Updated weather maps show the Beast from the East 2 could bring a savage end to January with a 700-mile ‘weather bomb’ predicted to dump snow across England.
International weather data organisation WX Charts appears to compound Met Office forecast for “significant snowfall” with a graphic which reveals a band of snow spreading from Limerick, in Ireland, to beyond Dieppe, in France - a distance of around 718 miles.
The image shows Wales, the midlands and parts of the South West, including Bristol, Gloucestershire, parts of Somerset, Wiltshire and Dorset could see heavy snowfall from midday on Thursday, January 28.
Snow has already fallen on parts of the South West, mainly on higher ground in recent weeks, but no significant disruption was cased despite weather warnings.
National reports warned to expect a cold and snowy end to January and into next month.
Meteorologists have already confirmed a sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) event is happening over the Arctic, which is what happened before the Beast from the East struck in 2018.
From Friday, unsettled conditions will develop across the UK, bringing spells of rain to many areas, perhaps, accompanied by strong winds, the Met Office said.
The Met Office states in its long-range forecast from Thursday, December 28: “Confidence for this period is low, though there is a signal for weaker than average westerly winds with Atlantic systems likely to track further south than normal.
“Therefore, for the north of the UK risk of precipitation is expected with temperatures around average to a little below. Further south there is an increased chance of unsettled conditions, with above average precipitation and with periods where temperatures may be slightly above average also.
“Through this period there is a greater than average chance of cold spells across the UK with the associated risk of wintry hazards. There is potential at times for significant snowfall on the boundary between milder and colder air masses, with greatest risk across central and northern areas.”
