Thursday
A wet and windy morning over much of England and Wales. The winds are reaching gale force and gusting to 60mph over exposed parts. Some of the rain is going to be heavy, especially across northern England and Wales. By the end of the morning the heaviest rain, and strongest winds will be through east Anglia, the Midlands and the whole of southern England, with drier, brighter but much colder weather following behind. For Scotland and Northern Ireland the morning is going to be windy as well with frequent wintry showers. These turning increasingly heavy and merging to longer spells of rain, sleet and snow, bringing blizzards to high ground of Scotland.
By mid-afternoon the heavy rain and strong winds should clear southern England, although possibly not before turning to snow over high ground such as the Chilterns. It may be evening before rain clears from Kent. For much of the Midlands, East Anglia and southern Wales the afternoon should then be brighter and much colder, although staying breezy. Snow showers will be affecting north Wales and northwest England, these becoming heavier later in the afternoon and evening. Snow showers too in Northern Ireland and Scotland, but the main feature of the weather in the north will be the wind. Severe gales developing across many areas with winds gusting in excess of 80mph in Scotland and the far north of England. Temperatures at 3C in northern Scotland, 9C in southern England, but certainly feeling much colder in the wind.
Thursday Night
Those severe gales persist through the night across Scotland, Ireland and northern England. By morning gales will be affecting Wales and parts of the Midlands and possibly East Anglia. A wintry night to come across Scotland with bands of snow showers moving through, mainly affecting the north and west. More snow showers moving through northern Ireland, and another area of snow moving south through Wales and northern England, possibly moving into the the western Midlands and southwest England. As much as 30cm of snow may fall in parts of Scotland, but there could be a covering even to lower levels further south. Generally dry in the southeast, although the threat of snow showers can't be ignored later. Lows near -1 to 2C.
Friday
Friday does look set to be another wintry day in the north and west of the country. There could be snow showers here at anytime, and the risk of these merging into longer spells of snow. At most risk is northern and western Scotland, Northern Ireland, northern England, Wales and eastern Ireland. However, the band of snow could pass through the Midlands and East Anglia in the afternoon bringing the threat of some travel disruption. To the south it should be drier and brighter, although still the threat of some snow showers, especially later on. It should be stressed that confidence in the forecast is low just now, apart from the fact that it will be cold. High temperatures at 2 to 5C in a strong north wind.
Saturday
After the severe weather of Friday, Saturday looks like being a far more benign day. There will be some snow, across Scotland, especially in the morning. However, some bright spells for the rest of the country and a widespread frost to start the day. The emphasis will be on increasing cloud and probably turning misty for many. Fog patches may affect western coasts, with some drizzle here later as milder air tries to push back in. A bitterly cold day under the cloud, highs at 0C in parts of Scotland, 5C in southwest England.