Millions across the United Kingdom are preparing for a severe bout of winter weather, with forecasters predicting significant snowfall, icy conditions, and plummeting temperatures. The Met Office has issued a series of amber and yellow warnings for snow and ice, covering a vast swathe of the nation from Scotland to the South West of England.
Arctic Blast Triggers Widespread Weather Warnings
The first full working week of 2026 is set to begin with a harsh Arctic blast sweeping in from the Atlantic. This cold snap is expected to bring a barrage of snow, sleet, and blizzards, with temperatures struggling to rise above freezing in many regions. The mercury is forecast to plunge as low as -4°C in Manchester on Monday morning, with widespread frost and ice.
Met Office meteorologist Matthew Lehnert stated that snow showers would become more frequent across northern Scotland from Sunday night. He warned that some locations within the amber warning areas could see an additional 20-30 cm of snow accumulating by Monday morning. For much of the country, accumulations of 5-10cm are expected.
Potential for Power Cuts and Major Disruption
The combination of heavy snow, ice, and strong winds is likely to cause considerable disruption. The Met Office has highlighted the risk of power cuts in some rural communities, alongside probable delays and cancellations to road, rail, and air travel. Blizzard conditions are also a concern, particularly in Scotland where winds will combine with the snow.
While the bitter cold is expected to persist through Monday and Tuesday, milder air will attempt to push eastwards from Tuesday onwards. This could turn snow to rain in southern areas but also raises the possibility of more organised snowfall along the boundary between the mild and cold air masses, extending the period of potential hazard.
Full List of Areas Under Met Office Warnings
The following 57 areas are subject to amber and yellow weather warnings for snow and ice from the early hours of Monday, 5th January, until 11am on Tuesday, 6th January 2026.
Amber and Yellow Snow or Snow and Ice Warnings:
- Scotland: Angus, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Highlands, Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands.
Yellow Snow and Ice Warnings:
- Northern Ireland: County Antrim, County Armagh, County Down, County Fermanagh, County Londonderry, County Tyrone.
- Wales: Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Pembrokeshire, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea, Torfaen, Vale of Glamorgan, Wrexham.
- East Midlands: Derbyshire.
- North West England: Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool, Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Greater Manchester, Halton, Lancashire, Merseyside, Warrington.
- South West England: Cornwall, Devon, North Somerset, Plymouth, Somerset, Torbay.
- West Midlands: Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Telford and Wrekin, West Midlands Conurbation, Worcestershire.
Residents in all affected areas are advised to stay updated on the latest Met Office weather warnings, plan for potential travel disruption, and check on vulnerable neighbours during this period of severe winter weather.
