Large parts of the United Kingdom are preparing for a significant bout of wintry weather, with forecasters predicting blizzard conditions and heavy snow accumulations for early January.
Widespread Snow Warning Issued
The Met Office has issued a Yellow weather warning for snow and ice, effective for New Year's Day and Friday, January 2nd. This alert covers Central, Tayside and Fife, Grampian, Highlands and Eilean Siar, Orkney and Shetland, and Strathclyde. The agency warns that showers will turn increasingly to snow on Thursday, driven by a strong northerly wind that could reach gale force.
Initial accumulations are expected on higher routes, but snow will build to low levels by evening. The Met Office forecasts 2 to 5cm of lying snow widely by Friday morning, with some localised spots seeing up to 10cm. Above 200 metres, 10-20cm could accumulate, with the highest routes and hills potentially seeing 30cm or more. Significant drifting is likely due to the high winds.
Deep Freeze to Intensify Next Week
Following this initial cold snap, new data from weather mapping service WXCharts indicates an even more substantial snow event is on the horizon for the middle of the following week. Charts for Wednesday, January 7th, show snow beginning to settle over higher ground before spreading extensively across England overnight into Thursday, January 8th.
The forecasts suggest snow depths could reach up to 27 centimetres (10.6 inches) over high ground, with the deepest drifts likely in the Lake District. Only the South West of England is predicted to be spared from any snowfall.
Counties and Cities in the Firing Line
By the afternoon of Thursday, January 8th, a broad swathe of England is expected to see double-digit centimetre depths of snow. Major urban centres in the path of the heaviest snow include Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Preston, Leeds, York, and Manchester.
According to the maps, 39 specific counties are forecast to receive snow on January 7th and 8th. The list includes Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, the City of London, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Durham, East Riding of Yorkshire, East Sussex, Essex, Gloucestershire, Greater London, Greater Manchester, Herefordshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Merseyside, Norfolk, North Yorkshire, Northamptonshire, Northumberland, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Rutland, Shropshire, South Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Suffolk, Surrey, Tyne and Wear, Warwickshire, West Midlands, West Yorkshire, and Worcestershire.
Meanwhile, most other parts of the UK will also see some snow settling, with at least a few centimetres forecast. The charts even indicate a centimetre or two of snow could settle as far south as Hastings on the coast.
With temperatures predicted to plunge as low as -4°C, authorities are urging the public to stay updated on the latest forecasts and travel warnings as the severe winter weather approaches.
