Here is what the data and the Met Office show.
Britain looks set for its first widespread wintry jolt of late autumn as fresh model output points to a long belt of snow and a sharp Arctic blast. Charts produced by WXCharts using Met Desk data suggest a 505-mile corridor of snowfall building by November 20, with temperatures dipping well below freezing in parts of Scotland and northern England.
The signals land as the Met Office flags yellow and amber warnings for rain and wind in the coming hours, with a risk to life from stormy conditions this weekend. Roads could turn icy, upland routes may be hit by drifting, and early morning commuters might face slower journeys before dawn. The question now is how far south the cold digs in.
Arctic blast maps hint at a 505-mile snow band from Scotland to the Midlands
The latest runs point to a swathe of wintry precipitation stretching from Wick down towards Stoke on Trent, with the heftiest falls over higher ground. On the maps, northern Scotland stands out first, then northern England begins to turn white as colder air deepens. The signal shows heavy rain on the fringes too, which often flips to sleet and snow once the air mass cools.
Model snapshots indicate the worst-hit zones in the Scottish Highlands, including Wick and Inverness, where roads over passes would be most exposed. By Tuesday, the early hours bring near universal chill, with many towns and cities across the UK hovering around 0C or below. It reads like winter’s dress rehearsal, even if we are still a few weeks off the solstice.
Behind the headline snow risk sits a pattern of colder air flooding south. The maps show a clear feed from the north, and that typically means sharper frosts, crunchy pavements and crisp blue skies between showers. And yet, timing and track can still shift at short notice.
How cold it could feel on 20 November where you live
Temperature projections from the same charts sketch out a biting start, with some notable lows on the cards. In northern Scotland, values look to oscillate between -4 and -3C in exposed spots. The chilliest pocket shows up around Pitlochry, Perth and Glasgow where the mercury could plumet to -7C, with parts near Newcastle also flirting with that mark. Farther south, Birmingham, Manchester, Stoke on Trent, Newcastle and Leeds sit near -6 to -5C in the coldest window.
- Projected lows at a glance on 20 November in the early hours include -7C around Pitlochry, Perth and Glasgow, -7C in parts near Newcastle, -6 to -5C for Birmingham, Manchester, Stoke on Trent, Newcastle and Leeds, and around -4 to -3C across northern Scotland’s Highlands
For the wider country, the pattern tilts towards a widespread freeze before dawn with thermometers close to or below 0C. That makes a difference to travel, as untreated surfaces ice up quickly and puddles from recent rain turn slick. It also means frost on windscreens and a longer scrape before school runs and early shifts.
These figures come straight from the chart guidance, which tends to highlight the potential extremes. Local factors such as cloud cover and wind can nudge readings a touch milder or colder. Still, the takeaway stays the same. It will feel properly wintry.
Met Office forecast signals a brief lull then a fresh northerly snap
Alongside the modelled snow risk, official guidance points to a cold and unsettled spell with a short-lived milder interlude. The Met Office has already warned that strong winds and heavy rain bring a risk to life over the weekend, especially near coasts and hills. After that, the long-range outlook sets the tone for the week ahead.
The Met Office long-range forecast between November 17 and 26 reads « All parts of the UK are likely to start off on a rather cold but bright note, with some sunshine. However, some showers are likely to pepper northern and eastern coasts, these wintry over high ground and possibly to low levels in the far northeast.
« A brisk northerly wind will accentuate the cold feel. Overnight frost will be widespread, especially in the north. Towards the middle of next week, an area of rain and stronger winds may move southeast across much of the UK, bringing a brief less cold spell, before a resumption of the cold northerly airflow with further wintry showers.
« Although very uncertain, high pressure may then settle things down by next weekend before it possibly turns milder, wetter and windier from the west late in the period. »
That sequence fits the current chart story, with a short lift in temperatures midweek, then a flip back to colder air and further wintry showers. For those heading out early, plan for frost and pockets of ice, especially north of the Central Belt and across the Pennines. Keep an eye on updated Met Office advisories as the track tightens.
As always, small changes in wind direction and cloud cover can tilt the balance between rain, sleet and snow. The signal today shows a punchy northerly and a decent chance of flakes over high ground, with some low-level surprises in the far northeast too. For now, the smart move is to prep the car, dig out the layers and watch the next set of charts roll in.
