Exact date Scotland to be battered with eight inches of snow as Met Office continues to predict cold snap
Scotland is to be battered with up to eight inches of snow, as the Met Office continues to predict a cold snap that will affect the entire country.
Scots are bracing for a chilly few days as the nation is set to become "even colder", with snow predicted in some areas.
A massive snow front, hundreds of miles long, is expected to stretch from Edinburgh down to Manchester this Saturday, February 15, where up to two to three inches of snow could fall.
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However, the Met Office has warned that temperatures will drop below average from Sunday onwards, causing millions to shiver into next week.
On Sunday, February 16, most parts of Scotland and northern England could see snow, with around 0.5cm of snow forecast to fall per hour, resulting in a depth of up to 2.5cm on the ground.
Forecasters predict that the mercury will drop to as low as -4C in several parts of the Highlands. Meanwhile, WXCharts weather maps shows that a total of eight inches (22cm) of snow will fall in eastern parts next week.
This is expected to hit on Wednesday, February 19 towards the north east between Dundee and Aberdeen.
The Met Office's forecast for Sunday to Wednesday states: "South or south-easterly winds are likely at the start of this period, and will maintain below average temperatures and often cloudy conditions. There is a chance of even colder conditions developing temporarily, which would see more wintry showers, especially in north-eastern areas.
"Meanwhile, frontal zones, bringing milder conditions and rain, will attempt to move in from the west or southwest. Early in this period these look likely to have limited influence over the UK.
"If, or when, they push further north-eastwards the chance of some snow increases. The transition between colder and milder conditions remains uncertain, but towards the end of this period, the milder, wetter conditions are likely to have spread across much of the country."
The country is also preparing for a rare burst of freezing rain next week. The weather event is so rare because it requires very specific conditions, which is why we don't see it that often in the UK.
On Wednesday, February 19 - the exact date the blizzard will reportedly land - areas outside Edinburgh, and more along Scotland's western coast, appear to have the perfect conditions needed for the rain to freeze. By 6pm on the same day, the freezing rain will have moved and be focused around Stirling and other areas north of Glasgow.
The phenomenon is known for creating striking effects, with the rain encasing surfaces in a layer of clear ice. Though beautiful to look at, the freak precipitation comes with a more serious risk.
At times, the ice can become so heavy that it can bring down trees and power lines. The Met Office has forecasted that Wednesday will be mostly cloudy, with some sporadic rain and hill snow continuing in the northeast. The rest of the UK can expect drier conditions with some bright or sunny intervals developing, although it will still feel chilly.
