Is it going to snow in London? Met Office latest as temperatures set to plunge across the country

The UK has had a warm start to autumn this year, with temperatures well above the average even as we’ve headed into October – but that’s all come crashing to a halt.

Because as well as heavy rain sweeping the country – with a yellow warning in place across parts of the country until midnight on Friday – the temperature is set to drop dramatically over the weekend.

Expect things to feel a whole lot colder – maybe even to the point that you’ll want to whack the heating on for the first time this season.

There’s even talk of snow in some parts – but could London see a dusting of flakes?

Here’s what you need to know…

Is it going to snow in London?

While we may be in for a cold snap, there’s no snow forecast for London in the coming days.

However, we could still be in for the first snow of the season, with wintry showers predicted to fall in some higher areas of Scotland.

The Met Office’s forecast for Scotland reads: ‘Saturday will be a bright and breezy day, with sunny spells and showers. Showers falling as snow across the hills in Scotland. Feeling colder for all.’

From Sunday to Tuesday, the Met Office predicts for the south: ‘Turning brighter, fresher, and chillier through the period, with good spells of autumn sunshine.

‘Largely settled, with the odd shower. Overnight fog and frost possible, especially in rural spots.’

BBC Weather predicts that the temperature in London could plummet by as much as 10 degrees over the weekend – to around 11C in the capital.

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However, slightly warmer conditions are expected into the early part of next week as the mercury rises into the mid-teens.

Of the coming days, Alex Burkill, Met Office meteorologist said: ‘Some places will be 10°C lower than they were last weekend.’

He continued: ‘Looking at the details for Saturday, it’s a bright sunny picture for many of us to start. But showers feeding in from cold northerly wind.’

But these will be, ‘scattered,’ he added, with ‘bright sunny spells.’

How cold does it need to be for snow?

For snow to fall and stick, ground temperatures need to be below 2 degrees.

In the UK, the heaviest snow falls tend to happen when the air temperature is between 0 and 2 degrees.

If the air temperature is above freezing then falling snow will begin to melt.

Snow will fall as sleet in temperatures above 2 degrees, and fall as rain in temperatures over 5 degrees.

So we’re still well above optimum snow temperatures in most of the UK – but with the colder months drawing in, all that could change in the coming weeks.

MORE : UK is washed away as winds reach 80mph with more weather warnings in place

MORE : After September’s record-breaking spell of weather here’s whether we can expect another 30C heatwave in 2023

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