A NEW map reveals where snow is falling in Britain today – as the Met Office also gives its weather forecast for Christmas Day.
Today’s map shows snow, sleet and hail falling across large swathes of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland – as well as heavy rainfall.
X/metofficeA map by the Met Office reveals patches of snow across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland[/caption]
X/metofficeThe weather service has also released a weather forecast for Christmas Day, showing milder air coming in[/caption]
PAThe Met Office has warned of snow, sleet and hail today[/caption]
In the early hours of this morning, around 3am to 4am, snow fell across the north, northwest and Midlands – with small patches even creeping into the southeast around Norwich and Cambridge.
As the morning wore on, larger patches of snow, sleet and hail could be seen making their way south of Manchester towards Birmingham and down from Scotland, skirting Newcastle towards the middle of the country.
Patches of rain accompanied the snow on its route – while heavier showers were experienced on the southwest coast around Plymouth and Cornwall.
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland and Scotland saw more widespread snow, easing later in the morning.
A yellow weather warning is currently in force for wind in the UK, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – covering the northeast, northwest, southwest and West Midlands, as well as Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Hampshire.
The Met Office said: “It’s a cold, blustery start to Sunday, and as the sequence shows we’re even seeing a little snow in places this morning, chiefly over hills towards the north and west.”
In its full forecast for the day, it added: “Widely windy with gales, severe in the north and west.
“Frequent showers arriving from the northwest, heavy with hail and providing snow over hills before gradually fading later.
“Sunny spells in between, but feeling very cold in the strong winds.”
For tonight, it predicted: “Showers becoming confined to far eastern coasts and winds slowly moderating.
“Clear spells overnight for most, but cloud building in the west towards dawn. Touch of frost in sheltered spots.”
The weather service also released a forecast for the days leading up to Christmas.
Cold Arctic air, currently making its way across the British Isles after sweeping in from the Atlantic, will give way tomorrow.
This will give way to Mild Atlantic air coming in from the southwest, making for a calm but cloudy Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
The Met Office said: “It will be feeling cold for all of us during the rest of the weekend.
“However as we head towards Christmas, milder Atlantic air will move in, with many of us seeing a grey Christmas rather than a white one.”
It comes after yesterday saw 70mph winds that sparked travel chaos before Christmas.
Heathrow Airport was forced to cancel flights, while P&O Ferries announced that journeys between Larne and Cairnryan had been cancelled until at least 8pm on Sunday.
5-day weather forecast
Today
Widely windy with gales, severe in the north and west. Frequent showers arriving from the northwest, heavy with hail and providing snow over hills before gradually fading later. Sunny spells in between, but feeling very cold in the strong winds.
Tonight
Showers becoming confined to far eastern coasts and winds slowly moderating. Clear spells overnight for most, but cloud building in the west towards dawn. Touch of frost in sheltered spots.
Monday
Dry and fine in the east with prolonged periods of sunshine, though feeling chilly. Outbreaks of rain and extensive low cloud spreading into western areas, and turning mild.
Tuesday-Thursday
Predominantly settled, mild and cloudy for the Christmas period. Best chance of brighter spells to the east of high ground. Wetter and windier across northwest Scotland.
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