Cradley (Herefordshire) weather

Headline:

Often sunny today but very cold, ice and frost persisting.

Today:

After a very cold, frosty and icy start for some, a mainly dry day to come with lengthy sunny periods and perhaps the odd rogue light snow flurry. Feeling cold with temperatures struggling to rise much above freezing. Maximum temperature 2 °C.

Tonight:

Temperatures quickly falling below freezing this evening with a widespread and severe frost forming. Clear and starry skies overnight and staying generally dry. Icy patches likely for some. Minimum temperature -7 °C.

Tuesday:

A very cold start with another severe frost. Gradually turning cloudier albeit with occasional bright spells. Perhaps a little rain or sleet later, especially during the evening. Turning slightly milder. Maximum temperature 4 °C.

Outlook for Wednesday to Friday:

Largely dry to start Wednesday but turning unsettled thereafter. Periods of heavy rain, and perhaps hill snow, possibly bringing some travel disruption at times. Turning windier with gales possible later.

A changeable period is expected, with Atlantic frontal systems occasionally affecting the UK, bringing spells of rain, likely preceded by snow in some areas, more especially central, northern and eastern parts. Some significant snowfall is possible in places, particularly on northern hills. These low pressure systems could also bring some strong winds. These will be interspersed with quieter, drier interludes under transient ridges of high pressure, with the potential for frost, and wintry showers along coasts exposed to northerly winds. Temperatures will tend to trend closer to average as the period progresses, mainly in the south, such that the frequency of wintry hazards, especially in the south, may reduce slightly. However, there is a hint late in this period that it may briefly turn widely drier and colder again.

The outlook through the latter part of January and into the start of February is very uncertain, with no strong indication for any particular weather pattern to dominate. However, a broadly westerly regime seems more likely than not. As such, conditions are most likely to be changeable. Spells of wet, windy and mild weather are likely at times, along with some colder, drier interludes with overnight frost and fog. There is a hint that this period may start off largely dry and cold though. Snow and ice remain possible, especially in central and northern parts of the UK, but the chance of these is generally lower than earlier in January.