A significant influx of frigid Arctic air has swept across the United Kingdom immediately following the passage of Storm Benjamin, causing temperatures to settle noticeably below expected seasonal averages. This sharp thermal drop coincides with the nation's transition back to Greenwich Mean Time, signaling a period of climatic recalibration. Overnight, light snow was reported across the higher elevations of the Scottish Highlands as the cold air mass established itself.
Current meteorological projections indicate that today will feature mixed precipitation, with snow and rain combining over elevated terrains spanning Scotland, England, and Wales. Deputy Chief Meteorologist Chris Bulmer noted that as Storm Benjamin moved toward Denmark, the ensuing Arctic air mass would bring a noticeably chilly weekend with temperatures falling below average. The Met Office had previously advised the public to be prepared for flurries of snow, particularly in northern areas.
Weather maps suggested that snow was likely to form around Fort William and northward toward Ullapool, Stornoway, and parts of Aberdeenshire, with showers expected in the north and west concentrated over the Scottish mountains. Even regions further south could experience isolated pockets of frost where skies clear and winds diminish. This brief but intense cold snap is driven by northerly winds, highlighting the swift pivot in external conditions.
While the immediate chill is pronounced, meteorological outlooks suggest a return to near-average thermal readings early in the subsequent week, confirming this is a temporary atmospheric event. The BBC Weather team predicted that unsettled weather would continue across the UK through the next couple of weeks or so. This pattern of abrupt cold following a major weather system serves as a recurring feature in the UK's climate narrative, urging an adjustment to fluctuating conditions.