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Friday begins with a very wintry picture across the UK. Storm Emma has led to massive disruption in large parts of the south, and west and in places it is still snowing. The air close to the ground remains very cold but at higher levels over the south temperatures are recovering and that combination means there is a risk of freezing rain as well as snow.

Today another band of snow and freezing rain is expected to push up from the south. Further significant accumulations of snow are possible in southern and central regions. In the north there will be some bright spells but snow showers continue in the north east.

The forecast chart below gives an idea of where snow is expected to be at 1pm today.

Meteo France Arpege 00z, precipitation type, 13:00 GMT Fri 2nd March

It remains bitterly cold with temperatures close to 0C (32F) across most of the UK, although the far south west is likely to be milder. See the rainfall and precipitation type radar for the latest view.

Tonight the patchy band of snow in the south pushes into the Midlands and possibly reaches Yorkshire by the morning. In Wales and the south west showery outbreaks of rain and snow continue. Temperatures in most of the country will be below 0C (32F) making ice an additional hazard.

Cold easing this weekend

Tomorrow it stays very cold in the north with snow showers in the north east. In the southern half of the UK temperatures are expected to be higher than recently although it will still be raw. Another band of rain and sleet may move northwards across southern and central areas, and it could still be cold enough to bring snow in places. 

The forecast chart below gives an idea of where precipitation is expected to be at 1pm today. Although rain is shown in the south conditions will be marginal and snow remains a possibility.

Meteo France Arpege 00z, precipitation type, 15:00 GMT Sat 3rd March

The cold weather continues in the north on Sunday with further sleet and snow in places. The cold in the south continues to be ease.

Next week

Low pressure is expected to remain over the UK for much of next week. That means the really cold air mass will be pushed to the north of the UK. Despite that it probably remain quite cold in the north cold and some computer models show colder air returning southwards later on. 

Summary

1) Outbreaks of snow in the southern half of the UK and heavy snow showers in the north bring disruption.

2) Through the weekend less cold upper air will be slowly filter northwards and precipitation in the south become more likely to fall as rain.

3) During the first half of next week the it remains cold in the north but temperatures in the south will be closer to the early March average.

Check the latest snow forecast charts:

Meteo France Arpege

DWD ICON

NCEP GFS

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Meteo France Arpege forecast charts

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16 day GEFS ensembles at a glance

In the short term bitterly cold weather continues. In the longer term a wet and quite chilly picture is favoured. View latest GEFS.