Met Office Confirms Snowfall Locations Across the Midlands
The Met Office has officially confirmed where snow will be at its worst in the Midlands region this week, issuing a detailed weather warning for multiple counties.
Snow is expected to fall across the Midlands starting on Wednesday, February 18, and continuing overnight into Thursday, February 19. The Met Office has now activated a yellow weather warning specifically for snow, which will impact the West Midlands, Shropshire, Herefordshire, Staffordshire, Telford, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire.
Warning Duration and Affected Areas
The yellow alert will be in effect from 4pm on Wednesday, February 18, until 6am on Thursday, February 19. This warning covers a broad swath of the Midlands, indicating significant snowfall potential during this period.
Met Office deputy chief forecaster Steven Keates provided insight into the weather patterns, stating, "On Wednesday, weather fronts are expected to move in from the Atlantic into some western, southern and central areas of the UK. As they bump into the cold air already in place, we are likely to see some snow developing, although there is still some uncertainty around the details."
Snow Accumulation Predictions
According to the forecast, the main chance of snow will be across higher parts of the Midlands and mid and southeast Wales. Above elevations of 150 to 200 metres, accumulations of 2–5cm are anticipated, with some locations above 300 metres possibly seeing 10cm or more.
Keates added, "Initially, we may see some snow over the highest parts of southern England, such as Dartmoor, but the primary snowfall focus will be on the Midlands and Wales. Some small accumulations are also likely over the Chilterns and perhaps Salisbury Plain."
While falling snow may reach lower elevations in the general area, accumulating snow is less likely at these levels. Across southern England, rain will be the predominant weather feature, with 10 to 20mm expected widely during Wednesday and into early Thursday, and some spots like Dartmoor potentially receiving double that amount.
Additional Weather Conditions
The snowfall will be accompanied by strong east to northeast winds, which could exacerbate travel disruptions. Temperatures across much of the UK on Wednesday are forecast to be around 3 to 5C, excluding the far southwest.
A sharp frost is anticipated across parts of Scotland into Wednesday morning, with further frost and ice possible overnight into Thursday in various locations. Residents in the affected Midlands areas are advised to prepare for potential travel delays and hazardous conditions during the warning period.
