Exact times and areas snow to hit in 60-hour blizzard as Arctic blast looms

Parts of the UK are bracing for 60 hours of snowfall in just a few days, as an Arctic blast could be on the horizon. Weather maps suggest that snow will begin to blanket parts of western Scotland from midday on December 9, spreading to Northern Ireland, mid-Wales and areas of Cumbria and Lancashire by midnight on December 10.

The snow then appears to retreat, leaving a large portion of western Scotland covered by midnight on December 11, according to the latest weather maps generated on Wednesday (November 27) by WX Charts using Metdesk data. If these predictions hold true, the snow should have largely cleared from the whole of the UK by 6am on December 11.

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Netweather's December forecast indicates that the weather will become more unsettled with westerly winds and the potential for a mid-Atlantic ridge to form, which increases the chances of an Arctic blast, particularly in northern Britain. It adds: "This means that there could be snow for some, particularly on high ground and in the north. Overall, the weather during this period is expected to be more unsettled, but not particularly wet, with high pressure often quite close to the south and/or west of the British Isles."

However, the Met Office's long-range forecast for December 1 to December 10 doesn't mention snow at all. It expects the start of that period to be unsettled, with showers or longer spells of rain across much of the UK, reports the Express.

According to the Met Office, Brits can expect a chilly spell - it's set to be quite blustery, especially towards the north and west. Despite milder temperatures, strong winds are likely to make it feel "rather cold".

Experts at the Met Office have outlined that "High pressure then looks like building close to or over the UK through early December. This will result in drier but also probably generally slightly cooler conditions, and increase the risk of overnight frost and fog."

They predict a largely dry yet settled pattern, which may occasionally be disrupted by short spells of unsettled and warmer weather as low-pressure systems traverse the UK, potentially causing wind and rain in certain areas. Near-average temperatures are anticipated, though it could feel quite brisk during foggy conditions.

Looking at the Met Office UK five-day forecast, heavy rain is expected to gradually move east across central and southern England and Wales on Wednesday, with brighter skies post-rain in the West. Southeastern regions could encounter gales, while elsewhere, morning fog and frost should dissipate, leading to sunny intervals and the odd shower.

Overnight, North Sea coastal areas in England and Scotland might see some showers, but most parts will remain dry with clear spells and calm winds, conducive to widespread frost and possible freezing fog patches. By Thursday, most frost and fog patches are expected to clear up, leaving behind a generally dry day filled with sunshine, though the atmosphere will stay cool.

The west may see more clouds and wind alongside a bit of patchy rain. The forecast for Friday through to Sunday suggests fine weather in the southeast on Friday, though it will turn colder. The north and west can expect cloudier conditions with some rain.

Over the weekend, we're looking at generally cloudier but milder weather, with occasional rain and often windy conditions.