The Met Office has escalated weather warnings by naming ten specific counties across England that are set to face significant snowfall this Friday. A formal alert has been issued, cautioning residents and travellers about the impending adverse conditions that could lead to widespread disruption.
Timing and Details of the Snow Warning
The weather warning is scheduled to commence at 3pm on Thursday, February 5, and will remain in effect until 3am on Friday, February 6. During this period, rain is expected to transition increasingly into snow, particularly over higher ground throughout the afternoon and evening. This shift poses a notable risk to transportation networks and daily activities.
Affected Counties and Expected Impact
The full list of counties under the snow warning includes Derbyshire, Durham, Northumberland, Cheshire East, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, and West Yorkshire. Accumulating snow is most likely above elevations of 250 to 300 metres, with predictions of up to 5 centimetres in these areas. Some locations above 500 metres could experience more substantial accumulations of 5 to 15 centimetres.
While some sleet or snow may briefly reach lower levels this evening, the primary concern remains for hilly regions. The Met Office has indicated that much of this snow will melt during Friday morning after the warning concludes. However, the initial snowfall could cause travel delays and hazardous road conditions, especially on trans-Pennine routes where snow settling is anticipated to rise above major road altitudes in the early hours of Friday.
Expert Forecasts and Broader Weather Patterns
James Madden from Exacta Weather has provided additional insights, suggesting that further deviations in weather models are expected before settling around February 12. He emphasised that recent model runs indicate a high probability of prolonged cold spells and widespread snow events across the country, including northern and southern regions, potentially lasting around ten days or more.
This forecast implies that those anticipating warmer weather as meteorological winter concludes may be disappointed, as rounds of snow could develop extensively. The Met Office's warning serves as a crucial alert for residents in the affected counties to prepare for potential disruptions and ensure safety during this period of inclement weather.
