Met Office Identifies 29 English Counties Escaping Snow This Weekend
The Met Office has released a detailed forecast for the upcoming weekend, highlighting specific regions across England that will experience snowfall under a yellow weather warning. However, in a notable announcement, the agency has also named 29 counties that are set to avoid the wintry conditions entirely.
Weekend Weather Warning Details
From Friday, February 13, through Sunday, February 15, flurries of snow are expected to impact various areas of England. The yellow weather warning covers multiple regions, including the north east, north west, West Midlands, East Midlands, and central parts of the country. Counties anticipated to be affected by snowfall include Durham, Northumberland, East Riding of Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire, North Yorkshire, and Derbyshire.
Additional counties under the warning are Cheshire East, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Staffordshire, South Yorkshire, and West Yorkshire. This widespread alert has prompted residents in these areas to prepare for potential disruptions due to snow accumulation.
Counties Spared from Snowfall
In contrast, the Met Office has confirmed that 29 counties will be spared from snow this weekend. These include West Midlands, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Nottinghamshire, and Shropshire. Furthermore, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Herefordshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Rutland, Greater London, Essex, Kent, Surrey, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Berkshire are also expected to remain snow-free.
The list extends to Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Sussex, Hampshire, Devon, Cornwall, and Dorset. Residents in these counties can anticipate milder conditions without the challenges posed by snow, though they should still monitor local forecasts for any updates.
Expert Insights on Snow Developments
James Madden, a meteorologist from Exacta Weather, provided additional context on the evolving weather patterns. He stated, "The models continue to intensify those snow developments for late Saturday and into Sunday, exceeding earlier projections. This could lead to potentially severe snowfall across large swathes of the country, including lower levels from central England and Wales upwards into the northern half."
Madden also noted that Ireland will experience wintry and snow showers first on Saturday. He added, "The models now include some large parts of southern England and areas towards the capital for snow and settling snow, albeit on a lesser scale. This includes lower levels in these regions from late Saturday and early Sunday, particularly starting in parts of south-west England."
Later, Madden shared live images of snow across the UK, highlighting scenes from overnight snow in the north-east, north, Yorkshire, and the Peak District. He emphasized, "Roll on later Saturday and Sunday..." indicating that the snow events are expected to intensify as the weekend progresses.
Preparedness and Safety Recommendations
With the yellow weather warning in effect, authorities advise residents in affected counties to take necessary precautions. This includes checking travel conditions, ensuring vehicles are winter-ready, and staying informed through official Met Office updates. For those in the 29 spared counties, while snow is not anticipated, it remains important to stay alert to any sudden changes in weather patterns.
The Met Office's announcement serves as a crucial reminder of the variability in winter weather across England, underscoring the need for community awareness and preparedness during such events.
