Just when we thought we had seen the last of the wintry showers after the most recent snowfall last month, we could be getting the hats and scarves back out again in the coming days as wintry weather is predicted for Northern Ireland.
The Met Office has advised that cold air from the north will drop temperatures for many across the UK and Ireland later this week, with an increased chance of wintry hazards.
Cold air is beginning to exert its influence in the far north of Scotland today, and will gradually sink southwards through the early part of this week, with a chance of snowfall in Northern Ireland around the middle to end of the week.
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Temperatures will drop to below average for the time of year, with an ongoing chance through the week of ice overnight, which could result in further warnings being issued.
On what we can expect from the weather in Northern Ireland, a spokesperson for the Met Office told Belfast Live: “A touch of snow could come into Northern Ireland over the higher ground over the likes of the Mourne Mountains, if the front pushes slightly further forward there’s potential for hill snow and sleet to higher levels.
“This frontal system is moving in from the south, and it’s where it pushes into the cold air ahead of it you see the rain band falling as snow. The greatest chance of seeing the snow would be in Co Down, Co Armagh and Co Fermanagh. Derry and Antrim have the lowest probability of seeing some snow at this stage.”
The weather forecaster anticipates such snowfall could be expected around Thursday at the earliest, with some wintry showers expected to linger around into Friday and Saturday.
However, they advised that there is still some uncertainty about which areas will see rain and where snow and sleet will fall.
The spokesperson added: “There is still a deal of uncertainty with regards to the rain/snow boundary and how far north the limits of snow will go. The details could change over the coming days as confidence increases in certain aspects. The most likely scenario is the front will fall just south of the Northern Ireland border, but it’s still very fine detail.”
At the moment, they predicted lighter snow is the most likely scenario in Northern Ireland, with hill snow and sleet in southern counties to be expected.
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William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
