Detailed weather maps have pinpointed the exact date when Britain is expected to be blanketed in snow, accompanied by a severe chill that could make temperatures feel as low as -8C. Meteorologists at the Met Office have confirmed forecasts of widespread snowfall, with the most intense accumulations predicted for northern England and parts of the East Midlands over the coming week.
Snowfall Predictions and Regional Impacts
According to the latest analysis from Metdesk, which provided the data for these striking weather maps, up to 6cm of snow could fall per hour on Tuesday evening. The maps, which use yellow and green hues to indicate areas of low pressure, show that South Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, West Yorkshire, and County Durham are likely to experience the heaviest dumpings. This is due to a band of low pressure moving northeastwards across the country, creating a tense "battleground" as two weather fronts clash.
Geographical Spread and Temperature Drops
The snowfall is anticipated to reach as far south as Kent on Tuesday, with eastern areas expected to be worst hit by the inclement conditions. Parts of north Wales will also see light dustings, although most of the Southwest of England should remain dry—albeit very cold—as temperatures plummet. In contrast, recent milder weather saw the mercury exceed 11C in Okehampton, Devon, and reach 10C in Gosport, Hampshire, on Wednesday.
However, a bitter easterly wind is set to make it feel significantly colder in the upcoming week. By Tuesday, it could feel like -8C across Scotland and -6C across northern England, even though the actual air temperatures will be higher. The Met Office has noted in its forecast for Tuesday, January 27 to Thursday, February 5, that while mild conditions may occasionally encroach into the south and southwest, cold air positioned to the northeast will bring wintry showers. Where fronts from the southwest meet this cold air, there is a risk of snow, most likely across hills but potentially extending to other areas at times.
Meteorological Context and Expert Insights
Nick Finnis, a meteorologist with Netweather, explained on the service's blog that a "battleground" is expected to develop across the UK in the days ahead. This is due to a large high-pressure system extending west from Siberia interacting with a queue of lows coming in from the west, driven by an increasingly powerful jet stream moving east from the Eastern Seaboard of North America across the North Atlantic into western Europe.
This setup may allow cold air to flood west over the North Sea from Scandinavia, initially affecting the north and northeast on Sunday, and potentially spreading across all areas by Monday, bringing conditions cold enough for snow. The weather maps vividly illustrate this impending wintry spell, highlighting the precise timing and locations where Britons should prepare for disruptive snowfall and frigid temperatures.
