UK weather: Met Office responds to '5cm snow' reports as temperatures plunge

Weather maps have predicted that an early winter chill is coming for parts of the UK, as some areas should brace for up to 5cm of snowfall by mid-November, according to forecasts.

Data from WXCharts, which takes its forecasts from MetDesk, sees Britain's weather map turning an icy blue in the coming weeks, suggesting a strong low-pressure system set to sweep the country around November 18 and 19, accompanied by a blast of cold air, rain - and the first significant snowfall of this winter.

The Scottish Highlands is expected to take the brunt of this weather, with up to 5cm of snow settling in higher altitudes such as Ben Nevis and the Cairngorms - creating pretty winter scenes, but also posing risks and travel disruption on more rural roads and in the mountains.

Meanwhile, some higher altitudes over the border in northern England, and even in parts of Wales such as Anglesey and Conwy, will be similarly impacted by sub-zero mercury, as snow flurries are predicted for areas around the Pennines and the Lake District.

And moving further south into England, while snow becomes less likely, temperatures will still struggle to rise above 3°C in southern regions, reports Birmingham Live.

The weather maps also forecast some rain across parts of the UK on November 17, with the heaviest downpours in southern Wales. The Met Office's long-range forecast for November 17 until December 2 anticipates a shift towards more unsettled conditions for a period.

The long-range forecast states: "After a settled start to November, beyond mid-month there will probably be a change towards more unsettled conditions for a time. This means an increased chance of periods of wet and windy weather for parts of the UK, perhaps more so in central and southern areas.

"However, there is low confidence whether unsettled, wetter weather, or drier and more settled conditions, will dominate by the end of November. Temperatures will probably be close to or above average overall, although some colder interludes are possible, especially in the north."

The BBC Weather forecast from November 11-18 states: "Similar conditions will probably linger for a few days but by the end of this period there are indications that high pressure will realign and sink a little further south. This could open the door more widely to Atlantic frontal systems. As a result more of the UK could become susceptible to periods of rain and brisk winds, although confidence is rather low on details. If high pressure manages to hold on then the more southern regions could still stay drier.

"Temperatures are expected to come down a bit but will most probably stay a little above the seasonal average. There is a slight risk that high pressure could shift a bit further west, which would allow cooler north-westerly flows, but even if that were to happen there should not be any notable cold."

The possible snow could trigger early winter travel disruptions, particularly on Highland roads in Scotland. Motorists in affected areas are urged to exercise caution due to possible icy patches and reduced visibility in snowy or sleety conditions.

Transport Scotland may issue travel advisories closer to the date, and gritters could be deployed to ensure major routes remain safe.

Although heavy snowfall is not anticipated in the central or southern regions, temperatures are set to plummet across the country, with frosty mornings and potential sleet or wintry showers in northern England, according to the Daily Express.