'Arctic blast' to hit Britain as snow to bring the beginning of winter

17 November 2024, 00:37

London, UK. 16 November 2024  Walkers on Wimbledon common, south west London on a cold day as  temperatures start to drop .
The UK is set to be hit with an Arctic blast - as winter descends on Britain. . Picture: Alamy

By Chay Quinn

The UK is set to be hit with an Arctic blast - as winter descends on Britain.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The Met Office, which has issued weather warnings for snow and ice for parts of the country from Sunday to Tuesday, has urged people to get their "woolly jumpers at the ready!" as "temperatures are set to drop next week with wintry weather on the way".

There is a yellow warning for snow and ice in northern Scotland from 4pm on Sunday until 11am on Monday.

The Met Office has also issued a yellow warning for parts of northern England and southern Scotland on Monday and Tuesday, with up to 20cm (around 8in) of snow possible on higher ground.

Read More: Labour 'set to strike Italy-style migrant deals' in new bid to stop small boat Channel crossings

Read More: Xi tells Biden that China is ready to work with Trump after President-Elect threatened tariffs on rival

There is a small chance of up to 10cm (4in) of snow settling at lower levels, which could prove disruptive, forecasters said.

The warning covers much of southern Scotland and north-east England, parts of Yorkshire, and parts of north-west England, including Lancashire and Cumbria, and is in force from 10am on Monday until 10am on Tuesday.

13th November 2024, London, UK  An Early Start for Christmas in London  Christmas fairs and lights march November 13th as the start of Christmas in Marylebone and as Spitalfields Market. Photo Credit: Roland Ravenhill/Alamy
13th November 2024, London, UK An Early Start for Christmas in London Christmas fairs and lights march November 13th as the start of Christmas in Marylebone and as Spitalfields Market. Photo Credit: Roland Ravenhill/Alamy. Picture: Alamy

Met Office meteorologist Ellie Glaiyser, in an online forecast, said it may be "quite a chilly start to the day" for many on Sunday and plenty of showers are set to hit, particularly across northern parts of Scotland in the afternoon.

She said: "Brighter spells across the very far south of England could see people enjoying a "quite pleasant" 11 or 12C in areas where there is sunshine and light winds.

But clouds, particularly across Northern Ireland, and northerly winds in Scotland mean afternoon temperatures are not set to reach much above 4-5C.

By Monday there is a risk of some sleet and snow that could be disruptive, the forecaster says.

Ms Glaiyser said that with temperatures forecast to drop to zero "if not just below, particularly in some rural spots", particularly in the north there could be "quite a hard frost likely on Monday morning, and this could lead to some icy stretches".

She urged travellers to "take care during Monday morning's rush hour".

The sleet and snow is most likely to be falling over any high ground.

She added: "We could perhaps see up to 20 centimetres of snow across the Pennines and at lower levels it will mostly be falling as rain.

"There is still a very small chance that we could see some sleet and snow perhaps causing some disruption during Monday afternoon to lower levels, but for the most part that sleet and snow (is) remaining over the high ground for parts of Scotland."

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has also issued a cold health alert covering the Midlands and North of England from Sunday morning through to Thursday.

It states that weather conditions are likely to have minor impacts on health and social care services, including increased use of healthcare services by vulnerable people and there is a greater risk to life of vulnerable people.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

The 22-year-old was one of six British players through to the second round at Roland Garros but her stay was ended in brutal fashion, 6-1 6-2, by the four-time champion

Raducanu routed by Swiatek again as French Open hopes crushed in straight sets

Germany's chancellor Friedrich Merz said that under an intensified cooperation agreement Germany will “will strive to equip the Ukrainian army with all the capabilities that truly enable it to successfully defend the country".

Germany offers to support Ukraine to develop its own long-range missiles to strike Russia

Breaking
Andrew Tate, right, speaks to media next to his brother Tristan. The pair have both been charged with rape by UK police.

Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan charged with raping four women by UK police

Thomas Woldbye could not be reached during Heathrow's power shutdown because his phone was on silent

Heathrow chief out of reach during airport power shutdown as phone was on silent, inquiry finds

The head of the Metropolitan Police, Sir Mark Rowley, said forces will more often have to release personal details about suspects earlier, following the Liverpool FC parade crash.

Race and ethnicity of suspects to be released earlier after Liverpool FC parade attack, Met Police chief says

Kevin Costner in Horizon An American Saga - Chapter 1

Hollywood star Kevin Costner sued by stuntwoman over 'violent' unscripted rape scene in new film

PC Stephen Smith and PC Rachel Comotto denied assaulting Donald Burgess, a single-leg amputee, at Park Beck care home in St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, on June 21, 2022.

Two police officers who pepper-sprayed and tasered amputee, 92, in care home cleared of assault

England's test cricket squad. GB cricket is set to compete in the 2028 Olympics

GB Cricket set to form ahead of Olympic return for sport at Los Angeles 2028

Mohammad Sinwar, pictured, has been listed as killed by air strikes

Hamas Gaza leader Mohammed Sinwar 'eliminated', says Netanyahu

The supermarket chain has installed overhead cameras at its self-service checkouts to prevent people "conning" the machines in order to steal goods

Tesco’s 'VAR for veg' checkout cameras mocked by shoppers as queues grow and frustration mounts

This court sketch created on May 23, 2025, shows the defendant, French retired surgeon Joel Le Scouarnec listening during a hearing in his trial.

'Devil in a white coat' surgeon jailed for 20 years in France's biggest ever child sexual abuse scandal

Authorities said the suspect was arrested and they are not treating it as an act of terrorism

Seven still in hospital as police given more time to question Liverpool parade crash suspect

Police are appealing for the whereabouts of the suspect, Tino Williams (L) who is wanted in connection with the murder of  Brandon Porter Kershaw (R)

Manhunt underway for suspect linked to murder of 'kind-hearted' teenage father outside a primary school

Sports Team singer Alex Rice. The band have spoken about the robbery and gun culture in America

UK band robbed at gunpoint in US say it is still 'greatest country in the world'

In Brazil a pair of nuns have gone viral after beatboxing, singing and dancing live on TV.

Two Brazilian nuns go viral after stunning beatboxing performance on Catholic TV

dward James Watson Massey, from Co Down in Northern Ireland, is said to have "tragically passed" on May 22 at a hotel swimming pool in Tenerife

‘He will be cherished in our hearts forever,' British boy, four, dies in swimming pool tragedy on holiday in Tenerife