The UK is set for a wintry start to the New Year, with the Met Office issuing forecasts predicting significant snowfall within days. After a relatively snow-free Christmas period, weather maps now indicate that some parts of the country could see accumulations of up to 19 inches.
Met Office Predicts Widespread Snowfall
According to the national weather service's latest outlook, cold northerly winds are expected to become dominant across the entire UK from January 2 to 11. This shift will bring snow showers to exposed coastlines and areas just inland from these shores. The Met Office states that southern and central inland regions will likely remain mostly dry but very cold during this period.
Forecasters also warn of a risk of more organised bands of rain, sleet, and snow moving southwards, which could lead to more prolonged wintry conditions affecting some inland areas. The Met Office adds that slightly milder conditions may attempt to move in from the west towards the latter half of the period.
Snow Could Arrive Before New Year's Eve
The chilly transformation may begin even sooner. The forecast for the final days of December indicates that conditions will turn colder later in the week. Brisk northwesterly winds are expected to bring increasingly wintry showers, particularly to northern parts of the UK, potentially delivering the first snowflakes of the season before 2025 ends.
BBC Weather Also Signals Wintery Hazard
BBC Weather's projections align with the potential for a frosty January. Their forecast for January 5 to 11 suggests that while temperatures are not expected to rise significantly, they may briefly approach the seasonal average. This change would occur if high pressure shifts south and allows some westerly winds to develop.
The BBC predicts a possible drier spell initially, followed by frontal systems moving in from the Atlantic. For most areas, this precipitation will fall as rain, but higher elevations—most notably across the Scottish Highlands—are likely to see snow. Northern and western areas are expected to be wetter than the south and east, though forecasters note some uncertainty in this pattern.
Both weather services emphasise that the situation remains dynamic. Residents across the UK, especially in northern and coastal regions, are advised to stay updated with the latest forecasts as the New Year approaches and the risk of disruptive snow increases.
