The Met Office has triggered a series of yellow weather warnings for snow and ice, signalling a disruptive and bitterly cold start to 2026 for many across the United Kingdom.
Widespread Warnings for Snow and Ice
A yellow warning for snow and ice will be in force across extensive parts of England from midnight until midday on Friday, January 2nd. The alert covers regions including the Midlands, the West Midlands, London, the South East, the East, the North West, and the South West of England.
The national weather service has cautioned that some roads and railway lines are likely to be affected, leading to longer journey times for road, bus, and train services. The public is also warned about the risk of injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces, with probable icy patches on untreated roads, pavements, and cycle paths.
Arctic Blast to Bring First Widespread Snow of Winter
Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster, Mark Sidaway, stated that the UK is in for a definitive taste of winter as it welcomes the New Year. "Initially in the north, but more widely across the UK for the first week of 2026," he explained.
The cold spell is being driven by Arctic air and strong northerly winds, which will bring cold or very cold conditions to all parts of the country. The wind will make it feel especially chilly. Widespread and locally severe frosts are expected, alongside the first significant snow of the season for many areas.
Sidaway added: "A yellow warning for snow and ice has been issued for northern Scotland on New Year’s Day and beyond, where frequent and heavy snow showers may lead to some travel disruption. These colder conditions and wintry hazards – snow, ice and strong winds – will develop more widely as we enter the New Year, with more warnings for snow and ice likely."
Areas Under Alert and Looking Ahead
The Met Office emphasises that even a small amount of snow can cause significant disruption in temperate climates like the UK's. They note that predicting snow is challenging, with factors like elevation, distance from the coast, and precipitation intensity all playing a crucial role.
The forecaster indicated that this cold spell is expected to last through at least the first full week of January 2026, urging people to keep up to date with the latest forecasts and official warnings for their area.
The full list of areas under the initial warning includes numerous counties across Scotland, England, and Wales:
- Scotland: Shetland, Orkney, Caithness, Sutherland, Ross and Cromarty, Inverness-shire, Nairnshire, Moray, Banffshire, Aberdeenshire, Kincardineshire, Angus, Perthshire.
- England: Cheshire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Herefordshire, Greater London, Norfolk, Gloucestershire, Somerset.
- Wales: Anglesey, Caernarfonshire, Merionethshire, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire.
