UK weather: Bitter winds and snow to hit Britain next week

Weather forecasters have warned Britons of an Arctic blast that will bring bitter winds and snow to the UK next week.

Temperatures will plummet towards zero and by the end of the week there will be frosty and icy weather.

Speaking to AOL Travel, chief forecaster Leon Brown, of The Weather Channel, said: "We're expecting an Arctic plunge from next Tuesday with snow showers over northern Scotland. The Grampians and Cairngorms in northeast Scotland may see 10cm or more by Tuesday morning.

"Another low pressure system that is expected to track southwards next Wednesday may bring sleet and hill snow across Wales and much of central Britain, even higher ground in the southwest is at risk.

Wednesday could see up to 2 to 5cm of snow in North Wales, the northern Midlands and northern England, with a risk of 10 to 15cm over higher parts of northeast England.

"This will be followed by frosty and icy weather for Thursday and Friday."

Leon added that there will be a big drop in temperatures everywhere by Tuesday. The north is expected to experience only 1 to 2C, with 5 to 6C in the south.

By Wednesday temperatures will drop to 2C in the south and near zero above 300m across much of northern Britain and Wales.

"Next Wednesday morning temperatures may fall to -4C in the south and -9C in Scotland, with similar low temperatures on Thursday and Friday morning too."

Meanwhile Met Office Forecaster Dan Williams tells the Daily Mail: "On Tuesday morning some people could wake up to see snow falling – but it won't last for long. There could be some slushy snow in places – possibly where showers get organised.

"There will be more persistent snow showers along coastal areas. There could be accumulations of snow on higher ground and in some coastal areas it could settle."

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