Clear skies and light winds overnight have resulted in a widespread, sharp frost along with some freezing fog patches forming in some areas but out to the southwest an Atlantic low pressure system is moving closer bringing freshening winds to the south today along with some rain and snow.
Temperatures have dropped to as low as -10°C in places during the night so it's a very cold start this morning but once any mist and fog patches clear for many areas it will be a dry day with sunny spells with just a few showers across northern parts of Scotland. However, freshening winds and thickening cloud are already bringing outbreaks of rain into south-western parts of Ireland, and this rain will slowly edge north-eastwards during the day, reaching parts of Wales and southwest England this afternoon. As that rain nudges into the cold air then it is likely to turn to sleet and snow, especially over high ground where several cm's of snow are possible. It will be a cold day with many places only just climbing a degree or two above freezing and those freshening winds in the south will make it feel colder still, but milder air will lift temperatures up to 8°C or 9°C in the extreme southwest.
That band of rain and snow will continue to make its way a little further north and east tonight, reaching parts of the south Midlands, East Anglia and southeast England, but the precipitation will tend to become lighter during the night so no significant amounts of snow are expected. Further north and a widespread, severe frost will form again tonight bringing the risk of icy surfaces whilst one or two mist or fog patches may also form. This takes us into a cold and bright end to the week for the north and west but a few wintry showers will affect coastal regions whilst in the south that band of cloud and increasingly patchy rain and snow will linger for much of the day.
METEOROLOGIST: BARBER
|