Temperatures in various parts of the UK reached over 19C this week, but a dramatic drop below freezing is anticipated in the near future. Advanced weather forecasting models indicate that snow and wintry weather conditions will affect a large number of Brits later in March, following the warm beginning of the month.
According to the ECMWF weather model, snowfall is expected in western, central, and eastern regions of Scotland on March 13, with flurries also predicted for Wales and Northern Ireland. The data suggests that snow could fall at a rapid rate of approximately four inches per hour in certain areas of Wales.
For March 14, 15, and 16, the maps show that snow will be concentrated mainly in Scotland, with significant accumulations projected for March 15, covering most parts of the country including Glasgow and Edinburgh.
On March 17, sparse pockets of snow are expected to spread across northern areas of England and South Wales, with Swansea likely to experience flurries around midday. The following day, flurries are forecasted to move across England, with snow expected in Devon and Hampshire in southern England, along with potential heavy snowfall in Northern Ireland.
Small pockets of snow are anticipated in western Scotland, Wales, and England on March 19, while March 20 is expected to bring widespread snowfall across Scotland and parts of northern England, with Manchester likely to see snow early in the day. Lighter snow is predicted for Scotland on March 21.
Throughout this period of consistent snowfall spanning nine days, temperatures are expected to dip below freezing. The mercury could plummet to -3C in Scotland on March 19, -1C in Northern Ireland and northern England, and 0C in Wales.
The Met Office warns of potential wintry hazards in later March but does not anticipate extremely cold conditions. The outlook for March 20 to April 3 suggests unsettled conditions across the UK initially, with the possibility of below-average temperatures towards the end of March. However, there is currently no strong indication of prolonged cold weather.
BBC Weather forecasts that from March 16 to 29, high pressure over Europe and low pressure systems in the eastern North Atlantic could bring frontal systems across the UK, affecting northern and western regions initially. Rainfall might become more widespread, with temperatures expected to remain near to slightly above average overall, although a chance of colder air moving southwards towards the start of April remains uncertain.