Met Office warns of 'prolonged snow' in three possible weather scenarios next week

Snow is expected to fall in the UK in the coming days, with early next week looking the most likely period for it. But it remains unclear exactly how much snow will come down, and whether it will be widespread or just confined to the tops of hills.

Handily, the Met Office has outlined what it believes to be the three most likely weather scenarios for next week - one of which would bring "prolonged snow" across a large swathe of the country.

In the Met Office's 10 Day Trend video shared across its social media channels, meteorologist Aidan McGivern explained how it all depends on what happens with low pressure systems over the Atlantic. These systems contain "milder air and wetter conditions", he said.

READ MORE: UK heavy snow 'this weekend' could see three major cities in England hit

The first "plausible" scenario is that these lows "stay away", meaning that "cold northerly winds" continue uninterrupted across the UK. McGivern said this would bring "wintry showers around coasts [with] perhaps some more prolonged wintry weather coming through". However, he added: "Many places [would remain] crisp and clear."

The second scenario shown in the Met Office's simulations would see the low pressure systems approach from the south, bringing "spells of rain" to southern regions before "bumping into" the cold northerly winds "somewhere across the UK". McGivern explained this clash would likely bring some "prolonged snow, especially over hills but perhaps not exclusively".

The final scenario - which McGivern said was "less likely but still possible" - would see the low pressure systems make "more progress across the UK". If this does occur, we will see "more widespread wind and rain" as well as "mild air" across most of the country - meaning any wintry showers would be confined to the far north of Scotland.

The Met Office's current forecast for the start of next week states: "Frequent wintry showers are expected, mainly in the north and along eastern and western coasts where exposed to the strong north to north-westerly flow. Snow is likely to fall to low levels, especially in the north."