Turning colder to end the week, with snow in places

More rain is on the way for England and Wales to end the week, as an area of low pressure just to the west of Ireland tracks slowly southeast, but the same low will also pull in colder air from Norway as the low clears southeast. 

This colder air is already moving in across Scotland and the far north of England this morning, with temperatures just above freezing and any precipitation brought in off the North Sea on the keen northeasterly breeze falling as snow inland - with some persistent sleet and snow inland across southern Scotland along an occluded front, rain on coasts. Brighter with some scattered snow showers spreading south across northern Scotland. Snow settling over higher ground

Further south the low moving southeast across Ireland will push a frontal system east ahead of it, bringing showery rain east across the south, while an occluded frontal system straddling Northern Ireland will push east over northern England, bringing outbreaks of rain and increasingly sleet and hill snow, as colder air over Scotland begins to undercut from the north.

Further rain, sleet and hill snow across northern England and also north Wales tonight, with a couple of centimetres above 200m, perhaps up to 10cm above 300m. Rain showers continue in the south. Turning drier, with clearer spells but with wintry showers across Scotland and N. Ireland, showers falling as snow over higher ground - with further accumulations. Yellow warnings for snow and ice in force from this evening for Scotland and N. England:

Outbreaks of rain, sleet and hill snow will gradually sink south over England and Wales through Friday, heaviest and most persistent across Wales and SW England - with snow over higher ground giving a covering over Welsh mountains and southwest Moors. Strong northerly wind developing down the Irish Sea. Rain becomes patchy and lighter as it spreads south further east over England, perhaps turning to sleet or wet snow after dark over hills. Drier and brighter in a cold northerly breeze over Scotland and Northern Ireland, though some sleet and snow showers near northern coasts.

After a widespread frosty start, with a risk of ice where rain, sleet or snow has fallen, Saturday is looking a much drier and sunnier but cold day across much of the UK,as a ridge of high pressure builds in. Temperatures reaching 3-6C at best.

Then all change again Saturday night, as an active occluded front moves east nationwide overnight and through Sunday morning, initially rain along the front as it arrives over Ireland in the evening, but turning to snow as it pushes in across mainland UK into the cold air in place. Probably giving a temporary dusting at lower level before turning to wet snow then sleet before clearing, but giving a covering of several centimeters over higher ground in the north and Wales before the front clears. 

The band of rain, sleet and snow clears eastern areas Sunday morning followed by drier, perhaps brighter conditions for a time, but showers across the west, which could be wintry in nature over the mountains, will spread east. Little less cold than Saturday, but still feeling chilly in the brisk westerly wind.

Showery early next week, particularly for England and Wales, Scotland drier and brighter, on the chilly side too in the brisk westerly to northwesterly wind, so showers wintry in nature over hills too. Risk of widespread frost overnight where skies clear. Perhaps some rain and hill snow moving east with an area of low pressure across southern areas mid-week, but low confidence by then.