UK to get colder...but how cold and what will it bring?

[Gord_on_snow]

Theres a lot of uncertainity over here at the moment.

We'eve had a whopping great high pressure dominating our weather for some time now giving us cloudy, murky, sometimes sunny conditions with average temperautures. But this weekend looks interesting.

It looks likely that the cold from Europe will start to affect us. At this stage, unsure how cold it's going to get. We know the winds will go easterly, whch is a cold direction here, but they may go northerly next week. At the minute, snow hasn't been ruled ut, but it's likely we will see cold dry days and some pretty frosty night. Freezing fog could also make a return. But the snow..we just don't know..it's hard to tell just how cold it will get, the tempertaures could stay around average.

Watch this space....

[JCT777]

Sounds interesting. Let us know how cold it gets!

[TexasStooge]

You maybe getting the same thing we've got last Saturday, who knows?

Keep us posted!

[Gord_on_snow]

Well tonight, further devlopment is...well not a lot to be honest.

However, South East England is looking to get quite cold on Friday, possibly some light snow over the south west moors. A bisk northerly is also looking more likely from next Sunday onwards..but how long it will last and what will follow it is still very unclear. Some suggest it will become temparily mild before cold again, others suggest it to be more than that.

Even though this is increasingly looking like a cold dry spell, some forecasts are already talking about the possibility of "wintry showers" at the weekend.

Right now, its cool, cloudy and calm with light north easterly winds...so its cetainly getting slowly colder all the time, even though the temperatures are still around average.

Still, this is a great example of how difficult it is to call these situations in the UK , with a massive ocean to the west of us and a whole continent to the south and east of us it can sometimes come right down to the last minute and the fine details before we know whats going to happen. one thing is certain, the Atlantic has been fairly lively all winter throwing us mild and wet weather with short lived northerly blasts...but the Atlantic is effectively dead right now leaving our influences to come from the north and east. Interesting times ahead.

Keep watching this space!

[Gord_on_snow]

Update:

We are currently in a light easterly breeze. Temparatures across the UK range from about 2C to 7C at the moment. Thats average to below average. Parts of south west and southern England saw snow yesterday..but not a great amount.

We are now expecting the winds to swing north tomorrow bringing much colder conditions and the possiblitly of some snow showers...again though, amounts may not be great.

The real interest is focused on mid week when there is a chance that some more significant snow could push south across the UK on troughs being pushed on by strong northerly winds. the north and east coasts could also get some hefty snow showers pushing in off the north sea...but that really depends on is the winds can go slightily easterly. I live on the east coast, so i will be watching with interest.

More updates to come!........

[Gord_on_snow]

Part one has started today.

I've seen many snow and hail showers pass through this morning, as has the whole of the east coast. Temperatures have fallen to aroun 1-2C here, still a bit higher further south. Dew points are falling rapidally though and are around -9C.

The snow has not settled as yet here today, but the showers are piling in thick and fast. The cold NE wind is very strong and dricving these snow showers in off the sea.

It's expected to briefly get milder tomorrow with some rain, but then the cold air returns with a band mid week, although detail is still too sketchy for that one.

hopefully, this afternoon and this evening will get interesting now.

[ColdFront77]

Gord_on_snow, are you sure it was hail you saw, Sunday morning?

It is very unlikely to have hail during a winter storm event.

[Gord_on_snow]

We class hail slightly different to you over here. We get summer thunderstorm hail, but we also call ice pellets hail. Confusing I know, but thats what we call it in the UK. so to make it clearer for you, it was ice pellets that fell. It's just that they are known as hail here.

Sorry for the confusion.

[ColdFront77]

Sorry about that, Gord. I understand.

Ice pellets are generally called sleet here in the United States.

Thank you for the clarification of the term in the United Kingdom.

[JCT777]

Your weather sounds good, Gord_on_snow. Keep us updated!

[Gord_on_snow]

A cold dry day today with some dustings of snow left.

A mild sector with rain is expected tomorrow. but as soon as that clears, the real cold from the north sets in. and thats when it starts to get interesting.

The really cold air should start to get into Scotland late tomorrow afternoon (Tuesday) and then make its was south through England and Wales. Some areas could see a lot of snow this week as the cold air is expected to stick right up to the weekend and possibly beyond. But for most of tomorrow, lets get that mild, wet sector through!

[Gord_on_snow]

Update:
Well, where do i start?

First of all, ive had blizzards battering here all evening in the north east, with lots more lined up in the north sea.

North and east Scotland have seen appalling conditions with very strong winds and heavy snow.

the north West, Northern Ireland and Wales down to the south west have seen a period of heavy snow.
Even the channel islands have reported 3cm of snow, incredible for them down there, they rarely see snow nowadays.

Eastern England has been affecetd by snow showers and polar lows.

Only south east England and the midlands have missed out, and they're expected to get their as the winds veer more easterly over the next couple of days...with a lot more showers and blizzards for me here!!

So from a very snowy UK..........

[ColdFront77]

... and 3 centimeters [of snow] is between 1 and 2 inches.

[Gord_on_snow]

Tonights update

Very heavy snow where i live tonight. Has been falling for an hour and a half now.

Still bad in north and east Scotland. Has turned nasty in parts of Wales.

And this weekend, it looks like at long last the south east of England will finally see the snow, i'm feeling so sorry for them down there, as they are saying our UK forums, they are feeling quite left out.

Looks like he mild weather will come back next week. Could possibly bring some wet and windy conditions.