A monster snow storm is set to sweep across parts of England, Wales and Northern Ireland – advanced weather modelling maps suggest snow could be falling at a rate of around two inches per hour
Brits are set to be buffeted by as much as two inches of snow per hour with a biting storm set to sweep across England, Wales and parts of Northern Ireland. GFS weather modelling maps show a storm moving in from the Atlantic sweeping across several counties next month.
Snow looks likely to make landfall in the early hours of April 8, bringing intense flurries to the south-west of England, southern parts of Wales, and eastern parts of Northern Ireland including Belfast. Where flurries are most intense in England, the data suggests snow could be falling at a rate of around 2cm per hour.
By midday on April 8, the maps show the snow will be focused across southern-central England, hitting London also. Snow at this time could be falling at a staggering rate of around 5cm per hour (roughly two inches per hour). There will also be some lighter snow over central Wales and the Pennines in northern England.
The picture is equally miserable for much of the rest of England with rain fallowing across the North West, Cumbria, Yorkshire, East Anglia and much of the Midlands. Snow is also expected in the western Highlands in Scotland around this time.
Snow coverage maps for midday on April 8 reveal the full extent of this Arctic blast, with 1cm to 2cm settled on the ground across southern Wales and the south-west of England. Some snow is also expected to settle in the south-east, the Pennines and parts of Scotland, although accumulations in these regions won’t be as great.
The Met Office forecast for April 1 to 10 warns of potential «cooler weather» to come. It states: «From the start of April, settled weather is expected to cover much of the UK. Most places are expected to be dry with clear or sunny spells and light winds. Inland areas will see a general day on day warming next week.
«It will probably remain slightly cooler near coastal areas, with an additional risk of mist or sea fog affecting parts of the east coast. There is a chance for more unsettled and perhaps cooler weather for a time. However the main signal is for dry and fine weather across the country during this period. Temperatures will likely be around or above normal and feeling warm during the day, and some cold nights are still possible when skies are clear.»
The BBC forecast for March 31 to April 6 warns of an Artic «cold snap» that could take hold. It states: «As April arrives, global weather prediction models are still experiencing some difficulties in depicting a consistent weather pattern. Some are showing a stronger high pressure signal shifting over the far north-west of Europe during next week. This could lead to an increased risk of a colder snap, with air masses of Arctic origin possibly moving across the United Kingdom from the north or north-east from Scandinavia for example.
«Other weather model solutions are going for a stable high pressure dominated pattern, with the high pressure becoming settled over parts of the UK for a while and later shifting towards Scandinavia, ensuring a lot of dry weather with lighter winds.
«However, the high pressure could eventually move towards Iceland and Greenland towards the end of next week, opening the door for a colder north-west to northerly flow as mentioned above. Then, even slight overnight frosts are possible, among with some wintry showers on the higher ground.»
