gas prices could double if Russia increases its supply of gas into northwest Europe.
But other experts have warned that Russia could decide to restrict the flow of natural gas and petrol into Europe as tensions between the country and Ukraine grow.
Should Russia invade Ukraine, supply of gas into Europe could be tapered off, hitting supply and hiking prices.
Although just 3% of the UK's gas is supplied from Russia, compared to the 35% that Europe as a whole gets, households have been warned that they could feel the impact.
- Joseph Gamp
Chilly start to Friday morning, says Met Office
Temperatures are set to plummet from tomorrow morning.
The Met Office tweeted: "A chilly start to Friday morning, with some frost and fog in places.
"Cloud, rain and brisk winds moving into the northwest."
- Joseph Gamp
Snowstorm could continue until at least February 11
Met forecaster James Madden explained cold and snow will approach from the north during the beginning of the month, with wintry downpours potentially reaching the capital.
Long-range predictions are suggesting that snow could fall in northern regions if the freezing temperatures continue.
A snowstorm could continue until at least February 11, according to forecasts, after parts of the country are soaked by rain and the white stuff.
- Joseph Gamp
Chances of snow greater on Sunday
AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist and Lead European Forecaster, Tyler Roys, told the Express: "The larger chance for snow will occur Sunday and linger into Monday.
"A rapidly deepening storm will move across Scotland on Sunday, which will bring gusty winds, possibly gale-force.
"This storm will likely bring snow across the Scottish Highlands that could accumulate at least several inches," he added.
"There is a possibility that some of the snow does reach the interior valleys in Scotland."
- Joseph Gamp
Big freeze to take hold on Friday morning
Thursday brought a barrage of wet and windy weather throughout the UK, gearing people up for the chilly weekend ahead.
The big freeze is expected to take hold on Friday morning, before the strengthening winter storm wreaks havoc across Scotland over the weekend.
It could bring 80mph gale-force winds on Saturday, followed by several inches of snow across the Highlands on Sunday, which may also fall on lower ground.
- Joseph Gamp
Arctic blast to kick off THIS WEEKEND
The Met Office warned Brits to expect "severe frost" ahead of snowfall predicted over the next few days – with forecasts suggesting it could arrive on Sunday.
The polar blast is set to bring snow across the country before moving west, then hitting the north and the Midlands on Monday.
According to WXCharts, the Arctic blast will ravage the UK in early February – after kicking off this weekend.
- Joseph Gamp
It could be a freezing night for those in Cardiff
Dry with clear spells this evening and remaining dry overnight.
Temperatures falling to around or just below freezing inland with a frost and patchy mist and fog forming. Minimum temperature -1 °C.
- Joseph Gamp
Met Office '4cast' for Friday shows cloud, rain & wind
The Met Office: "Here is the 4cast for Friday.
"1) Rain across northern Scotland. Patchy rain in west later.
"2) Increasing cloud through the day.
"3) Turning increasingly windy across the north.
"4) A frosty start, but then mild for all."
- Joseph Gamp
Short weather summary for Friday
The Met Office has released a shirt weather summary for tomorrow.
It reads: "A chilly start, fog patches in the south slowly clearing.
"Turning cloudier from the west with rain and drizzle, mostly for western Scotland where gales will develop."
- Joseph Gamp
Turbulent February to come, says forecaster
Forecaster John Hammond added that Brits could be in for a turbulent February, with a mix of wet, and windy weather with snow.
Mr Hammond told The Sun: “Briefly on Thursday a pulse of Arctic air will clip some northern and eastern areas, bringing some wintry showers to the Scottish mountains and perhaps the highest parts of northern England.”
He added: “There are signs of a more lively start to February – it looks wetter and windier at times than for much of the previous month.
- Joseph Gamp
How rail operators plan ahead for bad weather
Behind the scenes, rail operators have emergency plans in place to keep that disruption to a minimum.
Sometimes trains will be running to a different timetable or under speed restrictions; the aim is to get as many people as possible safely to their destination, even if the journey takes longer than normal.
Contact details for many travel operators can be found on our useful contacts page.
- Joseph Gamp
Long range forecast: February 10 – 24
The current north-south split to the weather is likely to continue from mid-February and through to the second half of the month, with most seeing drier than average conditions.
The northwest of the UK is likely to see some rain and strong winds at times.
During this period, temperatures are likely to remain milder than average overall, with brief colder incursions possible in the north.
- Joseph Gamp
Weather outlook for this weekend
The Met Office has released a short weather summary for the weekend.
It reads: “Unsettled and often very windy across the north with gales around some coasts.
“Rain at times, mostly across hills of the northwest.
“Mainly dry for the south.”
- Joseph Gamp
Today was 'mild for many' says Met Office
The Met Office tweeted: "Usually a northwesterly wind brings a #colder feel to our weather.
"However, today it is #mild out there for many.
"To find out why this is, we've got to look further afield to find out where the air is coming from."
- Joseph Gamp
What's in store for this evening's weather?
Showers in the far north dying out.
Clear spells for most areas allowing a frost and some fog patches to form, mainly in the south.
Turning cloudy and breezy in the northwest later.
- Joseph Gamp
London weather outlook for Friday to Sunday
Mostly bright and sunny with occasional fog patches Friday morning.
Turning cloudy with outbreaks of light rain overnight and through Saturday with strong winds. Dry and bright Sunday, light winds.
- Louis Allwood
Parts of country to see snow soon
Some places will soon see snow as the freezing blast holds the country in its grip.
Met Office forecaster Clare Nasir said: “There will be Arctic air streaming down from the north delivering snow showers, particularly in the far north-east of the country.”
However, in most places it’ll stay cold and mostly bright for the rest of the month.
- Louis Allwood
February could be the coldest on record
Next month could be the coldest February on record, according to Ladbrokes.
The bookies now make it just a 3/1 shot for the coldest February EVER to be recorded this year, with temperatures soon set to tumble.
Odds of 2/1 says this ends up being the coldest winter since records began.
Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said: “With a big freeze set to batter all four corners of the UK, the odds suggest we’re in for some record-breaking low temperatures in the coming weeks.”
- Louis Allwood
How rail operators plan ahead for bad weather
Behind the scenes, rail operators have emergency plans in place to keep that disruption to a minimum.
Sometimes trains will be running to a different timetable or under speed restrictions; the aim is to get as many people as possible safely to their destination, even if the journey takes longer than normal.
Contact details for many travel operators can be found on our useful contacts page.
- Louis Allwood
Sleet and snow
There is currently sleet and snow showers over the high ground in Scotland.
Other areas have got blustery showers with heavy hail.
- Louis Allwood
Manchester Saturday to Monday outlook
Cloudy with some rain on Saturday and the possibility of more persistent and heavier rain and stronger winds later on Sunday.
Generally mild this weekend. Colder and brighter on Monday.
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