More than twenty counties across England are preparing for a substantial weather event this week, with forecasters predicting significant snowfall and plummeting temperatures from Thursday onwards. New weather maps indicate that a considerable portion of the country could be blanketed in snow, with some areas experiencing temperatures as low as minus seven degrees Celsius.
Widespread Snowfall Expected Across Multiple Regions
According to the latest data from meteorological services, a major snow system is expected to develop over England on Thursday, January 29th. Weather modelling from WX Charts, which utilises Met Desk information, shows a substantial area of precipitation covering numerous counties from the north to the south of the country.
Counties at Risk of Significant Snow Accumulation
The forecast indicates that the following counties are particularly at risk of experiencing heavy snowfall:
- Durham
- Cumbria
- Northumberland
- Yorkshire
- Nottinghamshire
- Staffordshire
- Derbyshire
- Shropshire
- Warwickshire
- The West Midlands conurbation
- Leicestershire
- Worcestershire
- Herefordshire
- Gloucestershire
- Oxfordshire
- Greater London
- Somerset
- Hertfordshire
- Buckinghamshire
- Huntingdonshire
- Cambridgeshire
- Lincolnshire
Expert Analysis of the Incoming Cold Spell
Weather experts have been monitoring the developing situation closely, with James Madden from Exacta Weather providing detailed analysis of the approaching conditions. He noted that the current Mean Central England Temperature is already nearly one degree Celsius below the average for January, indicating that colder weather patterns are establishing themselves across the region.
"With even colder weather and widespread snow on the very near horizon," Madden explained, "it is now inevitable that January and 2026 will kick off with a much colder than average month overall. This contradicts earlier seasonal reports that suggested a milder January for this year."
Madden further revealed that his organisation had been tracking the development of these weather patterns since August 2025, identifying atmospheric disturbances that were likely to lead to the current forecast conditions.
Additional Meteorological Perspectives
Netweather has provided supplementary analysis, suggesting that temperatures across most regions are likely to be between one and two degrees Celsius below the 1991-2020 long-term average. However, they caution that there remains considerable uncertainty about how far below average temperatures might fall, particularly in Scotland and eastern England where larger negative anomalies are possible.
The precipitation forecast indicates above-normal totals for most of Wales and southern England, as well as near North Sea coasts. Conversely, western Scotland is expected to experience well below normal precipitation levels during this period.
Regarding sunshine, most areas are likely to see below-normal levels except in western and northern Scotland. However, forecasters note that if very cold air becomes established, many regions could experience periods of sunshine interspersed with snow showers, potentially bringing sunshine totals closer to seasonal norms.
Preparing for Winter Weather Disruption
With snow storms and blizzard conditions likely across the UK in the coming weeks, authorities are advising residents in affected areas to prepare for potential disruption to travel and daily routines. The combination of significant snowfall and sub-zero temperatures creates challenging conditions that require appropriate preparation and caution.
Motorists are particularly advised to exercise extreme care on roads that may become hazardous due to snow and ice accumulation. Local authorities across the affected counties are likely to implement winter maintenance plans to mitigate the impact of the expected weather conditions.
