The Met Office has issued a stark warning that there is a "real likelihood" of further snow hitting parts of the UK next week, following a period of severe wintry weather driven by Storm Goretti.
Storm Goretti's Impact and Ongoing Warnings
In recent days, Storm Goretti has delivered heavy snowfall to many regions, alongside powerful gusts of wind. The south west experienced particularly dangerous conditions, with winds approaching 100mph prompting a rare red warning for 'dangerous, stormy' winds.
Tragically, the storm's ferocity led to a fatality in Cornwall. Police confirmed that a man in his 50s was found dead in a caravan in Helston on Thursday, January 8, after it was crushed by a falling tree.
A range of weather alerts for snow, ice, wind, and rain remain active across the country for Sunday, January 11, and Monday, January 12, as the clean-up from the initial blast continues.
The Forecast: A Battleground of Air Masses
Looking ahead, the national forecaster's 10-day trend, issued on January 8, indicates more unsettled conditions. The UK is expected to become a meteorological battleground early next week.
"Early next week, the UK will find itself in a battleground between dense, cold air and milder, wetter air from the Atlantic," the Met Office stated. "Where these air masses meet, there is a real likelihood of further snow, potentially heavy in places."
However, forecasters caution that it is currently too early to pinpoint exact locations and timings for the potential snowfall, with significant uncertainty in the models for the middle and end of the week.
Uncertainty in the Longer Range
The forecast beyond the weekend presents a complex picture. Some computer model scenarios suggest the cold air could remain firmly in place, while others indicate a shift towards milder Atlantic-driven conditions with low pressure systems.
This split is highlighted in probability maps for temperatures above 5°C next Thursday, which show low chances in northern Scotland and only a 50/50 probability further south. This underlines the challenge in making precise predictions for the latter part of the week.
Residents across the UK are advised to stay updated with the latest Met Office forecasts and warnings as the situation develops.
