Met Office issues first snow forecast as blast of 'Arctic air' could send temperatures plummeting in parts of UK

Met Office weather forecasters have predicted the first snow of late 2024 as an 'Arctic blast' could send temperatures plummeting below zero in parts of the UK.

Autumn has started balmy and wet this year, with the mercury sustaining itself at around 20C, as showers leave moisture hanging in the air.

However the Met Office has warned that the week ahead will see a major departure from conditions that have defined the UK's weather for months, with temperatures predicted to rapidly plummet, the Mirror reports.

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As snow falls for the first time in this half of 2024, the agency has warned that the mercury could plummet to zero and below.

A Met Office spokesperson said the encroaching cold will set the stage for snow to fall in the UK, specifically over Scotland. They said: "A cold front sweeping south will introduce Arctic air to the UK, resulting in below average temperatures nationwide this week.

"It's possible there could be some snow on the very tops of the highest peaks in Scotland. We're talking above around 800 meters."

The Met Office spokesperson added that temperatures in the home nation will easily dip to zero and below in the home nation later this week, first reaching 0C on Wednesday (September 11).

At the same time, the forecasters predict, the lowest temperatures in Wales will be 3C. By Thursday, Scotland will have only gotten chillier, reaching -2C in the coldest areas while Wales, following a similar track, sees its temperatures plummet to 0C. Scotland is expected to be the only home nation that sees a trace of snow, however.

While the Met Office expects temperatures to rebound in the near future, the long-range forecast expects rain, wind and stormy conditions to stretch into the next week.

The forecast for September 14 to 21 states: "It will likely be quite cloudy with outbreaks of rain and potentially strong winds across northwestern areas on Saturday, while somewhat drier and brighter in more southern and eastern parts. By Sunday this wetter zone of weather is likely to sink further south into more central parts, with showers following into the northwest."

"Confidence is low for early next week, but the chance of some rain or showers in places, more especially in the west and northwest, before a trend towards higher pressure building in the vicinity of the UK from midweek onwards, leading to a more blocked pattern thereafter. After a chilly start to the weekend, temperatures will return to near-normal for mid-September, possibly above-average in places from later next week."