The UK is preparing for a “brutal” snow vortex as a polar blast is expected to sweep the nation, causing temperatures to plummet to -2C. Weather forecasts and charts predict a significant decline in conditions as we enter next month.
Wednesday, October 2, is expected to be particularly cold, with WXCharts forecasts showing a harsh weather front moving across areas such as the Highlands, Perth and Kinross, and Stirling, with temperatures ranging from -2C to 0C. Regions such as Cairngorms, Ullapool, Inverness, and Fort William are bracing for snowfall, while the Lake District in England can also expect a light dusting, reports the Mirror.
On Wednesday, forecaster James Madden from Exacta Weather said: “Yesterday and overnight also brought the first heavy snow showers and settling snow of this week across the ‘highest’ ground in Scotland /ski resorts.”
He added: “Some additional and non-significant wintry weather could also develop across the highest ground once again throughout the early hours of tomorrow in parts of the Cairngorms and the Nevis Range. Overnight Thursday and throughout much of Friday will then bring an even greater risk for some more notable snow across these regions as unsettled conditions coincide with the colder and optimum temperature for snow in these parts.”
“Nevertheless, these are some great early signals for the ski resorts this year and our upcoming winter, especially when September has now brought multiple snow events to these parts (one earlier this month, one yesterday, possibly early Thursday before the risk of something more notable on Friday).
“It could also turn rather cool and autumnal towards month end, coinciding with unsettled conditions pushing in off the Atlantic to deliver a relatively early wintry blast that could bring snow in September to the ‘highest’ ground and ski resorts in the north of Scotland.”
The Met Office is forecasting that England and Wales will see outbreaks of rain moving southward today and into Friday. Some of this rainfall could be heavy and potentially thundery.