Five days of snow over North Wales and some could be 'disruptive'

Snow is forecast in Wales throughout the coming week with signs of heavier falls towards the weekend. The UK is bracing for “disruptive snow” and lastest forecasts suggest this may be further south than originally expected.

The Met Office has issued a 15-hour yellow warning for snow for northern Britain and has said there is the “potential” for the alert to be “escalated”. Current Met Office weather runs predict snow and hail across North Wales every day from tonight (Monday, November 18) until Saturday (November 23).

Not all places in the region will see snow every day this week, according to current models, and as usual the hills are likely to see the heaviest falls. Weather models diverge towards the end of the week but European forecaster ECMWF is currently predicting North Wales to bear the brunt of this week’s wintry weather.

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An Atlantic low is predicted to sweep across Britain on Saturday and this may bring heavier snow. ECMWF is forcasting week-long accumulations of 30-40cm on the North Wales hills by the weekend. However, other weather models show smaller snowfalls in the region and forecasts will be refined during the coming days. The Met Office has pointed out that “forecasting impactful snow” is famously tricky in the UK.

At things stand, the Met Office yellow warning for snow and ice covers parts of the East Midlands, Yorkshire, North Wales and the north of England. It’s in place from 7pm on Monday night to 10am on Tuesday morning.

In North Wales, the UK forecaster expects the first flurries over north Flintshire and Denbighshire just before midnight. During the night, this is set to become more widespread before petering out by 9.30am. On Tuesday, isolated snowfalls are expected to continue over hills in Eryri (Snowdonia) and Conwy.

The next batch arrives late on Tuesday night, possible with some falls on Anglesey. Spells of snow are forecast to spread south across Wales until mid morning on Wednesday. Further scattered flurries are due that evening, according to the Met Office. The North Wales Live Whatsapp community for top stories and breaking news is live now - here’s how to sign up

More snow showers are forecast on Thursday morning, arriving from the same direction and perhaps bring heavier falls on Anglesey. This time, falls are possible during daylight hours.

The same pattern is expected on Thursday night into Friday morning. The arrival of heavier rain from the west early on Saturday threatens to bring heavier falls of snow. It’s also possible the wintery spell will come to an end if temperature nose upwards slightly.

Regardless, the Met Office has this morning warned of a “cold and unsettled week ahead”. In places, snow and ice could be disruptive with power cuts possible and mobile a “slight chance” some rural communities could be cut off.

Tom Morgan, Met Office meteorologist, said: “Even down to lower levels, we could well see some snow as well, so quite a bit of disruption possible by Tuesday morning, and then the week ahead is likely to stay cold nationwide, a windy day on Tuesday, and then winter showers through the week ahead.”

Mr Morgan said that despite a mild start to the month, the forecasted cold spell is more typical of mid-winter to late-winter. He added: “What we can say is that it’s going to be very cold for the time of year.

"There will be widespread overnight frosts, and a few locations where there’s snow on the ground.” Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox

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