UK cold snap: Frost, snow potential and when it could turn milder

Britain’s current chill could be followed by another cold snap later next week, with frost and hill snow possible before a potential return to milder, wetter weather

It's a bit nippy out. Large swathes of the UK have woken up to the first significant frost of the season, with an even harder frost to follow tomorrow morning.

Freezing temperatures could make a comeback later next week, after a mixed spell of weather following the weekend

placeholder image — Freezing temperatures could make a comeback later next week, after a mixed spell of weather following the weekend

The cold snap has prompted a warning from the UK Health Security Agency, covering the West Midlands and the north west of England, and it remains in place until lunchtime on Saturday.

After Saturday, we're going to feel a bit of a change, as the high pressure gives way and a more unsettled picture develops - temperatures will remain fairly low, with frost risks if skies clear, but we'll see more wind and rain in the mix. There's still some uncertainty over the detail, but it's going to be a rather mixed week.

However, all eyes are now on another developing cold snap, which is starting to emerge for later next week.

We could be back in the freezer in a few weeks’ time - but it will depend where in the country you are | File photo

How cold is the next cold snap likely to be?

There's still some disagreement among the forecasting models, which isn't unusual at this early stage, and detail is hard to pin down, but most charts are hinting at a cold incursion from Thursday, November 19 to Saturday, November 21.

Of course, it will depend where in the country you are, and it's only a possible scenario at this range, but areas north of the Midlands could end the week with a hard frost, with bitterly cold daytime temperatures for northern areas.

Will this bring us a snowy spell?

Again, it depends where you are, and even then there's so much uncertainty, but for most of us probably not.

The northern reaches of Scotland will obviously be in line for wintry showers first, which is fairly typical for late November, but northern England and even parts of Wales and the Midlands could see snow showers on higher ground too.

It’s a good time of year to check in on vulnerable friends and relatives | Monkey Business Images

When will it warm up again?

It's cold now, it's going to stay pretty cold next week, and it could get even colder by next weekend. That's not good news for people struggling to heat their homes.

While it's a long way away for spotting any secure trends, it's possible that, by Sunday, November 22, Atlantic lows will make a return from the west, and this will draw milder air in. That'll expose western areas to rain and it could move us into a more stormy spell to see out the month.

So we could tentatively say that the cold snap might give way to milder, wetter, windier weather, but it's a long way off and it could change.

If you're struggling in the cold weather, you can find advice and support from the NHS by clicking here.