Atlantic jet stream could bring snow to London this week, says Met Office
London could be doused in snow later this week thanks to the Atlantic jet stream, the Met Office has said.
Snow has already hit parts of Northern Ireland, Scotland and northern England in the past few days, but there are warnings that the south of England and the capital could be next.
Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern said further snow is on its way to Scotland and Northern Ireland on Wednesday and Thursday.
The cold weather will spread further south, potentially resulting in snow in London on Thursday, he said.
McGivern said there was "a mild bump in the air across the Atlantic" which will lead to an area of low pressure.
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He said: “How this interacts with the jet stream come Thursday is currently very uncertain.
"The European computer model sends that low into France. But the Met Office computer model and the American model have it further north and more developed across southern parts of the country.
"At the moment we think it is most likely to run across southern counties of the UK, and bump into the cold air further north.
"And that means that as we start off Thursday, we think it's most likely that southern counties of England and South Wales will see a spell of rain.
"But north of the M4, there is the possibility of some temporary snowfall – not a great deal – it doesn't at the moment look to be widespread, significant disruption. But there is the possibility of some snow, in north London, for example.
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"It does clear away after lunchtime, and then brighter skies follow, but we will continue to see further wintry showers across northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and further snowfall especially over the hills."
Temperatures plummeted overnight across Britain between Monday and Tuesday as the Met Office warned of more ice and snow.
The mercury dropped to -4.5C at the Cairnwell in the Scottish Highlands, the Met Office said.
Significant snow falls were also recorded overnight, with Aviemore in Scotland recording 7cm and Northern Ireland's Lough Fea getting 3cm.
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Higher areas in both countries and in northern England were expected to continue to receive snow throughout the day.
Yellow weather warnings were in place for Northern Ireland, Scotland and the central part of northern England, warning of ice and potentially hazardous travel on Tuesday morning.