UK temperatures could surge above Spain’s in a matter of days as a chilly system moves off the country and into continental Europe.
Spring commenced under a brief cold snap in Britain this year, with a chilly -1C hangover from February persisting into March.
Snow also remains scattered across northern parts of England and Scotland, and more flurries may loom on the horizons, forecasters believe, as the countrywide chill remains.
But that could soon change, maps suggest, as after temperatures continue to plummet this week and the trend moves across Europe, the UK could become hotter than some parts of Spain.
The difference is likely to be negligible, forecasters believe, with most of the temperature changes forming in the upper atmosphere.
Temperature anomaly maps from WXCharts documenting the last few days have shown a similarly cold trend in Spain this week, with nighttime lows dropping to 0C and below across the country.
By Friday, March 8, the UK will have started to warm up, with highs approaching 10C by 12pm, but Spaniards will remain in the thralls of their chilly spell.
Afternoon temperatures will drop below zero from north to south, the maps suggest a trend that is expected to stick over the following few days.
Charts tracking atmospheric changes suggest the division between the UK and Spain will hold higher in the atmosphere.
By Wednesday, March 12, the mercury will stick between 6C and 8C 1,500 metres above the boundary layer in the British Isles, while Spain will only see highs between 4C and 6C.
The high atmospheric changes aren’t likely to have a significant effect on those living below, but they can show the dominant weather activity for a given area.
In reality, as the maps suggest, the Met Office has confirmed that temperatures are unlikely to rise above the annual average.
The long-range forecast for March 12 to 20 states mild weather is on the horizon as a “gradual improvement” in UK conditions continues.
The forecast states: “Following unsettled weather for many over the preceding weekend, next week will initially see a gradual improvement in conditions from the west as drier, brighter weather and lighter winds slowly arrive.
“Cloudier conditions with some showers in the east are likely to persist for a time before this occurs.
“Much of the period thereafter will see a battle between cloud and rain arriving from the Atlantic, and drier, more settled conditions trying to extend westwards from the nearby continent.
“However, the most likely scenario is that “south-shifted” Atlantic weather systems will tend to dominate, bringing periods of mild, cloudy and wet weather across many southern and eastern areas in particular, whilst northwestern areas fare best in terms of settled weather. Temperatures overall are likely to be around the seasonal average.”
