Snow on the way for Greater Manchester next week as a cold snap bites, here is what Met Office and BBC Weather are hinting at

Now colder air lines up a change that could catch early risers off guard.

After days of heavy rain and gusty winds across the UK, attention is shifting to a marked downturn in **temperatures** for the North West. Forecast models now point to a notably colder spell early next week, with parts of **Greater Manchester** facing a brief window of **snow** as the air turns sharper and drier.

The pattern fits mid November, when clear nights quickly drag the mercury down and showers flip wintry on higher ground. Met Office guidance flags a brisk northerly feeding colder air into northern and eastern areas, while the south likely starts cloudier and wetter before settling down. The hint is there.

Cold snap for Greater Manchester, what the Met Office is flagging

Forecasters expect a plunge below freezing for parts of North West England on **Thursday 20 November**, with values early in the morning dipping close to **-2C** in the coldest spots. Daytime will feel brighter and crisper than the past week, yet still chilly in the wind, with sunny intervals for many places after the early showers ease.

The latest outlook from the **Met Office** for 16 to 25 November points to a colder and drier setup across central and northern areas compared with recent days, bringing overnight **frost** and the risk of **wintry showers** near exposed coasts. The south starts on the cloudier, wetter side before conditions trend drier and colder into the first half of next week. Later, signals suggest a more changeable pattern may return with some hill snow possible in the north and temperatures edging back towards average.

Across **Greater Manchester**, **BBC Weather** indicates a narrow early morning window for light **snow** in several boroughs on Thursday, sandwiched between sleet and brighter spells. Many places are set for highs around 5C and lows close to 1C, so it will feel raw, especially under that northerly breeze that bites on exposed streets and platforms.

Hour by hour hints for each borough, where and when flakes may fall

Signals from **BBC Weather** suggest the coldest air arrives overnight into Thursday with light winds at first, then sleet taking over by late morning. Here is how the snapshot looks right now, noting that details can still shift as the day approaches.

• Bolton light snow between 1am and 4am, turning to sleet late morning
• Bury light snow from 9pm Wednesday until 6am Thursday, then sleet around mid morning
• Manchester sleet from 7pm Wednesday fading towards 8am Thursday
• Oldham light snow from midnight to 7am, with sleet lingering into Friday
• Rochdale snow showers between 3am and 8am, sleet mid morning, light snow possibly late Thursday night
• Salford sleet from 9pm Wednesday through to 8am Thursday
• Stockport sleet from 8pm Wednesday to 5am, light snow showers 6am to 8am
• Tameside light snow from 2am to 7am, sleet around late morning
• Trafford sleet for much of Wednesday evening, light snow from 4am Thursday, then back to sleet mid morning
• Wigan light snow around 4am to 5am and again near 8am, turning to sleet from 9am

Most boroughs see a mix rather than prolonged snow, with the sharper showers tending to favour higher, more exposed spots. Forecasters stress the usual caveat for marginal setups, since a one degree swing can flip snow to sleet in minutes.

Travel, schools and daily life, what colder air could mean this week

That early dip below zero can leave untreated pavements and side streets slippery around dawn. Commuters may face patchy ice on bridges and quiet residential roads, while rail platforms and cycle lanes could feel especially slick. Local gritters are likely to head out overnight if road surface temperatures fall far enough.

Schools and early shift workers will want an extra layer and a couple of spare minutes for clearing windscreens. Not everyone sees **snow**, yet the combination of sleet, breeze and low **temperatures** makes for a nip in the air that lasts through the morning. Then comes a brighter interlude for many places, with sunny spells pushing highs to around 5C, though it will still feel cooler in that northerly flow.

For those travelling farther afield, northern and eastern parts of England feel the sting most as that northerly bites. The south starts unsettled before calming down into next week, which means plans might need a quick check the evening before. And yes, snow could arrive earlier then expected if a shower line sharpens while you sleep.

While conditions remain in flux, the broad message holds. It turns **colder everywhere**, it turns drier for many, and there is a short window for light **snow** or sleet across **Greater Manchester** around Thursday morning, with **frost** widely overnight either side of that day.