The Met Office has warned that temperatures are set to plummet at the end of this week as cold Arctic air moves in from the north.
Forecasters warned it will soon be time to dig out the woolly jumpers and scarves as the cold snap approaches, with the possibility of some snow falling in parts of the UK by the end of this week and the start of next.
High pressure will keep conditions dry and settled through most of the week until cold Arctic air starts to move in from the north on Friday. The change in conditions is set to send temperatures plummeting during the rest of the weekend, as well as bringing some strong winds to parts of the UK.
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In Greater Manchester, temperatures are predicted to drop 1C overnight by the end of the week, with temperatures elsewhere in the north west falling as low as -1C. The Met Office also said there may be some snow showers falling over higher ground in the north.
Posting a graphic on X showing the change in weather over the coming days, the Met Office said: “Now’s the time to dig out those winter woolies. Whilst November has been mild, dry and dull so far, a change to colder, windier and wetter weather is on the way this weekend.”
The Met Office said it will be “significantly colder” in the UK from Saturday, warning that rain and showers will likely be seen in most regions as well. “The heaviest and most frequent spells of rain are most likely in the north where they are likely to turn wintry, especially to the hills of Scotland, but perhaps also to lower levels as colder air digs south,” the Met Office’s long-range forecast states.
It added: “The chance of any widespread or disruptive snowfall affecting more populated areas at this stage however remains low. Parts of the south may well see a fair amount of fine and dry weather. Often windy, with a chance of gales at times, especially in the north and east. Temperatures falling below average and feeling particularly cold in the strong winds.”
Before it turns colder, the UK will likely see some much brighter weather during the first part of this week, marking a change from the recent dull conditions. The “anticyclonic gloom”, which which has left some places in the UK with virtually no sunshine for more than a week, has now started to clear.
According to the Met Office, the phenomenon has led to the UK experiencing, on average, only three hours of sunshine in a whole week. And, with Scotland and the far north of England seeing slightly more of the sun than the rest of the country, people living in the south of England have seen just one hour of sunshine, on average, since the month started.
Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon said “atmospheric gloom” is when “high pressure traps a layer of moisture near to the earth’s surface and that brings a prolonged period of dull and cloudy weather, but with pockets of mist and fog as well”.
