UK snow maps show 36 hours of May flurries as temperatures plummet to 0C this week

Britain is bracing itself for 36 hours of snowfall this week, as the mercury plunges to 0C despite it being May and many of us feeling warmer temperatures lately. Weather forecasting service WXCharts has predicted a blast of wintry conditions arriving on Tuesday, bringing snow and freezing temperatures. Snow is set to kick off at 12pm on Tuesday (May 12), persisting through to 12am on Thursday (May 14). Charts indicate it will begin in the Grampians at lunchtime, before sweeping into west and east Scotland (Aberdeen, Fort William) by evening. Come midnight, the West Coast of Scotland and northern England (Dumfries, Kendal, Blackpool) could find themselves blanketed in snow. Wednesday morning will bring snow to central Scotland, South-east Scotland (Berwick), north England (Manchester, York, Hull), and north Wales (Conwy). The remainder of Wednesday is predicted to bring scattered showers across central Scotland, north Scotland (Wick, Inverness), and North-west England. Throughout this spell, rain will drench most of the UK, with the heaviest downpours expected on Wednesday afternoon. Temperatures are set to plummet too. Wednesday morning will bring the coldest conditions in central Scotland , where the thermometer could hit as low as 0C, with Scotland sitting between 0C and 10C. The North of England can expect temperatures ranging between 3C and 12C; the Midlands between 5C and 13C; the South of England between 6C and 15C; Wales between 4C and 10C; and Northern Ireland between 4C and 10C, reports the Express . Meanwhile, the Met Office stated of the period: "Rain moving southeastwards on Tuesday. This is followed on Wednesday and Thursday by sunshine and showers, heavy and thundery at times. Rather cool and often breezy. Further overnight frosts." Looking ahead to tomorrow, the Met Office forecasts: "Cloud and rain continues southwards, clearing the UK into the evening. Sunny spells elsewhere, but a few hsowers over northern Scotland and eastern coasts of England, where breezy. Belolw-average temperatures." Looking ahead to next weekend and the following week, the forecaster says for May 15 to 24: "Changeable and at times rather unsettled conditions look to dominate through the middle part of May, with low pressure often close by. This means periods of rain or showers, some of which could be havy, for many places, though some drier interludes are also expected. "For the most part, temperatures are likely to be close to or perhaps a little below normal, with winds often blowing from a northwesterly quadrant. By the end of this period, pressure may increase towards the southwest, which could bring more in the way of dry weather here." Rounding off May and looking ahead into the first week of June, the Met Office says: "Compared to earlier in the month, patterns which bring more settled weather are more likely to dominate towards the end of May. Whilst further rain and showers are possible at times, there is likely to be longer spells of fine and dry weather. "Temperatures are most likely to recover close to average, perhaps becoming warm at times. Into June, more mixed conditions are likely with spells of rain and showers, but also some drier weather at times."