Snow falls in the UK … in May

Northerly winds bring cold air down from the Arctic and Scandinavia, causing wintry weather on higher ground

Press Association
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 15 May 2012 07.53 EDT


Sheep on the snow-covered moors above Teesdale in County Durham. Photograph: Paul Kingston/North News & Pictures


Chilly air has brought snow to parts of the UK – days after the Premier League ended and weeks after the cricket season began.

Cold northerly winds brought wintry showers to higher ground, including the Pennines, Shropshire, parts of Wales and Scotland.

The meteorologist Chris Burton said it was late in the year for snow but it was not unheard of this far into spring. He said warmer temperatures for some were expected by the weekend.

The forecaster for MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: "It is late to snow and it has happened because northerly winds brought colder air down from the Arctic and Scandinavia. We have showers that can turn wintry on higher ground.

"The next few days are looking chilly but there are signs that the weekend will start to warm up towards the average. We might see temperatures of 17C in the south-east on Sunday."

University lecturer Neil Farrington was walking his dogs in Castleside, near Consett, County Durham, when the snow fell on Tuesday morning.

"It lasted for 20 minutes and it came down quite heavily with big flakes," the 41-year-old said. "It was quite a sight to behold, then it turned to rain and the snow on the ground disappeared.

"My oldest son was supposed to be playing cricket tonight so he was not best pleased. Getting snow after the FA Cup final feels strange."

Snow falls in the UK*