The Met Office has issued a significant weather update, extending snow warnings across the United Kingdom until Tuesday and specifically naming three regions expected to face the brunt of the disruptive wintry conditions. As the country moves towards the end of January and into early February, forecasters are predicting a period of unsettled, often wet, and windy weather that could impact daily life.
Extended Snow Forecast and Regional Impact
In its latest five-day outlook covering Friday, January 23, to Tuesday, January 27, the Met Office has confirmed that snow will affect swathes of the nation. The agency has pinpointed three key areas where snow is most likely to occur, highlighting the potential for significant disruption in these regions.
Areas Facing Snowfall
The Met Office has identified the following regions as being at highest risk for snow flurries and accumulations:
- Eastern Scotland: Expected to see hill snow initially, with an increasing risk as colder air moves in.
- North East England: Particularly vulnerable to wintry showers and potential snow on northern hills.
- Northern hills in England: Across various northern regions, where elevation increases the likelihood of snowfall.
Detailed Weather Outlook
The forecast indicates that Friday will bring cloudy conditions with showers or longer spells of rain across all areas, accompanied by some hill snow in Scotland. Brief drier and brighter intervals may occur before another band of rain reaches the southwest later in the day. Windy conditions are expected, with coastal gales developing in some regions.
Looking ahead to the weekend and early next week, the Met Office predicts that unsettled conditions will persist. Bands of rain will continue to move north across much of the country, with further hill snow likely across eastern Scotland. The southwest can expect frequent showers with coastal gales, while rain and hill snow across the northeast should gradually ease.
Temperature Drop and Cold Snap
BBC Lead Weather Presenter Simon King has provided additional insight into the developing weather pattern. "While Storm Ingrid will affect south-western parts of England, for the rest of the UK, we will start to see a brisk south-east to easterly wind," King explained. "Drawing in colder air from north-east Europe, temperatures will start to drop over the weekend and next week with a cold snap."
By Monday, temperatures are forecast to fall to 4 to 6 degrees Celsius below the average for late January. This significant temperature decrease, combined with the easterly wind, is expected to bring occasional wintry showers, with snow affecting some parts of the UK.
Tuesday's Weather System
The situation is expected to evolve further by Tuesday when a weather system approaches from the west, bringing milder air and rain. However, as this rain encounters the colder air already in place, it will likely turn to snow in some areas. The highest risk of snow on Tuesday will be over the hills of Wales, northern England, and parts of Scotland, while rain is expected at lower levels.
The Met Office emphasizes that conditions will remain unsettled throughout this period, with bands of rain moving north and east across the country. A gradual turn to colder conditions from the northeast will increase the risk of snow, particularly over northern hills, making for potentially challenging travel conditions and requiring appropriate preparations from residents in affected areas.
