UK weather: Blizzards head back as Britain swaps Siberian winds for Arctic gales

By
Eddie Wrenn

Last updated at 7:49 AM on 16th February 2012

Heavy snow and winds are about to return with a vengeance, as forecasters predict another six inches of snow is heading back to Britain.

After a week’s respite of surprisingly mild weather, Arctic gales are sneaking up on our shores, replacing the Siberian winds which covered much of the nation with a thick blanket of snow just two weeks ago.

Up to six inches of snow may fall in Scotland and northern England between Friday night and Sunday.

Snowy scenes in Moffat, in Dumfries and Galloway. Parts of Scotland may have to cope with another six inches of snow this weekend

Snowy scenes in Moffat, in Dumfries and Galloway. Parts of Scotland may have to cope with another six inches of snow this weekend

Warm coat: A blizzard alert is in force from Friday night, with forcasts of heavy snow bringing disruption to people (and animals!)

Warm coat: A blizzard alert is in force from Friday night, with forcasts of heavy snow bringing disruption to people (and animals!)

But forecasters said that, unlike the
two previous rounds of snow which saw the east and south worst-hit, the
north and west will bear the brunt this time – as easterly Siberian
winds are being replaced by north-westerly Arctic gales.

Scotland will feel the first waves, with sleet expected tomorrow – and then Northern Scotland must prepare for the worst as a 21-hour snow and blizzard alert kicks in from midnight on Friday night.

Scotland was warned of transport disruption, with wind gusts of up to 55mph delivering blizzards producing ‘significant accumulations’ of snow.

Moving with the tide: Surfer Martin McQueenie braves the cold to ride a wave at Coldingham Bay, Scotland, depite freezing temperatures

Moving with the tide: Surfer Martin McQueenie braves the cold to ride a wave at Coldingham Bay, Scotland, depite freezing temperatures

Cool rider: Surfer Martin McQueenie cleanly rides a wave at Coldingham Bay, an inlet in the North Sea in Coldingham, Scotland

Cool rider: Surfer Martin McQueenie cleanly rides a wave at Coldingham Bay, an inlet in the North Sea in Coldingham, Scotland

Embracing the cold: Martin McQueenie surfs all year round thanks to improved wetsuit materials and technology

Embracing the cold: Martin McQueenie surfs all year round thanks to improved wetsuit materials and technology

Netweather predicted four to six inches of snow in worst-affected areas.

The Met Office are monitoring whether to extend warnings to northern England, where winds of up to 45mph will blow around any snow which falls, which would make driving conditions difficult.

MET OFFICE THREE DAY UK FORECAST

Thursday: North-westerly Arctic gales of up to 55mph will hit northern Scotland with some sleet expected. Rain will sink slowly southwards, reaching Northern Ireland, northwest England and north Wales by midday. It will stay mild with sunny spells further south.

Friday: Generally dry but rain will erratically sink south across England and Wales. Turning colder from the northwest, with wintry showers affecting north western areas.

Saturday: Gales and blizzards will hit northern Scotland early in the morning with a risk of heavy snow, possibly reaching down to Northern Ireland, and the north of England. The south will gradually clear throughout the day leaving brighter, colder weather by dusk.

Independent forecasters Netweather and The Weather Outlook said England’s north and west face sleet and snow even at low levels.

England’s south and east are not forecast to be at risk of snow.

It will feel like Groundhog Day for
many as the country faces its third Saturday shiver on the trot – all
caused by similar Atlantic weather fronts sweeping from north-west to
south-east.

This
weekend’s snow comes after up to seven inches of snow fell the weekend
before last, and then a -18C post-snowfall plunge made Britain colder
than Mount Everest last Saturday.

The Met Office forecast most parts to
fall to 0C or lower on Saturday and Sunday nights, with a frosty Monday
and snow at times next week on higher ground in the north – although
temperatures will be milder again for most.

A
Met Office forecast said: ‘Friday to Sunday will turn colder from the
northwest, with wintry showers affecting northern areas and a risk of
gales and blizzards across northern Scotland on Saturday.’

Met
Office forecaster Dan Williams said: ‘We’ll keep track of the situation
and keep everyone up to date with the latest developments.’

Despite a slightly warmer week, the snow has still hung about, with Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire still being snow-covered as little as five days ago

Despite a slightly warmer week, the snow has still hung about, with Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire still being snow-covered as little as five days ago

Netweather forecaster Paul Michaelwhite
said: ‘Much colder air will spread south-east across all areas on
Saturday, with frequent snow showers packing in across northern and
north-western areas later on Saturday and through Sunday.

MET OFFICE BLIZZARD WARNING

The Met Office’s blizzard warning is in effect for northern Scotland from midnight on Friday to 9pm on Sunday night.

It reads:

Sleet and snow showers will become
frequent and heavy at times over the north-west Highlands during
Saturday, with significant accumulations away from the west coast.

In
addition, gale-force winds will result in temporary blizzard conditions
over higher ground.

The public should be aware that this is likely to
cause disruption.

‘Gales will bring blizzards across hillier parts of Scotland, with a risk of snow showers and blizzards for northern Britain.

‘I’d be surprised if somewhere didn’t see 10-15cm locally, although it would be on higher ground and depends on temperatures when the snow falls.

‘Central and southern areas will be bright and cold once rain clears on Saturday, with a return of overnight frosts everywhere.’

Forecaster Brian Gaze of The Weather Outlook said: ‘A cold front will push down from the north-west bringing rain to most, followed by colder air with showers which could well fall as sleet or snow even to low levels in northern and western areas.

‘There’s also a chance of more persistent rain on the back edge of the cold front turning to sleet or snow before clearing away to the south.’

Here’s what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts,
or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have not been moderated.

I can report that we have balmy mid-February weather here in Manchester. Well, by “balmy” I mean at least three degrees above zero, no rain, no wind, no snow, nothing, just a white cloud-covered sky. By the way, just to update, my little Washingtonia palm tree in the back garden is still surviving well and the Council have now managed to resurface all the roads last Sunday that they put off doing on the Sunday the 5th because of a sudden deluge of icy sleet and snow the day before. And a very good job they have made of it too. I really envy that surfer out there in the waves, though. How I managed to end up living in landlocked Manchester is one of my life’s greatest mysteries. Lilly , Melbourne Australia, 16/2/2012 3:04….but hang on, didn’t you too have snow and hailstones earlier this month? I got this news on good authority from a friend of mine who has a sister living there.

Remember this? Yes – it’s called snow and has been happening for at least 2000 years, at least it won’t snow in the south so we will be spared headlines about the London blizzards (a flake of snow on Oxford Street) or commuters struggling through 1mm of snow on Westminster Bridge
– Philip Robinson, Huddersfield, 16/2/2012 07:54+++++++And when the North gets one millimetre of snow more than us, we can then listen to them saying how hard we have it oop’ North compared to the soft South.

Del: “Did you ever consider that the ‘DM’ got it’s facts from the Met Office?” Actually, if you read the sippers that are quoted from the Met Office, they rarely bear any resemblance to what is being reported. Yes, it looks to be cold in Northern Scotland, but surely that’s normal for that part of the country. Almost as close to Norway as london.

Excellent report and very informative. DM obviously have the interest of the general public at heart. Need to stock up on bread and milk. Must try and beat all the other panic buyers out there. If I wanted a comic I would have bought the Beano!

Alternative Headline : It gets cold in February.

Snow feeling cold together? Really? Noooooo! The last time the dm predicted snow it took 2 months to arrive lasted 48 hours. The end is neigh, etc and so on, blah blah blah…………

News ????

Once again the mail just can’t resist dramatising an article. For most of the uk, it will just be turning a little colder at the weekend with a bit of rain. Why do the mail senstionalise every article they print? Do they think we don’t have enough sense to see through it? I would never pay to buy the mail, and only read articles online to marvel at it’s Walter Mitty outlook on life in Britain today. It’s really a wonder that any of us can survive for 24 hours in such a dangerous country!

Remember this? Yes – it’s called snow and has been happening for at least 2000 years, at least it won’t snow in the south so we will be spared headlines about the London blizzards (a flake of snow on Oxford Street) or commuters struggling through 1mm of snow on Westminster Bridge

Bill Turnbull and company discussing the weather and tourism – ‘Bring your Lolly not your Brolly’ – very amusing!

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