13/01/2016 Weather for the Week Ahead

Hello there. Now that it's finally feels like winter,

I suppose the next big question is

how long is this cold snap going to last?

There are signs of it turning milder again next week.

More on that in a moment.

First of all, why so cold?

Well, it's all tied in

to the jet stream -

that fast-moving ribbon of air high up.

The jet stream is to the south of the UK.

We are on the cold side of the jet stream.

That is why it is that much chillier

and also why the low pressure systems

that are surrounding us

aren't particularly active.

Remember, the jet streams

drive those low-pressure systems,

so these ones to the north of the jet stream

are not especially intense.

However, they are mixed in with the cold air,

so they could well bring

a little bit of sleet and snow.

Maybe some snow mixed in with the rain

through Northern Ireland

during Wednesday morning.

Then we'll see showers developing

across western parts of England and Wales,

with snow on the hills, potentially,

of northern England later on on Wednesday.

It is going to be another cold day.

We start frosty, and temperatures peaking

at 3 to maybe 9 Celsius

in the south-west.

Now, things could get a bit more active snow-wise

during the course of the evening rush hour

across central parts of Scotland.

A big question mark about exactly where

this weather front sits,

but it could bring some significant snow

for a time during the course of the Wednesday evening.

Still on Thursday,

that low is still around.

So some snow over the hills

of northern England and North Wales

on Thursday morning,

and possibly a little bit of sleet and snow

mixed in across eastern England.

It will be a cold day here and a wet day,

whereas elsewhere, actually bar a few wintry showers,

many places dry and bright.

But, again, it is cold with a frost again

on Thursday night into Friday morning.

That's low-pressure system scoots away.

Follow the isobars for Friday -

they are pointing all the way to Iceland.

So it's cold air, again, flooding its way southwards,

bringing some showers where we've got the winds

coming in from the sea.

North-west Scotland, North-west England

and North Wales.

The showers on Friday could well be of snow,

even to low levels. For many, though,

it's a sunny, dry, cold day.

As will Saturday be. Morning frost, yes.

There could be some stubborn fog patches

around on Saturday,

but for most, it's dry and bright.

Just a few wintry showers likely.

More on Saturday across the east

rather than the west.

High pressure is building all the while

through the course of the weekend.

It's definitely, definitely the dominant feature

as we go into Sunday.

Again, there could be one or two showers

coming into parts of the east,

which could have some sleet and snow.

But the main themes, after such a wet start to the year,

is the weekend looks largely dry,

but it will still be cold with morning frosts

and temperatures in single figures,

Then into next week,

for the early part of the week.

The cold air still in play.

So it's largely dry with morning frosts

for Monday and Tuesday.

Then, the big question marks.

The high pressure next week

will finally get pushed away

by weather systems again returning from the Atlantic.

Back to the norm, if you like.

But when these changes happen,

there is always big uncertainties -

how far in will these weather fronts get

by the middle of the week?

As they do arrive, bringing the moisture,

hitting the cold air,

could they provide, at least for a time,

some heavier snowfall?

So there are big question marks

about next week.

The things we definitely know -

a cold, largely dry, frosty start

with some sunshine around on Monday,

but there could be some fog too.

It will turn milder and wetter

through the week.

The timing at this stage,

rather uncertain.

We will firm up on the details

over the next couple of days.

I'll see you again tomorrow. Goodbye.

People come to Shetland

because we're out on a big rock in the middle of the North Sea.

They think this isn't part of real life.

Tell me whatever it is you know.

I'm telling you he never got off that ferry.

There's somebody trying to stop me from doing my job.

I can get inside your life. I can do a lot of damage.