Enjoy the blue sky while it lasts! Brits shiver in the sunshine as temperatures plummet to as low as -10C in the Arctic before rain and winds sweep Scotland, the North West and Wales tomorrow
- 70mph gales swept through Scotland and northern England overnight before giving way to sunshine today
- But forecasters warned of an Arctic freeze that would see temperatures drop to as low as -10C overnight
- The weather turns unsettled with up to 60mm of rain in Wales over the weekend – making flooding ‘likely’.
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Britons are set to shiver even in bright sunshine today after temperatures were expected to plummet to -10C overnight – the coldest of the year so far.
Arctic freezes hit Scotland last night with “cold and frigid” conditions, with more wintry showers expected in coastal areas.
Forecasters also warned that on a clear, cloudless night, land conditions would turn “bitterly cold” due to a new anticyclone.
It comes after rain and storms that hit northern parts of Britain overnight at speeds of up to 110mph, with thermometers falling below freezing in Manchester, Newcastle (both -2C) and Glasgow (-3C). .
Annie Shuttleworth, the Met Office’s chief operational meteorologist, told the Express: “Temperatures are expected to drop to -10C by morning in rural sheltered areas of Scotland.
“Further south rural minutes will be widespread -2 to -5C in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
“Cold air over Britain is moving in from the Atlantic, this coupled with the light winds and clear skies mean for many it will be a largely frosty start to Friday.”
Met Office meteorologist Clare Nasir said: “An area of low pressure brought snow and storms, but it cleared towards the North Sea by Thursday night.
Britons are set to shiver even in bright sunshine today as temperatures are set to drop to -10C by tonight – the coldest of the year so far. Pictured: Sunrise over the River Avon near Fordingbridge in the New Forest, Hampshire
It comes after rain and storms that hit northern parts of Britain overnight at speeds of up to 110mph, with thermometers falling below freezing in Manchester, Newcastle (both -2C) and Glasgow (-3C). . However, many areas, mainly in the south, are expected to ‘get away’ with just a dry and bright morning.
Forecasters also warned that on a clear, cloudless night, land conditions would turn “bitterly cold” due to a new anticyclone. Pictured: River Avon in the New Forest
Speaking about the conditions this morning, she added: “It’s getting really cold, bitterly cold, inland in the countryside. Temperatures can drop to -4 to -10°C across the highlands.”
By Friday, however, many areas, mainly in the south, are expected to “get away” with just a dry and bright morning, while clouds and heavy and widespread rain descend on Wales on Sunday.
Forecasters are warning that between 40 and 60mm of rain will fall in most areas of Wales before 6pm, with flooding of some homes and businesses described as “probable”.
Significant impairments are also to be expected in bus and train traffic
Scotland is expected to see more snow in the coming days after Wednesday night’s flurries left coverings up to four inches deep on higher spots.
While the fresh snow should have been a boon for skiers, the associated wind and transport issues created an additional headache.
Today, however, many areas, mainly in the south, are expected to ‘get away’ with a dry and bright morning, while clouds and heavy and widespread rain descend on Wales on Sunday. Pictured: Plymouth Sound in Devon,
Pictured: The sun rises over Plymouth Sound in Devon this morning
Clouds and heavy and widespread rain are expected to descend on Wales on Sunday
Forecasters warn that most areas in Wales will see between 40 and 60mm of rain before 6pm, with flooding of some homes and businesses described as “probable”.
Glencoe Mountain Resort tweeted: “Snow coming thick but also fast with high winds so chairlift is on wind stop.”
A photo taken outside the Balsporran Bed And Breakfast in Dalwhinnie, Inverness-shire, showed a walker wading through a waist-deep drift.
The Heart of Argyll Twitter account said people living near Loch Fyne were woken up by a couple of thunderclaps yesterday morning as a hailstorm swept by. Road maintenance company BEAR Scotland said it had deployed 24 gritters on trunk roads in north-west Scotland alone.
Clackmannanshire Council said travelers in the region had to cope with “challenging driving conditions”, with sleet falling in Alloa and snow lying in Muckhart. A number of golf courses across the country have posted messages online saying they are closed.
There were also problems for pedestrians, with ice making many sidewalks slippery.
Met Office spokesman Richard Miles said: “Friday will be broadly fine, with severe freezing early on, with wintry showers later in the north and north-west and winds picking up. Friday night and the rest of the weekend will be wet and windy, albeit milder. There will be storms on the shores.’
Scotland’s lowest temperature so far of 2022 was -7.2 at Eskdalemuir on January 6. The low so far this winter was -10.2 in Braemar on December 22nd.
