The UK is bracing for a significant winter weather event, with forecast maps predicting a widespread and intense snowstorm set to strike on Saturday, February 1. According to data from WX Charts, a colossal 735-mile blizzard is expected to sweep across the country, bringing snowfall as far south as Brighton.
Which Areas Will Be Hit Hardest?
The impending snow bomb is scheduled to impact Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and the vast majority of England. Analysis of the charts reveals that almost nowhere in England will be completely untouched, with just two main areas set to be spared the worst of the flurries.
The regions expected to avoid significant accumulation are Cornwall and pockets of the southern coastline, including Dorset. For the rest of the nation, the maps are covered in white, indicating extensive snow cover.
Forecast Snowfall and Bitter Temperatures
Wales is forecast to be hardest hit, particularly along its north coast, where up to 12cm of snow could accumulate. In England, a long list of counties is in the firing line, including but not limited to:
- Somerset, the West Midlands, and Yorkshire
- Sussex, Cambridgeshire, and Kent
- Durham, Cumbria, and Northumberland
- Cheshire, Essex, and Bedfordshire
Many other counties, from Hertfordshire and Norfolk to Greater Manchester and Lancashire, are also at risk of seeing snow. The majority of southern England is currently predicted to receive less than 3cm, but this remains subject to change.
The cold will be severe, especially in Scotland where temperatures could plunge to a staggering -9°C, with widespread lows of -5°C. The North East, North West, and parts of Wales will see the mercury hover between -2°C and -1°C, with a bone-chilling -1°C forecast for South Wales.
The Wider Weather Pattern for Late January
The BBC Weather forecast for the period from January 26 to February 1 indicates a continued high probability of cold conditions. The outlook suggests high pressure could establish to the northeast of the UK, driving cold easterly winds across the nation.
If this pattern develops, temperatures are expected to fall further below normal, with a significant wind chill factor, particularly along eastern coasts. The forecast warns of penetrating frosts and hit-and-miss snow showers, with the potential for more organised bands of snow leading to accumulations in some areas.
However, meteorologists caution that the situation remains finely balanced. There is still a possibility that Atlantic weather systems could push farther east, which would bring a return to milder conditions. The key uncertainty lies in how far these systems might penetrate into northwest Europe in the coming days.
