UK cold weather: Britain braced for three snow blasts in 48 hours as Arctic chill returns

A spot of sunshine across Britain and milder temperatures has lured the nation into a false sense of security. That’s because Saturday night will see a return of an Arctic front, which will bring a host of bitterly cold conditions that could last into early next week. This, and interactive weather models suggest snow could be making a belated comeback.

Netweather senior forecaster Jo Farrow says the plunging temperatures will sweep across northern Britain this weekend, bringing frost to places with clear skies. This could impact those living in Northern Ireland, the far north of England and southern Scotland, she said.

But, it’ll be all change for the Grampians and northern isles, with wintry showers predicted which could sweep southwards to northern England.

While temperatures may only just recover on the longer daylight hours on Sunday when the clocks go back an hour, with highs of 3C felt in the Midlands, with lows of 2C north of Manchester, the real sting will start on Sunday night.

This is when the Arctic blast will really dial up for nearly all of Britain, with cities including London and Birmingham falling to freezing by Monday morning.

UK weather maps

UK weather maps

Newcastle and Edinburgh will fall below OC to -2C and -3C respectively with a pillar of snow seemingly starting to lay southerly from Scotland, through Manchester, Birmingham and then across Cardiff in Wales.

Weather maps show that the bone-chilling air will get more intense from about 3pm on Sunday, at least for northern parts of England and the Midlands. That’s before it slowly creeps further south on Monday – this time encapsulating all of Britain.

Snow plumes will hit on Sunday night, Monday and Tuesday – with some isolated showers potentially hitting Scotland on Wednesday. The good news is, the time of year will make it harder for the snow to settle, with the ground warming up.

Aiden McGivern, a meteorologist at the Met Office said: “We’ve got colder winds returning from the north on Saturday and Saturday could bring some wintryness to the showers in the north of Scotland. By Sunday those wintry showers will be extending further south, behind a weather front which is likely to turn to snow over the hills on its back edge.

UK weather maps

UK weather map

UK weather map

“That air is coming from the Arctic bringing marked temperature differences by the time we get to the start of next week. It will be cold enough in some spots for snow, but this isn’t looking like a really potent, very wintry northerly.

“It’s just going to make it feel a bit colder and mostly the snow will not settle.”

With the first week of April looming, many will be wondering just how much longer this weather will go on for. Jim Dale, senior meteorologist at British Weather Services told Express.co.uk it’ll be shortlived.

He said: “Yes, it’ll be cold for all, for sure with widespread frosts on Monday and Tuesday, with snow still mainly for Scottish hills and mountains plus Cumbrian high ground – maybe north Pennines.”

But, teasing an end may be in sight by the middle of next week, he added: “Any lower level snow likely to be sporadic then melts in the day. It’ll be all over during Wednesday.

“Then a hint of much warmer and drier weather for Easter, but just a hint for now.”