The Met Office has had its say on whether parts of the UK can expect heavy snowfall in the next coming weeks - or not.

Colder weather is on its way southwards as Arctic winds send temperatures plunging. The mercury already hit -2.6C on Tuesday in Braemar, Aberdeenshire.

There was some thought the plummeting temperatures will lead to snowfall - as much as 18 inches in places - across the UK, including Scotland. Meteorologists at WX Charts, which provided alarming weather maps to illustrate the forecast, still anticipate such wintry weather for around Saturday November 23.

And the Met Office says there is a "possibility of snow" as early as this Sunday. It understands high pressure will gradually subside this week and allow winds to start to come in from the north or northwest.
A small snowman in snowy conditions on Dartmoor (
Image:
PA)

Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Mark Sidaway said: “The high pressure that has been responsible for the mainly dry weather through much of this week will retrogress into the Atlantic as we get towards the weekend. This will gradually introduce more unsettled weather, initially in the north from Friday but more widely from Sunday.

“In addition to this increased rainfall, which could be heavy at times on Sunday, temperatures will also drop, especially for those in Scotland, as a northerly airflow develops, bringing colder Arctic air to some northern areas.

“This shift does introduce the possibility of snow, initially over high ground in the north from Sunday, with gusty winds also a potential hazard. There is a lot of uncertainty by Sunday, but there remain a number of scenarios which could bring some more widespread rain, along with some hill snow and stronger winds. Warnings for winter hazards are possible later in the weekend, so it’s important to stay up to date with the latest forecast.”

Temperatures dropped to below freezing in several regions of the UK on Tuesday. It was a chilly -0.4C in Chillingham, Northumberland and the mercury struggled at -2.5C in Shap, Cumbria. It was -0.9C further south in Benson, Oxfordshire, the data recorded by the Met Office shows.