Twenty-nine counties across England are preparing for significant snowfall on Friday, as the aftermath of Storm Goretti brings a sharp wintry blast. Rain associated with the storm turned to heavy snow on Thursday evening, starting on higher ground before spreading to lower levels overnight.
Met Office Warnings and Expected Snow Accumulation
The Met Office has confirmed that the snow will ease through the course of Friday morning, but not before causing considerable disruption. Forecasters are predicting widespread accumulations of 10-15 cm, with the potential for 20-30 cm in some locations. The heaviest snow is expected on hills above 200 metres, particularly in Wales and the Peak District.
An amber weather warning issued for the Birmingham area states: "Snow will ease through the course of Friday morning, turning more to rain or sleet at times at low levels, but disruption is likely to persist into Friday after snow stops falling."
Full List of Counties at Risk
The following 29 counties have been identified by the Met Office as being at risk of snow on Friday:
- Shropshire
- Staffordshire
- West Midlands
- Warwickshire
- Worcestershire
- Herefordshire
- Derbyshire
- Nottinghamshire
- Leicestershire
- Greater Manchester
- Cheshire
- Merseyside
- Lancashire
- South Yorkshire
- West Yorkshire
- East Riding of Yorkshire
- Lincolnshire
- Cambridgeshire
- Norfolk
- Suffolk
- Gloucestershire
- Oxfordshire
- Wiltshire
- Somerset
- Cornwall
- Devon
- Dorset
- Bristol
- Bath & North East Somerset
Forecast for Late January and Early February
Looking further ahead, the Met Office outlook for the latter part of January and start of February remains uncertain. The forecast suggests a broadly southwesterly regime is marginally favoured, which would bring changeable conditions with spells of wet, windy, and mild weather, potentially including some very strong winds.
However, forecasters also note there is a chance that drier and colder conditions could extend into the UK from the east or northeast, bringing with it a renewed risk of snow. The public is advised to stay updated with the latest weather warnings as the situation develops.
