Just when we thought it was safe to pack away our winter coats, the weather has decided to throw a massive curveball. It is mid-May, yet a sudden cold front is sweeping across the UK today. The chill is undeniable. Volatile low-pressure systems moving in from the Atlantic have collided with a strong Arctic blast. This system is actively dragging freezing air straight down from northern Scandinavia. The result is a jarring return to winter conditions right when we should be enjoying spring sunshine.
Temperatures have completely plummeted. Areas in Scotland are hovering around a bitter 9°C today. Even London and the southern regions are peaking at a very mild 14°C. The severe conditions are heavily targeting eastern areas and the Midlands right now. According to the Independent’s coverage of unseasonably low temperatures and warnings of hail, forecasters are actively tracking heavy, blustery showers and thunder rolling across the country.
The chill is severe enough to bring actual snowfall. Weather modeling indicates that unexpected late-spring snow flurries are hitting higher inland areas of Scotland. The Highlands, Perth and Kinross, and Argyll and Bute are all in the firing line. It all comes down to an Arctic blast bringing late-spring snow to higher elevations as the freezing northerly winds strip away any lingering spring warmth.
This distinctly wintery feel is going to stick around for a few days. The unsettled conditions are expected to persist right through Thursday. But there is a silver lining on the horizon for those craving some sunshine. The Met Office national UK forecast for May 13 shows that high pressure is expected to build from the south later in the week. If the models hold true, temperatures could recover nicely to around 20°C just in time for the late May bank holiday.