Current Met Office outlook for 6pm on Wednesday, February 18. This could change in the interim(Image: Met Office)
Next week to set to produce a few chilly days in North Wales before warming up for the weekend. In between there is a chance of fine weather – but also a risk of wintry showers and, later in the week, rain.
The Met Office has been watching out of an area of low pressure north of Britain which had the potential to bring heavy rain – and snow – to large parts of the UK in mid week. Weather models are now pulling back from this scenario, though the risk of hill snow remains in North Wales.
Early in the week, low pressure is expected to pull down colder air across Britain, causing temperatures to fall again. On Monday, February 16, rain showers drifting across North Wales from the north west will continue producing isolated wintry showers on higher ground.
The Met Office expects Monday to be a “changeable day” with cloudy skies, brief sunny intervals and occasional spells of rain. “These could be heavy, with hail in places, and wintry over higher ground,” said the forecaster. “Blustery and feeling rather cold. Maximum temperature 8C.”
A brief ridge of high pressure is forecast to bring a change on Tuesday, February 17. This brings the prospect of a crisp winter’s day, with widespread sunshine, but it will feel distinctly colder.
On Tuesday night temperatures are expected to fall below zero across much of North Wales away from western coasts. This will set the tone for Wednesday, another cold day. The Met Office is warning of mid-week “ice and frost” in Wales.
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
By Wednesday, February 18, a weak low to the south of Britain is forecast to bring rain to southern parts. As this spreads north during the day, the Met Office expects rain to progressively turn to snow.
Current forecasts show the system reaching North Wales by early afternoon and peaking around 6pm without ever reaching northern coasts. If it does snow in the region, the Met Office expects falls to be moderate and mostly confined to higher ground.
As rain sweeps west on Wednesday night, southern counties of England could be in for a dollop of snow, easing on Thursday. However model runs suggest confidence of this snowy outlook is declining and the forecast may change.
In a week of changeable weather, the prospects for Thursday, February 19, looks better. After another frosty night, it’s set to be a dry day with sunny spells later on. Temperatures are forecast to ease up a touch: weather models suggest Thursday night may be frost free.
It’s all change again on Friday, February 20. An Atlantic low is forecast to usher in widespread rain across the region, some of it heavy. This will hike up temperatures to 8C-10C on what looks like otherwise being a fairly dismal day. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
According to the Met Office, this will set the scene for the weekend, with a north-south split the following week. Towards the end of the month, things could pick up a little.
In its medium term UK outlook for February 20 to March 1, the forecaster said: “Showers or longer spells of rain, as well as occasional strong winds, are most likely at first as Atlantic low pressure systems dominate in the vicinity of the UK.
“Some heavy rain is likely in places, with some snow probable at times, mainly on high ground in the north. Temperatures varying from around, or a little above average – especially in the south – to cold at times, mainly in the north.
“Although unsettled weather is likely to dominate at first, there will be some drier interludes between weather systems. These drier interludes will become increasingly likely and perhaps more prolonged through the period.”
