Southern Britain could be hit with 'significant snow' next week: Cold blast is ... trends now
The UK could see 'significant snow' next week as early warning signs of disruptive cold weather develop in the Atlantic, with the Met Office warning the approaching cold snap could see temperatures in the double digits below freezing.
The Met Office today said a brutal blast of Arctic air from Norway could whip through the country for at least a week.
Dubbed the 'Troll of Trondheim', it could arrive as early as tonight and will see snow showers and ice form across large parts of Britain - with temperatures expected to fall to around -10C by the weekend.
Early modelling for the middle of next week suggests that snow could hit the country when a low pressure system drifts up and moist air hits the colder temperatures bringing heavy snow across parts of the south, Met Office meteorologist Alex Deakin said in a long-range forecast.
He said there could be 'significant' snow in central parts of England and Wales in one of the predicted models for next week.
Mr Deakin said that if the low pressure system heads towards France instead, it would leave the UK with cold north and north-easterly winds for a longer time, but with snowfall confined to the south of England.
In London, mayor Sadiq Khan agreed to implement emergency planning which includes sheltering homeless people in the capital against the severe weather.
There are currently yellow weather warnings in place into Friday as the Met Office predicts icy conditions with overnight double-digit sub zero temperatures in exposed parts of the UK could last for at least a week.
One model suggested snow will hit the south of England and move north, bringing more 'significant snow', the Met Office said
Another model suggested the snow could be focused in the south of England. The presence of snow will depend on the movement of the low pressure system in the Atlantic
A workman clearing snow from the pavements in Tomintoul, Scotland
A car battles an icy A939 in Scotland as an Arctic chill sweeps Britain
Up to four inches of snow are predicted to fall this week above 650ft with temperatures set to plummet.
But forecasters warned even at lower levels, the mercury will drop and up to 2in of snow could fall.
A strong northerly wind is also likely to produce 'drifting and blizzard conditions' in some areas, according to meteorologists.
'In the southern half of Britain temperatures will probably plunge to between -5C and -10C in some locations and in the Welsh valleys they may fall below -10C,' The Weather Outlook forecaster Brian Gaze told Express.
'Forecast details become much more uncertain next week, but some computer models are showing areas of low pressure starting to push up from the southwest.
'It is only one possible scenario being shown by computer models at the present time, but if it happens the chance of disruptive snow in the southern half of Britain will increase.'
Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Jason Kelly, said that next week will see wintry showers, mainly for coasts, and freezing fog patches inland.
'An area of low pressure may then threaten southern and southwestern parts of the UK through mid-week,' he explained.
'Confidence in the exact track of this system is low, but should it push precipitation into the UK, then this would readily turn to snow, with a lower chance of freezing rain.
'How far north the milder air gets is also open to a lot of uncertainty, but for now, many central and northern areas are likely to remain in the Arctic airmass.'
It comes as public health chiefs today urged people to prioritise heating their living rooms during the day to survive the cold.
The UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) said main rooms should be kept to at least 18C to avoid dangerous conditions amid fears cost of living pressures will stop households from turning on the central heating even with temperatures reaching -10C.
Racing has been cancelled at Hexham, Northumbria due to the cold, with further disruption for sports and on the public transport system expected in the coming days.
Elsewhere, desperate families are taking drastic measures to stay warm such as spending the day in only one room, only turning on the heating once a week, and covering walls with cardboard to serve as temporary insulation.
The Met Office has extended Wednesday's yellow weather warnings into Thursday and Friday, with ice in coastal and northern England, with both snow and ice expected in northern Scotland.
There is also a risk of wintry snow showers extending across the north and west of England, while freezing fog is also expected to develop by the weekend.
Dangerous conditions on the A969 in Scotland as the 'Troll of Trondheim' batters Britain
A gritter is pictured spreading salt across the M42 near Birmingham as a fresh blast of Arctic cold weather is set to batter Britain until Friday
A car battles through snow covered streets in the village of Tomintoul in the Cairngorms today
An ambulance driving down the A939 in Scotland amid snowfall