By lunchtime today, the Met Office had already declared Valentine’s Day as the sunniest day of the year so far. Which makes it’s harder to believe another spell of rain and snow is heading out way.
Coastal gales are forecast to usher in a band of showers to northwest Wales around 7pm this evening (Saturday, February 14). As the front collides with residual cold air, some rain will turn to snow. In its aftermath, forecasters say thunder is possible.
Met Office maps show all six counties in North Wales are vulnerable to wintry weather tonight. In reality, much of the snow will fall on ground above 200 metres. Neither is it expected to be particularly heavy.
Accumulations of between 1cm-4cm are forecast for North Wales. Further south in the country, slightly bigger snowfalls are possible in places like the Black Mountains in south Powys and Monmouthshire.
In its forecast for Wales, the Met Office said: “Coastal gales developing as a band of rain and hill snow sweeps across the region overnight.
“A chilly evening for all, but temperatures rebounding in the west after rain clears. Minimum temperature 1C.” Ensure our latest news and sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings
With temperatures warmer than last night, only a few places in south Gwynedd, Conwy and Denbighshire are forecast to dip below zero. Lows of -2C are forecasted.
After a chilly day, ground snow on the hills may hang around for a while – though the passing front will push up temperatures slightly.
Coasts and lower ground can expect more rain, of which there has been plenty in the past week. On Friday, Bala in Gwynedd saw 22.4mm of rain, making it the wettest place in the UK.
Tonight’s Atlantic front is forecast to push through North Wales pretty quickly. By 3.30pm, the Met Office expects the region to be free of wintry showers with just a few lingering spots of rain.
Conditions tonight are forecast to be breezy, with gusts up to 55mph on north Anglesey.
Things should be calmer on Sunday but spells of rain are still expected to pass over fairly swiftly. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now
The Met Office expects a mixed weather picture in Wales on Sunday. The forecaster said: “A few brighter spells emerging behind (the rain front) but mixed with blustery showers, which could be heavy and perhaps locally thundery. Milder than Saturday. Maximum temperature 10C.”
More shower showers are forecast for Sunday night and Monday, mainly on the peaks.
Looming on the horizon is the potential for heavier and more widespread snow falls on Wednesday, February 18.
Further north, a Met Office yellow warning for snow and ice is in place in Scotland and England for tonight.
This could be heavy at times and may cause some disruption to travel, especially over high ground. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
The national forecaster said: “Temporary snow accumulations of 1cm-3cm will be possible at low levels, with 3-7cm possible above about 150m elevation, and perhaps 10-15cm above 400m.”
