Met Office on heavy snow forecasts and Storm Ellen chances

Netweather predicts 64 per cent risk of snow in Plymouth, Exeter and parts of Cornwall next week

Some weather forecaster and charts are predicting a high chance of heavy snow in Devon and Cornwall next week - including Plymouth and Exeter.

However, while the Met Office says the tops of Dartmoor and Exmoor "could get a dusting" of snow, its says any significant snow is most likely to fall on the hills in the north of the UK.

And the Exeter based national weather forecaster also said it is not expecting "chaotic" weather system it is currently monitoring to develop into Storm Ellen - the name that will be given to next severe storm that is has the potential to cause an amber or red weather warning

Nonetheless, online meteorologists at Netweather say there is more than a 64 per cent risk of heavy snow Devon's cities, and Launceston in Cornwall next week.

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Netweather's ten-day forecast for Plymouth shows the 'feels like' temperatures tumbling to as low as -4c on Tuesday, with a 57 per cent risk of snow. And it says there is a 64 per risk of snow on Wednesday, with 13.4mm of precipitation forecast.

Netweather also says there is a chance of further snow falling on Friday, February 28 and Saturday, February 29. Temperatures are expected to rise by Sunday, reducing the risk of snow back down to zero - but nearly 2cm of rain is expected.

In Exeter, Netweather says there is a chance of snow falling on Tuesday and Wednesday and again on Saturday - when 6mm of precipitation is expected. The forecast shows a 41 per cent chance of snow on Tuesday, 64 per cent chance of snow on Wednesday and 57 per cent chance on the Saturday.

As much as 15mm of precipitation is expected on Sunday, according to the Netweather 10 day forecast.

Down in Cornwall, Netweather says there is a 63 per cent risk of snow on Saturday, February 29, when 9.6mm of precipitation is expected. The forecast shows snow could also fall on Tuesday, Wednesday Thursday and Friday.

While the snow risk is lower in the south and west of Cornwall, Netweather says it could fall in Truro on Friday, February 28, and Saturday, February 29. The forecast also shows as much as 14.5mm of rain falling in the city on Sunday.

Netweather's snowy forecasts come as weather charts reportedly show a band of snow heading towards the UK from the Atlantic Ocean towards the middle of next week, bringing wintry weather to the country in the early hours of Wednesday, February 26.

Somerset Live reports that Devon and Cornwall are likely to see heavy snowfall as a result of the flurries shown in WX Charts, with the last patches not due to move past the county until after 6pm.

However, the while Met Office's long range forecast predicts more wind and rain and a bit of a colder snap, the national forecaster says any significant is likely to fall on snow on hills in the UK's north.

And stresses that models showing significant snow in Devon and Cornwalll are "outliers".

One of the Exeter-based meteorologists forecaster's told us that while there is no real confidence about next week's weather yet, the Met Office is not currently expecting significant snow fall in Devon and Cornwall.

The weather expert explained that while another "chaotic weather system" is forming in the US, hot on the heels of Storm Dennis and Storm Ciara, it is too early to predict with any great confidence how this will develop this far in advance.

The meteorologist explained that numerous weather patterns are run through its super computer according to the data currently available - and one 'outlier model' does show snow falling over the South West. However, the majority of other models show the worst of the weather moving further north. bringing a "wintry mix" of snow, rain and hail".

"We've not got great deal of confidence of its exact track," said the meteorologist. "It depends on what point it crosses the UK as to where sees the worst weather. Here at the Met Office, we think that is likely to be further north."

"The main issue is wind and rain for Northern England, North Wales and Scotland, which could fall as snow on higher ground."

However, the forecaster stressed that the weather the Met Office is currently expecting is not unusual, and says that it is not currently looking like this system will become Storm Ellen - the name set to given to the next storm that the potential to cause an amber or red weather warning.

"This weather system is pretty typical for this time of the year - and there's no indication that a storm will need to be named," added the Met Office expert.

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The Exeter-based forecaster's long range UK weather forecast for Tuesday, February 25, to Thursday, March 5, reads: "Unsettled and often windy conditions are expected to continue with areas of rain moving east across the UK interspersed with brighter, showery interludes.

"Rain is likely to be heaviest across western and northwestern areas, especially over the hills, with the best of any more prolonged drier interludes in the south and east.

"Hail and thunder are also possible in the showery interludes with snow at times over northern hills.

"Temperatures will generally be around average, but above in the south. Some brief quieter, colder spells are also possible later in the period, especially in southern and eastern areas, these bringing some overnight frost and patchy fog in places.

"Elsewhere will continue to see spells of wet and windy weather."