Several areas of Essex could soon see snow after the Met Office issued a mega three-day yellow warning. The warning is in place from Saturday at midday (January 4) to Sunday at 11.59pm (January 5). Experts at the Met Office have predicted outbreaks of rains could be preceded by a spell of snow.
Whilst it’s uncertain how far north it could spread, they say “significant accumulations of snow are possible”. The warning currently covers the districts of Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock.
The Met Office said that uncertainties remain over how far the snow will spread, and the certain areas further south that are likely to be. We have put together an hour-by-hour weather forecast for the likes of Harlow, Saffron Walden, Braintree, Colchester, Clacton, Maldon, Southend, Basildon, Brentwood, Thurrock and Chelmsford across these three days.
Read more:The Essex areas that could see snow as mega three-day weather warning issued by Met Office
Read more: Former Essex gang leader jailed dozens of times but now honoured by King
These forecasts are accurate at the time of writing.
Harlow – Saturday to begin with lows of -1C and only rising as high as 2C by 3pm, before going down to 1C with possible snowfall between 6pm and 9pm. Sunday to be slightly warmer with highs of 10C by 3pm and likely chance of rainfall all day. Monday will be colder with lows of 3C by 9pm, with cloudy conditions remaining all day.
Saffron Walden – Starting Saturday with temperatures as low as -1C and only rising to 2C all day. It will be cloudy most of the day, with chances of rain and snow between 6pm and 9pm. More rain is forecast across all of Sunday with highs of 10C by 6pm. Monday will be rainy until 6am, then remaining try, cloudy and cold with highs of only 5C from midday to 3pm.
Braintree – A very similar forecast to Saffron Walden; Saturday temperatures as low as -1C and only rising to 3C all day. It will be cloudy most of the day, with chances of rain and snow between 6pm and 9pm. More rain is forecast across all of Sunday with highs of 10C by 6pm. Monday will be rainy until 6am, then remaining try, cloudy and cold with highs of only 5C from midday to 3pm.
Colchester – Temperatures will start as freezing on Saturday before going up to 3C for most of the day. There is no snow forecast but heavy rain could arrive between 6pm and midnight. Sunday will also be a rainy day, with temperatures rising from 4C at 6am to 10C by 3pm, with light rain forecast every hour of the day. Monday will be dry, cold and overcast with temperatures not going higher than 7C.
Clacton – The weather warning does not cover Clacton; temperatures will go no higher than 4C on Saturday afternoon with rain forecast from 9pm to midnight. Sunday will see light rain all day, with temperatures reaching 10C in the afternoon. Monday will be dry and cool with temperatures no higher than 6C most of the day.
Maldon – Very similar to Clacton; temperatures will go no higher than 4C on Saturday afternoon with rain forecast from 9pm to midnight. Sunday will see light rain all day, with temperatures reaching 10C in the afternoon. Monday will be dry and cool with temperatures no higher than 6C at midday and going down to 4C in the late afternoon and evening.
Southend – While parts of the Southend district are included in the weather warning, most eastern parts are not. It will be a cold start to Saturday with temperatures at freezing and 1C before going up to 3C in the afternoon. Heavy rain is forecast from 9pm to midnight. Sunday will see rain most of the day and temperatures up to 11C from 6pm. Monday to remain mostly dry and overcast with temperatures no higher than 6C in the afternoon.
Basildon – Temperatures to remain at freezing until 9am, before going up to 3C by midday. Some snow could fall between 6pm and 9pm before heavy rain is forecast until midnight. Sunday will see rain all day with temperatures reaching highs of 11C, before turning cool and dry throughout Monday with highs of 7C in the morning before settling between 6C and 4C in the afternoon.
Brentwood – Very similar to Basildon, with temperatures slightly colder on the Saturday; some snow could fall between 6pm and 9pm before heavy rain is forecast until midnight. Sunday will see rain all day with temperatures reaching highs of 11C, before turning cool and dry throughout Monday with highs of 7C in the morning before settling between 6C and 4C in the afternoon.
Thurrock – The same forecast as Basildon and Brentwood, with temperatures slightly higher on the Sunday.
Chelmsford – Freezing temperatures until midday on Saturday, with some snow falling around 6pm and temperatures hovering around the 2-3C mark, and heavy rain from 9pm. Sunday will be light rain all day, temperatures starting at 3C and going up to 11C in the evening. Monday to be cold and try with temperatures no higher than 4C.