Snow, harsh cold to invade UK late this week

Big changes are coming to the United Kingdom as cold air, gusty winds and snow sweep across the country later this week.

While eastern Europe has endured brutal cold and snow for the past week, the U.K. has been spared. However, that will come to an end.

A polar air mass will drop from Greenland to the U.K., which will set the stage for several days of snow and cause temperatures to tumble.

High temperatures ahead of this cold blast will average 8-10 C (46-50 F) throughout the country. However, by Friday, high temperatures will reach only 2-4 C (36-40 F) in most areas.

Gusty winds will lash much of the U.K. on Thursday, making it feel much colder, before another round of travel-disrupting and locally damaging wind reaches Scotland and eastern England on Friday.

The chill first reached Scotland and Northern Ireland on Wednesday, with widespread showers throughout the day turning wintry on the hills.

This cold air will plunge southward across the rest of the U.K. into Thursday as the threat for wintry showers expands to all of Scotland and Northern Ireland along with northwestern England and Wales. Most of the snow accumulations is likely in the north, although some flakes can mix into southern England.

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The same areas will get additional snow showers on Thursday night and Friday. Total accumulation of 5-10 cm (2-4 inches) is expected in areas that receive repeated snowfall with local amounts over 20 cm (8 inches) in the higher ground of Scotland.

Any snowfall can create dangerous road conditions and cause delays to rail and air travel.

Even the places that do not see snow on Thursday night could be at risk for travel delays. As rain showers move out of southern England in the evening, temperatures will drop down to around the freezing mark, likely causing some slick spots on roads and sidewalks.

Snow will be in the air near the eastern coast of England on Friday, where some minor accumulation is possible and could result in travel disruption; otherwise, southern England will avoid any significant impacts from snowfall this week.

Even though no accumulating snowfall is expected at this time, flakes may still be seen across Greater London this weekend.

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