Cold Arctic air now covers most of the UK, with temperatures well below average, widespread frost and ice and an increasing risk of snow showers
Arctic air continues to bring very cold weather across Wales(Image: Getty Images)
Cold conditions are set to continue across Wales with forecasters warnings of lows of -10C in parts of the country on Sunday night. With Arctic air continuing to bring very cold weather, a network of Met Office yellow weather warnings for snow and ice remain.
BBC Weather presenter Matt Taylor said that there could be as much as 10cm of snow in some parts of west Wales on Sunday with temperatures dropping as low as -10C in parts of mid Wales overnight.
He said on Sunday morning: “We have got low pressure in northern Europe and high pressure over the Atlantic that are drawing our winds from the Arctic.
“They are coming just a little west of north so the showers we saw on the east coast on Saturday have moved offshore and that means we could see some heavy snow showers across west Wales and we could see around 10cm of snow here through the day.”
Yellow warnings for snow and ice also remain in force across parts of Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and central and southern England. Cold Arctic air now covers most of the UK, with temperatures well below average, widespread frost and ice and an increasing risk of snow showers.
Snow is expected to settle on the ground in some areas particularly in northern and some central areas. There is also a risk of widespread ice, making travel hazardous.
Chief Met Office forecaster, Neil Armstrong, said “With Arctic air now covering most of the UK very cold weather will continue through the weekend, with minus double figures overnight in places and daytime temperatures struggling to rise above 0°C for some.
“It looks like this cold spell could last well into next week and wintry hazards will continue with more weather warnings likely. It is therefore important people keep up to date with the latest forecast and warnings and plan ahead.”
The Met Office forecast for Wales on Sunday says: “Very cold with wintry showers and a risk of ice.
“Sunny spells and wintry showers, these mainly in western areas at first but perhaps developing more widely later. The snow will accumulate in places with several centimetres possible over the hills. Cold with frost and ice lingering for some. Maximum temperature 4 °C.”
For tonight they say: “A mixture of clear periods and scattered wintry showers this evening and overnight, these leaving a covering of snow and icy stretches in places. Skies clearing later and turning frosty.”
Here are the maps for Wales showing where you could see snow:
The map for 7am shows scattered wintry showers across northern and western areas of Wales. Matt Taylor said there could be some heavy snow showers across west Wales this morning with as much as 10cm in some places.
By 8.15am they show those showers moving eastwards.
By 9.30am there are fewer showers but it will remain cold with temperatures not expected to rise above 4C on Sunday.
At 12.15pm the wintry showers are mainly expected in the north of the country.
This is the weather map for 2pm. Much of the country will have a cold but sunny day.
By 6pm there are further wintry showers approaching from the north.
Those showers will be quite heavy by 8pm, mainly in north and mid Wales.
More showers expected in the 10pm chart.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued amber cold health alerts for England until Tuesday, January 6.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA, said: “As the colder weather sets in it is vital to check in on friends, family and neighbours that are most vulnerable.
“The forecast temperatures can have a serious impact on the health of some people, leading to increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections, particularly for individuals over the age of 65 and those with pre-existing health conditions.”
