Here is what the early signs mean for Derbyshire.
After a stormy spell across the UK, a change is brewing over the Midlands. Forecasts now point to the first wintry turn of the season for **Derbyshire** and parts of the **Peak District**, with early morning flurries on the cards and a sharper chill by dawn. Commuters and school runs may face a different kind of morning.
The signal comes as **BBC Weather** issues its first snow outlook of late autumn for the county, with light snow expected in places before sleet arrives. The broader picture shows a brief milder blip midweek before colder air slips back in from the north. And that is the bit to watch.
Derbyshire’s first flurries: where BBC Weather sees snow and when it could fall
Forecasters expect light snow and light winds between 6am and 8am across much of the county, before conditions turn to sleet as the morning wears on. Once the showers fade, sunny intervals should follow. Daytime highs look close to 5C in many low-lying spots, with evening lows near 1C.
For higher ground in the **Peak District**, the chill bites a little more. Buxton, often the bellwether for early season snowfall, is set for a low near -1C, with light snowfall during the morning before brighter spells. Elsewhere, most towns sit closer to 0C at their coldest, which still makes for a crisp feel under clear skies.
The change arrives after weeks of heavy wind and rain that brought flooding to parts of the UK, so roads may still carry leftover debris and damp patches. Early risers might see the odd dusting on grassy surfaces, while treated main routes hold up better. Residents wont be surprised if car windscreens need scraping.
Met Office flags frost and a brief milder blip before a wintry northerly returns
A **Met Office** spokesperson set out the national steer with a clear message on overnight conditions. « Overnight frost will be widespread, especially in the north. » That aligns with what many across northern England have seen already in November, and it puts exposed rural valleys on alert for a sharp frost.
The public guidance also highlights a short-lived change before colder air reasserts itself. « Towards the middle of next week, an area of rain and stronger winds may move southeast across much of the UK, bringing a brief less cold spell, before a resumption of the cold northerly airflow with further wintry showers. » In simple terms, a quick lift in temperatures could be followed by another shot of cold air, so the wintry theme does not fade for long.
In **Derbyshire**, that pattern means a stop-start feel to the week. Early frost, a glimmer of milder air with rain and a breeze, then a nudge back to a **cold** northerly with the risk of more wintry showers. Shorter days amplify the chill, and any clear evening can drop temperatures quickly.
Town-by-town outlook for 20 November: who wakes to sleet, who sees snow
Here is the latest snapshot for Wednesday 20 November, according to **BBC Weather**, with the morning most likely to bring the wintry mix before brighter spells:
- Derby – light sleet throughout the morning followed by sunshine. Highs 5C, lows 1C
- Chesterfield – light sleet throughout the morning followed by drizzle and sunshine. Highs 5C, lows 1C
- Buxton – Light snowfall all morning followed by sunshine. Highs 2C, lows -1C
- Bakewell – Light snow and sleet followed by sunshine. Highs 4C, lows 0C
- Ashbourne – Light snow and sleet followed by sunshine. Highs 4C, lows 1C
- Swadlincote – Snow and sleet followed by sunshine. Highs 4C, lows 1C
The contrast across the county tells its own story. Higher ground sees the greater chance of **snow**, while lower-lying towns lean towards **sleet** before skies clear. With highs mostly between 2C and 5C, it stays on the chilly side even in sunshine.
If you head out early, allow time for frosty screens and a careful first few miles on untreated side roads. Dog walkers in the **Peak District** could catch a brief wintry scene before it melts away under brighter skies later. And yes, the week still has a twist or two to come.
With BBC Weather flagging sleet in Derby and snow around Buxton/Bakewell, are gritters schedueled overight? Side roads were messy after the floods—worried about black ice on untreated routes.