Wet snow on the way? Here’s what to expect from this unpredictable weather

We’ve been making the most of it over the past few days, haven’t we? The pub gardens were packed, you could finally leave your coat at home, and smiles were everywhere you looked. But then again, this is Britain, so you knew it wouldn’t last. It’s March, and March is a fickle beast. And this time, it’s really showing its teeth. We’re swapping that spring sunshine for a dose of nasty weather – rain, hail and, yes, you read that right: wet snow.

From spring to winter: the change has begun

The shift started this morning. Yesterday we could still get away with a T-shirt, but now the wind has turned and there’s a real chill in the air. Over the next few hours, that’s only going to become more noticeable. A significant weather system is rolling in from the west, and it’s one we’ll have to brace ourselves for. I always say: keep that winter coat handy – you’re definitely going to need it.

It’s going to be a day of contrasts. One minute, a glimmer of sunshine makes you think twice; the next, a sudden downpour catches you off guard. And these won’t be ordinary showers. There’s a good chance we’ll see a nasty mix – think sizeable hailstones rattling off your car, and yes, that wet snow too. Not the picture-perfect festive snow, but the heavy, slushy stuff that melts straight down your collar and turns everything into a cold, grey mess in no time.

What’s going on with our weather?

We’re stuck in an unsettled pattern. Colder air sweeping down from the north is colliding with the remnants of the mild air we’ve been enjoying. It’s a textbook recipe for chaos. The weather models don’t beat around the bush: some areas, particularly in the south and east, are set to get the worst of it. There are already warnings in the south that spring’s little treat is over – over the coming hours we’re in for a cocktail of hail, thunder and, yes, that wet snow again. My own sources, the people I know in the weather services, all agree that we’re in for a few days of this.

And it’s that combination that really causes the trouble. Normally, wet snow makes you think of drivers caught out, but let’s not forget cyclists. If you’re heading out early in the morning, the roads could be slippery. Not because of a thick blanket of snow, but because of that slush that’s just beginning to freeze. Anyone who’s lived here for a few years knows that’s more dangerous than a day of howling gales.

• Morning rush hour: risk of slippery conditions from leftover wet snow, especially on bridges and cycle paths.
• Afternoon: a mix of sunshine and heavy showers with hail and wet snow.
• Evening: clear spells, but with a wind chill that could easily dip well below freezing.

And I haven’t even mentioned the wind. That’s what really makes it unpleasant. It’s the kind of day where you’d rather stay inside with a cuppa, but life goes on. So if you’re heading out, consider yourself warned.

As I type this, I’m thinking of a contact of mine who works in logistics. He’s dealing with supply chains all year round and was telling me recently that this kind of weather front is a nightmare for planning. Just one bout of wet snow and everything grinds to a halt. And he’s right. It only takes a few hours of this, and the whole country is at a standstill because nobody expects March to throw this at us.

Advice from an old hand

I’ve lived here my whole life, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s never to trust the first rays of sunshine blindly. The weather in March is like a cat that can’t decide whether it wants in or out. So that winter coat I mentioned? Keep wearing it. And the brolly? Forget it. With this wind and wet snow, it’s useless. Get a good waterproof jacket on, stick a cap on your head, and accept that it’s just going to be a grey, wet day. Tomorrow could look completely different again.

So keep an eye on the radar – you don’t want to be caught out when a wave of wet snow comes down. The next 24 hours are going to be unpredictable, but luckily we all know how to put things in perspective here in Britain. At least it gives us something to moan about, right?