The Met Office has significantly broadened its weather alerts, now forecasting snow to impact numerous areas across the United Kingdom on Monday, January 26th. Issued on Sunday, the updated forecast warns of potential widespread disruption as a fresh band of wintry weather threatens to sweep across the nation.
Expanded Snow Forecast for Monday
In its latest assessment, the national weather service indicates that Monday will be generally cloudy, with further outbreaks of rain anticipated for northeast England and eastern Scotland. Crucially, this precipitation is expected to turn wintry over higher ground, leading to snowfall on hills.
The Met Office specifically highlights that a band of rain accompanied by strong winds will arrive from the west and spread eastwards throughout the day. The areas now bracing for snow on Monday include:
- Hills in northern England
- Hills in eastern England
- Hills in north east England
- Hills in eastern Scotland
Detailed Hour-by-Hour Predictions
Separate weather maps published by the forecasting service provide a more granular timeline. These indicate snow beginning in the Scottish Highlands from the early hours of Monday morning. The snowfall is then projected to spread gradually southwards, with the North West of England potentially being affected from around 7pm onwards.
The Met Office maps, which display precipitation type and intensity per hour, show these snow patches intensifying and becoming more widespread as the evening progresses. This detailed outlook is corroborated by the BBC Weather team, which forecasts a cloudy day tomorrow, largely dry in the morning.
The BBC adds that in the afternoon and evening, a band of heavy rain will push into western areas, with hill snow becoming likely by the end of the day. The overall conditions are described as feeling cold.
Unsettled Outlook for the Rest of the Week
The disruptive weather pattern is not confined to Monday alone. The Met Office outlook for Tuesday through Thursday explains that conditions will remain unsettled throughout this period.
The forecast predicts rain, showers, and possible hill snow moving across the country, accompanied by strong winds. Tuesday is expected to be particularly impactful, as another deep area of low pressure arrives, bringing windy conditions, especially in the south-west, with rain at times for much of the UK and hill snow persisting in the north.
Looking further ahead, cloud and rain are forecast to clear northwards on Wednesday, allowing for some bright spells to develop. However, a new pulse of showery rain is predicted to move into the southwest overnight. Thursday is expected to be another cloudy day, with spells of rain moving northwards through the day, maintaining the pattern of unsettled weather across the nation.
