UK weather: Icy conditions expected as cold blast continues

Bright sunny spells are forecast for Saturday across UK

Bright sunny spells are forecast for Saturday across the UK (PA)

Chilly and crisp weather is forecast this weekend across the UK, with the Met Office warning that icy conditions are likely to persist until Tuesday at the very earliest.

The snowfall seen this week may continue in the hills and mountains of Scotland and Northern England.

It follows the dramatic “thundersnow” experienced overnight into Friday by some Edinburgh residents; a rare combination of heavy snow with thunder and lightning, making a sound like a distant explosion.

In lower areas across the North, it will mostly be rain on Saturday, but there is a yellow weather warning in place across north-east Scotland, with a risk of flooding to some homes and disruption to public transport.

The warning covers Inverness, Aberdeen, Perth and Edinburgh, with up to 40mm forecast to fall.

Residents in Kent, the far east of Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk may face a few showers which could lead to more widespread ice in these areas. 

Matthew Box, a meteorologist with the Met Office, said: “By and large the most widespread snow is over, so through Friday night we could see some snow over high ground including the Peak District, Pennines, and through Saturday morning the Welsh mountains.

“It will be a cold-feeling day but there will be some bright sunny spells through Saturday, but showers will continue to affect many coastal areas where the wind is coming in off the sea” he said.

Parts of southeastern, central and northern England will have the best chance of sunshine, and overall the picture is brighter and drier compared to Friday.

But Saturday night into Sunday is likely to be very cold, with temperatures potentially dipping to minus 10C (14F) in northern Scotland.

Mr Box said: “Saturday night into Sunday is going to see a relatively widespread frost where we have clearer skies, particularly across parts of England and Wales, as well as further north in Scotland.”

Although there may be areas of fog across the Midlands and into the south east on Sunday, overall it’s expected to be a pleasant and crisp winter day.