UK Braces for Heavy Snowfall: Up to 69cm Forecast This Week
New weather maps are indicating a significant snow event is set to impact the United Kingdom, with forecasts now suggesting accumulations could reach a staggering 69 centimetres in some regions. The data, sourced from WX Charts which utilises Met Desk information, points to a period of intense snowfall beginning as early as this week.
Forecast Details and Regional Impacts
The modelling shows particularly heavy snow rates, with parts of Wales and Scotland potentially experiencing snowfall at a rate of four inches (approximately 10 centimetres) per hour. England is not exempt from this wintry blast, with cities including Manchester and Birmingham anticipated to be affected from January 27th onwards.
Initial projections for Tuesday indicate Wales could see around one inch of snow per hour, while the Peak District may be hit with up to four inches hourly. The Met Desk forecast for 9am highlights risks for Greater Manchester, the West Midlands conurbation, and the East Midlands.
Timeline and Snow Depth Predictions
By 3pm on the expected day, the snowfall is predicted to extend across a wider area, encompassing south-west England, East Anglia, Wales, Northern Ireland, and parts of northern England and Scotland. Later in the evening, around 9pm, data suggests northern England could once again experience snowfall rates of roughly four inches per hour.
The depth chart analysis is particularly striking, indicating the Scottish Highlands could witness accumulations reaching 69cm, equivalent to 27 inches. This substantial depth underscores the potential severity of this incoming weather system.
Broader Weather Outlook and BBC Forecast
The BBC Weather team provides additional context for the overall conditions. Tonight, spells of blustery rain are expected to spread north-east across the UK, turning showery across England and Wales later, with wintry showers likely in north-east Scotland and windy conditions in the west.
For tomorrow, much of the country will be cloudy with patchy rain, though steadier rain is forecast for south-west England. North-east Scotland will continue to see hill snow, with winds expected to ease.
The outlook for Monday to Wednesday indicates a mostly cloudy and dry start on Monday, before a band of rain pushes into western areas later. This rain will become more widespread overnight, falling as wintry precipitation over northern hills.
Tuesday and Wednesday are expected to remain unsettled and windy for many, particularly in the south-west, with rain at times for much of the UK and further hill snow in the north.
