Weather experts are prognosticating a major shift in conditions as a strong high-pressure system builds to the north. This system could shoot swells of cold air flooding across the country, beginning around Friday, 14 November.
According to the Met Office, low pressure will continue to dominate the UK until roughly 9 – 10 November, maintaining unsettled and wet conditions. Still, the rainfall is anticipated to turn much drier and sharper as mid-month approaches.
Models from both the American GFS and European ECMWF are in close agreement that cold air will probably first strike northern areas before drifting south across England and Wales.
Classic Scandinavian blocking patterns could also lock in the bite, holding temperatures well below normal.
Despite the wintry setup, meteorologists say there’s no significant snowfall anticipated just yet. Rather, Britain should brace for crisp days, icy nights, and wide morning frosts.
Netweather meteorologist Ian Simpson dismissed the idea of a repeat of 2018’s “Beast from the East,” noting that early winter easterlies rarely deliver heavy snow.
“Easterly snowfalls have been known in November, including a notable one around 21–22 November 1993, as well as the ones at the end of November 2010.
But most of the time Easterlies in November are not quite cold enough to give widespread snowfall, as central and eastern Europe are still in the process of cooling down at this time of year.
One fairly recent example of a November easterly that failed to deliver any snow for most lowland areas was in 2018, although it still turned colder than average for a time.”
He also added: “All of these scenarios point towards it becoming rather less mild as well as less unsettled towards mid-November, with some colder spells, possibly cold enough for frosts at times, but not necessarily cold enough for widespread snow.”
Late November Outlook
The Met Office’s long-range forecast supports this cooling trend. It predicts a lesser liability of high-pressure systems dominating later in November, bringing calmer, drier rainfall, but also an increased threat of late frost and fog.
Meteorologists also noted that low pressure could compactly push into the western corridor of the UK, including Wales, before the colder, drier pattern completely establishes itself.
So, while the important-stressed Beast from the East looks doubtful for now, the UK snowweather outlook suggests downtime’s first real bite is just around the corner.
Anticipate chilly mornings, icy winds, and that unmistakable snap in the air, a clear sign that the cold season has officially arrived.
