The UK's recent bout of wintry weather is finally set to retreat, with a significant shift to milder conditions expected from Sunday. Forecasters predict that parts of the country will even experience temperatures higher than those in Spain's capital, Madrid, marking a decisive end to the cold snap that followed Storm Goretti.
Warmer Than the Med: A Temperature Reversal
According to the latest Met Office forecasts, a southerly airflow will bring a marked increase in temperatures across the UK. Plymouth in the South West is predicted to reach a balmy 13C on Sunday, followed by 12C on Monday and 11C on Tuesday. London is expected to see 8C on Sunday, rising to 11C for both Monday and Tuesday, while Greater Manchester could hit 10C over Sunday and Monday.
In a notable reversal, these figures will outstrip the forecast for Madrid. The Spanish capital is set for a cooler 8C on both Sunday and Monday, only rising to 9C on Tuesday. This means residents in parts of South West England will briefly enjoy conditions warmer than those in central Spain.
Ongoing Warnings Amid the Thaw
Despite the incoming milder air, significant weather warnings remain in force across the UK for the weekend. The aftermath of Storm Goretti, which battered the country with winds of nearly 100mph on Thursday and Friday, is still being felt. A man in his 50s died in Cornwall after a tree fell onto his caravan during the storm.
The Met Office has issued a new amber warning for snow across central and northeastern Scotland on Sunday, valid from 3am to 2pm. This alert covers Central, Tayside and Fife, Grampian, and the Highlands and Eilean Siar, where up to 300mm of further snow is possible, leading to expected disruptions.
Furthermore, extensive yellow warnings for snow, ice, rain, and wind are active. A yellow warning for snow and ice spans much of Scotland, the East and West Midlands, north-east and north-west England, and Yorkshire from 2am until 3pm on Sunday. Separate yellow warnings for wind cover northern parts of the UK and Northern Ireland, and for rain in northwest Scotland.
The Path to Milder Days
Sky's weather producer, Dr Chris England, explained the shift: "Southerly winds associated with bands of rain spreading from the southwest will make it much milder over the next day to two, ending the current cold spell." He noted that the warmer conditions will reach western areas first.
However, the transition will be bumpy. "There'll be a spell of snow in the north and east as the wet weather moves in," Dr England added. This snow is expected to become confined to northern Scottish mountains by midday Sunday before turning to rain almost everywhere. The combination of heavy rain and melting snow due to rising temperatures brings a risk of localised flooding, particularly across Scotland.
While the weekend begins with a mix of severe warnings, the overall trend points to a respite from the freezing conditions, with double-digit Celsius temperatures becoming widespread by the start of the new week.
