Britain is set to be hit by two major blizzards in quick succession, with advanced weather modelling maps showing up to 19 inches (48cm) of snow could settle in parts of Scotland. The first storm is expected to arrive on January 29, bringing snow to Northern Ireland, Wales, the west coast of Scotland and south-west England before moving eastwards.
By 9am on January 29, snow is forecast to fall over northern England, the Midlands and the south-east, with London, Southampton, Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool potentially affected. A second blizzard is then predicted on January 30, with intense snow expected in the south-west, Wales, the north-west and parts of Scotland around 9pm, moving eastwards into Yorkshire, the Midlands and southern England by the early hours of January 31.
Snow coverage maps indicate that roughly 90% of the UK could be covered by snow on January 31, with only the south-west and parts of Wales and Northern Ireland likely to miss out. The Scottish Highlands could see up to 48cm (19 inches) of snow, while northern and central England may receive 12cm (5 inches), North Wales 15cm (6 inches), and southern England up to 7cm (3 inches).
The Met Office has also warned of further snow at the end of January and into February, with its forecast for January 24 to February 2 stating that the UK will remain in a battleground between Atlantic weather systems and high pressure to the north and northeast. This pattern is expected to bring spells of rain or showers, with a risk of snow, especially on hills in Scotland and northern England.
Looking further ahead, the Met Office's forecast for February 3 to 17 suggests little change, with Atlantic frontal systems attempting to push eastwards but on a south-shifted storm track. This could bring wetter conditions to central and southern areas, while colder conditions in the north and northeast may lead to wintry hazards, particularly on hills.
