Snow maps show -5C freeze and ‘blizzards’ to hammer UK | UK | News
A new, widespread cold wave will soon hit the UK (Image: Getty)
As the UK enters March, many Brits may believe that winter is now behind us. But weather maps examining conditions later this month show millions of people could soon face the return of bitterly cold conditions.
Earlier this week, the Met Office declared March 18 as the hottest day of 2026 so far. The temperature in Gogerddan in Wales was recorded as 20.9 degrees. But according to weather maps, within a week the UK could experience a hard frost with temperatures as low as -5C and snowfall in many parts of England.
Maps show low temperatures of -5C could be seen in parts of England (Image: WXCHARTS)
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The most snow was seen in Perth, Kinross and the Scottish Highlands (Image: WXCHARTS)
WXCHARTS weather maps created on March 20 using Met Desk data have turned purple and white and show snow could fall in many areas on Friday, March 27. A forecast at 6am that day showed snow depths could reach a whopping 4.7 inches in Perth and Kinross and the Scottish Highlands.
Maps suggest these hardest-hit areas will see temperatures as low as -5C, with the whole of Scotland unlikely to see the mercury rise above the brutal -1C.
Maps show both Aberdeen and Argyll and Bute will be shivering below -3C, while Aberdeenshire will see snow depths reach 2 inches. Meanwhile, Glasgow and Strathclyde could see slightly less snow, with 0.5 inches forecast.
Heavy snow will also occur in much of England and Wales (Image: WXCHARTS)
According to maps, heavy snowfall will also occur in other parts of the UK. According to forecasts, the North West and North East will be hit the hardest with up to 5 inches of snow predicted and the mercury is predicted to drop as low as -1C.
Snow will cover large areas of the country, maps show, with snow depths of almost an inch expected in Somerset. Meanwhile, around 0.5 inches to 1 inch of snow could fall in Birmingham, Manchester and Stoke.
While no snowfall is expected in London, temperatures are estimated to drop below 1 degree. Maps show Yorkshire and the Humber will face similar conditions along with the South East.
Snow depths in North Wales will reach one inch, while Swansea will see snow depths around 0.8 inches. Meanwhile, forecasts show Cardiff and Mid Wales will see around an inch of snow.
Most of the country will be covered in snow (Image: WXCHARTS)
Separately, the Met Office’s long-range forecast, looking at dates between 25 March and 3 April, mentions the possibility of snow in northern parts of Britain. It reads: “Conditions may change for many parts of the UK at the beginning of this period as areas of low pressure and their associated frontal zones move close to or over the UK.
“These are likely to be most active in the north and slightly weaker in the south, closer to a ridge of high pressure extending westwards towards the UK. There is also the potential for a cooler spell early in this period, with some snowfall likely in parts of the north. Towards April, high pressure may become more dominant once again, with plenty of dry air, but fog and frost may occur overnight.”
The Met Office previously said snow forecasts in the UK were more complex than in continental Europe due to rapidly changing conditions. “Small changes in temperature or wind direction can mean the difference between rain, sleet or snow. Meteorologists use high-resolution models to predict the type of precipitation, but these models can struggle with marginal situations where temperatures are around freezing,” the website states.
“Forecasters also consider factors such as rainfall intensity. Bursts of intense rainfall can cool the air near the surface, increasing the likelihood of snow. Conversely, lighter rainfall can melt before it reaches the ground. This delicate balance makes snow forecasts one of the most uncertain aspects of UK weather forecasting.”
