The latest snow map showing 13 counties affected in Britain – here’s what the forecast means for Northern IrelandKirstie McCrum Deputy Head of News, Live News Network and Astha Saxena
14:23, 10 May 2026Updated 14:27, 10 May 2026
Not much chance of snowy conditions in Northern Ireland(Image: Liam McBurney/PA Wire)
Northern Ireland is forecast to largely escape the worst wintry conditions of the week ahead, as charts indicate an unseasonable cold snap descendin.
Weather maps are predicting 30 hours of uninterrupted wintry precipitation, with 13 counties impacted by the arctic blast. WXCharts suggests the first waves of snow will touch down at 3pm on Tuesday (May 12), continuing through until 9pm on Wednesday (May 13).
But the wintry conditions threatening to strike the UK look to be staying on that side of the Irish Sea, as the charts, below, demonstrate that broadly speaking we’ll be avoiding the heaviest of the snowfall.
BBC Northern Ireland says that Tuesday “looks to see cloud and some patches of early rain, though it should turn dry with sunny spells later on”.
It adds: “Wednesday will be windy with sunny spells and showers, some thundery. Windy, drier, and cloudy at first on Thursday, turning overcast with light rain by the evening.”
(Image: WXcharts)
Over the Irish Sea, by midday on Wednesday, the charts show snow advancing into sections of Yorkshire and County Durham – encompassing Harrogate and Darlington – while Newcastle and Durham are also forecast to see flurries. Scotland, from Ayr extending to central and northern areas, is similarly expected to witness extensive snow during the same period.
Snow is forecast to arrive in northwest Scotland at roughly 6pm on Tuesday, based on WXCharts projections. Further south, portions of northern England – covering Blackpool, Preston and Blackburn – are expected to encounter rainfall instead of snow. Alongside this wintry precipitation, temperatures are forecast to plummet towards freezing point across large swathes of Scotland around 6am on Wednesday, with minimums ranging between 3C and 7C throughout much of England, reports the Express.
(Image: WXCharts)
The Met Office’s outlook from Tuesday through Thursday states: “Rain moving southeastwards on Tuesday. This followed on Wednesday and Thursday by sunshine and showers, heavy and thundery at times. Rather cool and often breezy. Further overnight frosts.”
Netweather.tv forecaster Nick Finnis noted in his most recent weather analysis: “Later in the week, air will have originated from within the arctic circle, so it will feel distinctly chilly, particularly out of the sun, while snow is a possibility for Scottish mountains.
“There will be showers most days in the cool northerly or northwesterly flow, turning heavier from mid-week, when arctic air arrives, while at night there will be a risk of widespread frost as skies clear – particularly later in the week.
(Image: WXCHARTS)
“Another weakening cold front will move southeast across the UK on Tuesday, reaching the southeast early evening, just a band of cloud with some patchy rain not amounting to much for most, very little rain when it reaches the southeast.
“Some sunshine ahead of the front, while sunny spells return following the front clearance, but with blustery showers arriving in the northwest. Temperatures similar to Monday.”
UK counties expecting snow:
Highlands
Argyll and Bute
Perth and Kinross
Stirling
Clackmannanshire
Cheshire
Staffordshire
Greater Manchester
Lancashire
West Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
Shropshire
Derbyshire
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