UK braced for '3cm snow per hour' next week with six English cities hit

THREE centimetres of snow per hour could hit the UK - as far south as London - next week. Snow looks set to return to the UK across two days next week as advanced weather modelling maps show a surprise Arctic blast sweeping from Scotland right down to London.

WX Charts' maps and charts, projected using Met Desk data, show snow over hills in Scotland, northern England and Wales on April 25. Manchester, Cardiff, Birmingham, Luton, London and Southampton could all be hit by a dusting next week, the charts show.

London faces an 18 per cent chance of snow next Wednesday (April 24) and 10 per cent on Friday. Luton in Bedfordshire has a 48 per cent risk with 15 per cent on Friday and in Southampton the risk is at 11 per cent on Friday.

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The percentages were calculated by Netweather TV. The BBC Weather team says "uncertainty" grows next week as the country braces for a dip in temperatures. "The next week remains uncertain but there are some signs that high pressure to the west or north of the UK is holding, which could lead to calmer and drier weather, particularly in the north and west," it says.

"Near average temperatures are expected for much of the UK." The team goes on: "The other scenario sees high pressure retreating further west or north-west of the UK, restoring an overall more north-westerly or even northerly flow with changeable and generally cooler weather for a while.

"These conditions are generally more likely for eastern parts of the UK, as trough/low-pressure passages are more likely just further east over the North Sea and the European continent." The Met Office forecast for April 22 to May 1 states: "This will generally be a settled period with high pressure close to the UK throughout.

"Most locations will remain dry, with variable cloud cover. Although some small areas or bands of thicker cloud, hill fog, and patchy light rain or drizzle will float about day to day. There will also be a few showers, most likely in the east and south of England.

"Temperatures will often be around average by day, although with mostly light winds and clear skies it will feel warm in any sunshine. Overnight where cloud breaks allow, frosts are likely in rural areas. As already mentioned, winds will mostly be light, although slightly stronger winds are likely in the far southeast at times."