Weather forecast UK tomorrow – Brits to be hit by -5C Arctic blast after snow and brutal winds this weekend

BIGGEST ASTEROID TO MAKE ‘CLOSE APPROACH’ TO EARTH

The largest asteroid to make a ‘close approach’ to Earth in 2021 is set to shoot past this month.

Nasa has been keeping a close eye on the space rock and says astronomers should be able to get a good look at it.

The asteroid is called 2001 FO32 and could be up to 3,000 feet (900 meters) wide.

That would make it larger than the Burj Khalifa, which is the tallest building in the world and stands at just over 2,700 feet.

Don’t panic though, Nasa thinks the whopping asteroid will pass Earth at a distance of around 1.25 million miles.

That’s about 5.25 times the distance between Earth and the Moon.

WINDSURFER HITS THE WAVES IN WEST SUSSEX

A windsurfer surfs in the rough sea off of West Wittering beach in West SussexCredit: PA:Press Association

CHANCE OF SPOTTING A RAINBOW ON SATURDAY

While it may feel cold tomorrow the Met Office says there is a good chance you could spot a rainbow.

In a Twitter update the forecaster said: “With#sunshine and showers in the #4cast for Saturday you may be lucky and spot some #rainbows.

“Wrap up warm though because it will feel #cold in the wind.”

SATURDAY DAY FORECAST

A cloudy start with rain across northern England and southern Scotland soon clearing.

Then bright with a mixture of sunny spells and scattered showers, these most frequent in the north and west bringing a threat of hail and thunder. Showers merging into longer spells of rain later. Chilly and breezy

SHOWERS AND SUNNY SPELLS

ODDS SLASHED ON SNOWFALL IN UK

Bookmaker Coral has cut the odds to 2-1 on snow falling in any major city in the UK before the month is out.

The firm makes it 1-2 for the wind speed to reach as high as 100mph in the mainland UK before the end of the weekend. They go 4-5 for -10C or lower being recorded in March, while it is 5-4 to be the wettest month on record.

“We are not far away from spring now, however, the weather over the last few days is a reminder we are not done with winter just yet,” said Coral’s John Hill.

“The odds have been slashed in half on snow falling in any major UK city before the end of this month.

“With the wind speed continuing the rise, we make it odds-on for 100mph being recorded in the mainland by the time the weekend is up.”

WATERFALL BLOWN UPWARDS

A waterfall was captured being blown upwards as high winds battered the country.

Amazing video footage showed the water from the top of the 630-metre (2086 feet) tall Kinder Scout waterfall, in the Peak District, Derbs., being sent spraying back on itself in the blustering winds.

Amateur photographer Rob Bates, 37, who braved the elements to hike up to the waterfall, can be seen struggling to hold onto his camera as he himself gets blown about in the “brutal” weather.

Tattoo artist Rob described it as “the worst winds I’ve ever been in”.

MAMMATUS CLOUDS OVER UK TODAY

OUTLOOK FOR THE WEEKEND

Early rain will clear on Saturday to reveal a mixture of bright spells and scattered showers, some of these will be locally heavy and will be most frequent in the west.

Drier on Sunday with sunny spells but cloud cover will build in from the west.

Rain will push into western areas by the evening.

LONG RANGE FORECAST: MARCH 17 TO 26

The start of the period is likely to see largely settled conditions, according to the Met Office.

This will give dry weather for most, though some showers are possible, mainly in the north and east.

There is a risk of morning frost and fog patches, particularly in the west. Temperatures potentially colder than average in the south, particularly the south east, but likely milder across the north.

The end of the period will most likely see another period of unsettled weather, with spells of rain and some strong winds crossing all parts of the UK, interspersed with drier and brighter interludes.

Temperatures are expected to be at or slightly below average for this time of year by the end of the period.

WEEKEND WEATHER OUTLOOK

Early rain will clear on Saturday to reveal a mixture of bright spells and scattered showers, some of these will be locally heavy and will be most frequent in the west.

Drier on Sunday with sunny spells but cloud cover will build in from the west.

Rain will push into western areas by the evening.

HAIL AND RAIN SHOWERS

Hail has formed parts of the heaviest rain showers across the country today.

Outbreaks of rain, heavy at times with a risk of thunder, will moving eastwards across most parts tonight.

Find out more about hail below…

HOW DO RAINBOWS FORM?

A rainbow is an arc-shaped spectrum of light which is created by refraction and reflection.

An explanation from the Met Office reads: “Rainbows are caused when rays of light from the sun hit water droplets which reflect some of the light back towards an observer.

“The water droplets are usually raindrops, but could also be spray from a waterfall, a fountain, or even fog.

“To see a rainbow, you must have the sun shining behind you and the water droplets in front of you.”

IN PICS: STUNNING RAINBOWS

Beautiful photographs show rainbows gracing the skies across the country.

A rainbow was pictured arching across Morecambe Bay in Lancashire this morning.

Meanwhile in Uploders, Dorset, a rainbow was captured above sheep grazing in a field as skies cleared following heavy rainfall.

A rainbow across Morecambe Bay in LancashireCredit: Alamy Live News

The beautiful scene in Uploders, Dorset, after rain showers clearedCredit: Alamy Live News

OUTLOOK FOR TONIGHT

Showers in the west will merge into longer spells of rain moving east overnight, with some snow over northern hills.

Very windy in the far south-west.

Frost in far north.

MET OFFICE: WEEKEND WEATHER FORECAST SHOWS RAIN AND WIND ACROSS THE UK

WEEKEND WEATHER FORECAST

Early rain will clear on Saturday to reveal a mixture of bright spells and scattered showers, some of these will be locally heavy and will be most frequent in the west.

Drier on Sunday with sunny spells but cloud cover will build in from the west.

Rain will push into western areas by the evening.

SUNNY SPELLS AND BLUSTERY SHOWERS THIS AFTERNOON

There is a risk of hail in parts of the country this afternoon – and even the odd rumble of thunder.

Sunny spells and blustery showers are on the way, with the risk of snow on hill tops in thr north.

It’ll be a chilly afternoon thanks to the wind.

TODAY’S FORECAST FOR LONDON

It is set to be a drier afternoon in the city as rain begins to clear.

There will be sunny spells in between showers, but it will still be feeling cold with the windy conditions.

Maximum temperature 11C, minimum of 2C tonight.

FLOODING EXPECTED IN AREAS

The Environment Agency has issued flood warning for five areas.

This means flooding is expected and immediate action should be taken.

The affected areas are:

• Keswick Campsite
• River Ouse at Naburn Lock
• River Ouse at York – riverside properties
• River Ouse at York – St George’s Field and Queen’s Staith
• The River Burn from South Creake to Burnham Thorpe

COMBINING PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE TO DEVELOP POLLEN FORECASTING

New research, which brings healthcare data together with ground-breaking ecological techniques, could set a roadmap for refining pollen forecasts in the future.

Current pollen forecasts, crucial for people with allergic asthma or hay fever to manage their symptoms, rely on measuring the total load of grass pollen in the atmosphere. However, these do not distinguish between pollen from different types of grass.

Now, a potential link between pollen from certain grass species and respiratory health issues has been revealed.

The research led by Bangor and Exeter Universities is part of the larger PollerGEN (Natural Environment Research Council-funded) research project, which in 2019 established the use of eDNA techniques to identify different types of microscopic grass pollen grains.

The current work matched two years of records of public health data (asthma-related hospital admissions, and GP prescribing of respiratory and nasal allergy treatments) with the eDNA monitoring data for pollen from different grass species made at 14 locations throughout the UK.

BRISK WIND AND SUNNY SKIES

Rain showers are expected to pass thanks to brisk winds sweeping across the country.

Sunshine is set to follow leading to a brighter day for many.

Tonight is is expected to be very windy in the far south-west. Frost in far north.

OUTLOOK FOR THE WEEKEND

Early rain will clear on Saturday to reveal a mixture of bright spells and scattered showers, some of these will be locally heavy and will be most frequent in the west.

Drier on Sunday with sunny spells but cloud cover will build in from the west.

Rain will push into western areas by the evening.

YESTERDAY’S WEATHER EXTREMES

Temperatures hit highs of 13.2C yesterday in Writtle, Chelmsford, and lows of 2.1C in Dalwhinnie in Scotland, according to the Met Office.

Meanwhile, Lake Vyrnwy in Wales recorded the most rainfall at 32.6mm.

Shoeburyness in Essex had the most hours of sunshine, at 6.3 hours.

ODDS SLASHED ON SNOWFALL IN UK

Bookmaker Coral has cut the odds to 2-1 on snow falling in any major city in the UK before the month is out.

The firm makes it 1-2 for the wind speed to reach as high as 100mph in the mainland UK before the end of the weekend. They go 4-5 for -10C or lower being recorded in March, while it is 5-4 to be the wettest month on record.

“We are not far away from spring now, however, the weather over the last few days is a reminder we are not done with winter just yet,” said Coral’s John Hill.

“The odds have been slashed in half on snow falling in any major UK city before the end of this month.

“With the wind speed continuing the rise, we make it odds-on for 100mph being recorded in the mainland by the time the weekend is up.”