Widespread snow could hit regions north of Birmingham, with up to 5cm falling per hour. A sudden return of wintry conditions contrasts sharply with early spring warmth.
As much of the UK settles into milder spring weather, a sharp shift is forecast to bring widespread snowfall to northern areas. According to WX Charts, which uses data from Met Desk, 85 counties could be affected by a snow event expected around 12 April.
The forecast highlights a stark north-south divide. While southern England may see temperatures nearing 20°C, regions in the north – including Northumberland, Cumbria and Durham – face the prospect of snow accumulation rates reaching 5cm per hour.
This scenario follows a period of stable, high-pressure conditions that had previously dominated UK weather patterns.
Widespread Snowfall Forecast North of the Midlands
According to WX Charts, areas north of Birmingham could face a significant wintry event, with snowfall spreading across large parts of northern England and Wales. Maps show a clear delineation, with southern and central regions largely escaping the cold front.
The heaviest snowfall is predicted in higher elevations, particularly in Cumbria and Northumberland, though lowland areas may also experience brief, intense flurries.
The data suggests that Wales could be among the worst-affected regions, potentially experiencing snowfall at rates of up to 5cm per hour during peak periods.
These projections, drawn from Met Desk datasets, are based on short-term meteorological modelling and suggest a rapid onset of cold air, driven by shifting atmospheric pressure.
Despite the timing in mid-spring, such events are not unprecedented in the UK’s climate history, especially when high-pressure systems retreat and allow Arctic air masses to descend.
Conflicting Weather Patterns Mark April’s Unpredictability
Forecaster James Madden from Exacta Weather described the coming weeks as marked by a “high-pressure-influenced” phase leading to settled, sunny conditions, especially in the south. According to Madden, this warming spell will be interrupted by a colder pattern, bringing a late-season snow risk.
“This could also bring temperatures to and around the 20C mark in parts of southern England by the end of the working week and prior to some slightly cooler and cloudier weather by the upcoming weekend in parts further south,” Madden said, with northern parts holding onto similar warmth for several days longer.
However, this spell is expected to pave the way for a return to wintry weather “in and around mid to late April.” Forecast data indicates that these colder conditions may arrive slightly earlier than previously expected, with early signs already appearing in late March.
Madden’s longer-range forecast outlines a pattern of alternating warm and cold phases throughout April, characteristic of the month’s transitional climate.
