The Met Office has significantly upgraded its snow warnings for the UK, now predicting accumulations of up to 20 centimetres, or eight inches, in the hardest-hit regions. Seven counties in the north of England are set to bear the brunt of the severe wintry weather.
Which Areas Are Under the Snow and Ice Warnings?
According to the latest forecasts, the counties expected to be hammered by the worst of the flurries are Durham, Cumbria, Westmorland, Northumberland, Cumberland, North Yorkshire, and East Riding.
Specific snow and ice warnings have been officially issued for a long list of areas, including Darlington, Durham, Gateshead, Hartlepool, and Middlesbrough. The alert also extends to Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, Northumberland, Redcar and Cleveland, South Tyneside, Stockton-on-Tees, and Sunderland.
What is the BBC Weather Forecast?
The BBC Weather forecast for today paints a chilly picture for northern parts of the country. It states that northern England and Scotland will be cloudy with showery rain and hill sleet and snow. The rest of the UK will experience a mix of bright spells and scattered, blustery showers, making for a cold day overall.
Looking ahead to tonight, the forecast indicates that cloud and showery rain will move southwards through England and Wales, with some sleet and snow over the hills in the north. It will remain windy and cold with clear spells and isolated snow showers elsewhere.
Outlook for the Rest of the Week
The unsettled and cold conditions are expected to persist. For Thursday through Saturday, the BBC Weather team predicts that Thursday will continue to be cold and windy with sleet and snow showers, particularly in northern Scotland, along North Sea coasts, and on west Welsh and south-west English coasts.
Friday may bring some respite for England and Wales, which are forecast to be dry with sunny spells. However, Scotland and Northern Ireland will see cloudy, breezy conditions with rain arriving in the afternoon. The forecast concludes by stating that the weather will remain unsettled on Saturday, indicating that the wintry mix is not over yet.
