UK weather maps have turned purple as a powerful winter system threatens to bury large swathes of Britain under a giant 700-mile snow bomb. Latest weather charts show a deep area of low pressure pushing in from the Atlantic, dragging a broad and intense band of snow across the country.
The WXCharts maps valid for Wednesday, February 16 and Thursday, February 17, show wintry conditions sweeping in from the west, with the precipitation intensifying as it moves inland. Purple shading on the charts shows snowfall stretching from southern England through the Midlands, northern England and into Scotland. London, Birmingham, Manchester and Newcastle all appear directly in the firing line, with snow rates shown to be particularly intense as the core of the system tracks north-eastwards.
On February 16, the maps show snow spreading in from the southwest, with south-west England, including parts of Cornwall, Devon and Somerset, among the first areas affected. Wales is also shown to be affected, especially across South Wales and the Valleys, as the system tracks close to the Bristol Channel.
The wintery precipitation then pushes across central and southern England, covering the Midlands, East Anglia and the South East, with London also not being spared of the purple shading, suggesting snowfall even at low levels, according to the charts.
The following day, February 17, the conditions are predicted to intensify even further, with much of the British Isles swallowed by deep purple shading on maps as the snow band expands and strengthens.
As the forecast is for later in the month, the conditions might change over time.
The Met Office, in its own forecast separate to that of WXCharts, said: “Broadly changeable conditions are expected across the UK during this period. Low pressure systems will probably dominate, meaning showers or longer spells of rain, heavy at times, for much of the UK and some hill snow in the north.
“Periods of strong winds are also possible, especially around coasts. Temperatures will likely be close to average or slightly above overall, though there remains the potential for incursions of colder air at times, at least into northern areas.”