Advanced weather modelling maps show half of the UK could be engulfed by snow this week as Storm Éowyn brings a six-hour Arctic blast.
Maps from WXCharts show a massive weather system moving in from the Atlantic early on Friday morning, first hitting Northern Ireland, Wales and the south-west of England. Snow looks most likely in Wales and Northern Ireland, with the data showing flurries of up to 5cm per hour at around 3am.
The storm is then tracked to have moved eastward to cover almost all of England and Scotland. The precipitation is expected to come down as heavy rain in southern and central England, but people living further north look set for heavy snow.
Manchester, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow are among the cities expected to have seen some snow by 6am on Friday. Again, the data suggests snow could be falling at a rate of around 5cm per hour in more rural areas.
Snow depth charts for 9am on Friday show the full extent of the Arctic blast, with snow on the ground in roughly half the country. Accumulations could reach 4cm in Northern Ireland, 1cm in North Wales, 10cm in northern parts of England, 13cm in southern parts of Scotland, and 12cm in the Scottish Highlands.
Fierce winds are also expected to batter the UK this weekend, with the Met Office officially naming Storm Éowyn this morning. A yellow level warning for wind is in place across Friday and Saturday in Northern Ireland and western parts of Scotland.
In it, the Met Office warns of wind speeds reaching 80mph, possibly causing damage to buildings, power cuts, “danger to life” and travel delays. The national forecaster advised: “Prepare to protect your property and people from injury. Check for loose items outside your home and plan how you could secure them. Items include; bins, garden furniture, trampolines, tents, sheds, and fences.
“Give yourself the best chance of avoiding delays by checking road conditions if driving, or bus and train timetables, amending your travel plans if necessary. People cope better with power cuts when they have prepared for them in advance. It’s easy to do; consider gathering torches and batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items.”
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