The UK braces for severe storms with gales up to 75mph and heavy snow from Friday, as low pressure moves in from the west. Weather maps show "scary red" hues indicating the strongest winds, with temperatures feeling as cold as -6C across northern England and Scotland.
Peak gale speeds will reach up to 75mph, particularly hitting Scotland's west coast and Lancashire's coast by 6pm on Friday. The strongest winds will sweep inland across Cumbria and Northumberland in the early hours of Saturday. The harsh conditions mark a stark contrast to Tuesday, when temperatures exceeded 12C in parts of Slough and Swanage, and most of the country stayed dry.
Dozens of flood warnings and alerts are currently active for the coming days, mainly across the Midlands. Heavy rainfall is forecast throughout Friday, working eastwards Friday night, with more than 16mm expected in just a few hours across Aberdeenshire and East Lothian. Wales, Northwest England, and parts of Scotland will be worst affected. Showers will linger throughout Saturday, with further rain arriving on Sunday.
Snow forecast for next week
Snow is predicted to hit the UK for 21 hours across December 15 and 16 next week, affecting all four nations. WX Charts forecasts the heaviest snowfall in Galloway Forest Park in Scotland, with significant accumulations also expected across the Lake District, Pennines, and Snowdonia.
Four English counties – Cumbria, Durham, Northumberland, and Lancashire – will see rain turn to snow from Friday afternoon onwards. Heavy snow is forecast for North Wales by 3pm, intensifying for 21 hours. Nearly all of Scotland, Northern Ireland, north Wales, and northern England will experience blanket snow conditions.
Dense fog warning
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for dense fog on Wednesday morning, from 4am to 9.45am. Twenty-five areas across the East Midlands, East of England, South East, South West, Wales, and West Midlands face visibility below 100 metres in places.
Netweather meteorologists stated on their blog: «Into Friday, patchy rain and showers will continue for some, especially near to coasts. The next band of rain will arrive from the southwest during the day though. Saturday looks to be a particularly active day with a good rash of showers, some merging into longer spells of rain, all thanks to low pressure overhead.»
The Met Office warned on its website: «Early fog, then bright and breezy, with fewer showers on Friday. Further wind and rain sweeping northeastwards through the day. Brighter with blustery showers on Saturday. Further rain on Sunday.»
Slower journey times and delays to buses, trains, and flights are expected Wednesday morning. Drivers should allow extra time, use fog lights, and maintain greater distances. Ice on roads poses additional hazards as water droplets freeze in low temperatures.
Longer-term outlook
The Met Office forecasts a continuation of unsettled conditions from Sunday onwards. Temperatures will generally stay near or slightly above average, though feeling cool in the wind and rain. From December 17 into January, changeable weather will persist with rain, showers, and strong winds, especially in the west.
Hill snow remains a possibility mainly in northern areas during this period. However, spells of high pressure may bring more dry weather compared to early December, increasing the chances of overnight fog and frost.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
