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UK Set for Sudden Weather Shift as Atlantic Storm Brings Snow and Heavy Rain
The UK is set to experience a sharp drop in temperatures later this month as a powerful Atlantic storm system is forecast to bring a mix of snow, rain, and unsettled weather conditions across the country.
Currently, much of the UK is enjoying an unseasonably warm spell, with temperatures expected to reach the low 20°C range on Friday, thanks to a dominant area of high pressure. This mild weather is likely to continue over the weekend and into the early part of next week, delivering sunshine and blue skies to many regions. However, this brief taste of spring won’t last, as winter-like conditions are expected to return soon.
Weather maps from WXCharts suggest that by mid-April, the UK will see a notable temperature drop, with much of the country experiencing single-digit temperatures. Snow clouds are forecast to form, and a weather chart for April 16 at 6pm reveals a long band of snow and rain stretching across the UK as low pressure pushes in from the Atlantic Ocean.
Central and southern Scotland could be hit by several centimetres of snow per hour, while northern England and southern Scotland are expected to receive heavy rain, with more than 5mm falling per hour.
By 6am on April 17, the storm system will have moved further inland, with its centre located over the Irish Sea. Northwest England is forecast to receive the heaviest rainfall, along with light snowfall in some areas. Again, more than 5mm of rain per hour is possible in some locations.
A later forecast map for midday on April 17 shows the low-pressure system beginning to exit towards the east, but widespread rain will continue, along with snowfall lingering in northern and western parts of Scotland.
Meanwhile, the Met Office also expects changeable weather through the middle of the month. For the period of April 9 to 18, early forecasts predict the continued presence of high pressure, keeping conditions mostly dry and sunny in the beginning. Daytime temperatures are expected to remain warm, especially inland, while coastal areas with onshore winds will stay cooler. However, frosty nights are still possible in clearer, calmer areas.
As the period progresses, the weather is likely to turn more unsettled, with increasing chances of showers and longer spells of rain across all regions of the UK.
