Snowfall Hits Gloucestershire and the UK as Cheltenham Festival Continues
On Wednesday, snow blanketed Gloucestershire and various regions across the UK, with temperatures expected to plummet to as low as -2°C later this week. Cheltenham Racecourse, in particular, was covered in a pristine layer of snow on the morning of the second day of the prestigious Cheltenham Festival, which runs until March 14.
As the festival progresses, thousands of racegoers are anticipated to flock to the event, despite the chilling temperatures of around 1°C that have resulted in snowfall in areas like the M5 in Tewkesbury, as reported by the BBC. This abrupt cold snap comes after a remarkably mild start to March, when temperatures soared to nearly 20°C in parts of the country over the weekend.
The Met Office has indicated that showers across the UK this morning could become “heavy and at times wintry, mainly over the highest grounds.” They cautioned, “Don’t be surprised if you encounter some wet snow in the showers today,” as they shared on their platform.
As the day unfolds, horses are seen making their way in from the snow-covered gallops during the second day of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival (Photo: Mike Egerton/PA Wire). The Met Office also noted that a temporary light covering of snow is possible on grass and vehicles, much like what has been recently observed in Cheltenham.
The cold snap has already made its mark, with the lowest temperature recorded last night reaching a chilling -3.3°C in Tulloch Bridge, Scotland. In the coming days, the UK can expect more frigid nights, with temperatures in Cheltenham predicted to dip to -2°C early Friday morning, according to BBC Weather.
Regions along the North Sea coast will experience predominantly cloudy skies, with showers expected to roll in tonight, bringing snow to the hills. The weather service anticipates that showers will continue in some areas tomorrow, especially in the north and east, contributing to snow accumulation on elevated terrains.
However, the western regions will enjoy drier and clearer conditions tonight, with a possibility of sunshine emerging more widely in the south on Thursday. As for Friday, some cloudy weather and showers are forecasted for the morning, which may include wintry precipitation.
Fortunately, clearer skies are expected to prevail later in the day, leading to dry conditions as the weekend approaches, accompanied by sunny spells throughout.
