Snow forecast in North East next week as Met Office warns of 'major change'

There is a "major change" in weather on the way this weekend that will see wintry conditions sweep much of the UK and bring the potential for snow next week, the Met Office has warned.

Temperatures are expected to plummet from Sunday, November 17, with Arctic air bringing a cold spell across the North that is expected to spread to the rest of the country by midweek. This introduces the possibility of snow in several areas, while icy conditions and strong winds could pose hazards.

The weekend forecast for the North East predicts that Saturday will remain mostly dry with sunny spells and the isolated shower, which could turn wintry over the Pennines as the colder weather creeps in. However, from Sunday the region is set to become "markedly colder", the Met Office said, with widespread frosts and an increasing risk of "wintry hazards" from Monday.

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Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Rebekah Hicks explained: "There is a lot of uncertainty in what might happen after Sunday, but there are a number of scenarios which could bring some more widespread rain, along with some hill snow and stronger winds. It is possible that there may be some more widespread snowfall across lower ground, but the chance of this for any given region is low at this stage."

In Newcastle, although sunshine and clear skies are expected for most of the weekend, daytime temperatures are expected to feel as cold as -2°C by Sunday following highs of 8°C on Saturday. While snow is looking likely for the region and many other parts of the UK next week, forecasters explained that it can be difficult to predict how widespread this will be.

Rebekah added: "What we do know is that the whole of the UK is likely to experience a spell of several days of cold, potentially disruptive weather next week. Warnings for wintry hazards, including snow and ice, are possible, so it's important to stay up to date with the latest forecast."

Here's what the weather will look like hour-by-hour in Newcastle across the weekend, according to the Met Office:

Hour-by-hour forecast for Saturday, November 16 in Newcastle

• 6am: 8°C / Partly cloudy / <5% chance of precipitation

• 7am: 7°C / Clear / <5% chance of precipitation

• 8am: 7°C / Sunny intervals / <5% chance of precipitation

• 9am: 7°C / Sunny intervals / <5% chance of precipitation

• 10am: 8°C / Sunny / <5% chance of precipitation

• 11am: 8°C / Sunny intervals / <5% chance of precipitation

• 12pm: 8°C / Sunny intervals / 10% chance of precipitation

• 1pm: 8°C / Sunny intervals / 10% chance of precipitation

• 2pm: 8°C / Sunny intervals / 10% chance of precipitation

• 3pm: 8°C / Sunny intervals / 30% chance of precipitation

• 4pm: 7°C / Partly cloudy / 30% chance of precipitation

• 5pm: 7°C / Partly cloudy / 20% chance of precipitation

• 6pm: 6°C / Clear / 10% chance of precipitation

• 7pm: 6°C / Clear / 10% chance of precipitation

• 8pm: 5°C / Clear / <5% chance of precipitation

• 9pm: 5°C / Clear / <5% chance of precipitation

• 10pm: 4°C / Clear / <5% chance of precipitation

• 11pm: 4°C / Clear / <5% chance of precipitation

Three-hour forecast for Sunday, November 17 in Newcastle

• 6am: 2°C / Clear / <5% chance of precipitation

• 9am: 2°C / Sunny / <5% chance of precipitation

• 12pm: 5°C / Sunny intervals / 10% chance of precipitation

• 3pm: 5°C / Overcast / 40% chance of precipitation

• 6pm: 4°C / Light rain / 70% chance of precipitation

• 9pm: 4°C / Light rain / 70% chance of precipitation

Looking ahead to next week, the long range UK weather forecast reads: "Cold or very cold conditions are likely to affect most if not all parts of the UK early in this period, with wintry showers affecting in particular northern parts and exposed coastal districts. Overnight frost will likely be widespread and occasionally strong winds will result in significant wind chill.

"However, there may be more organised areas of rain and snow, accompanied by strong winds, which run across some parts. This could lead to some disruptive weather at times, especially at the start of this period."