Fresh weather maps are indicating a significant return of wintry conditions to the United Kingdom, with a major snow event forecast for the end of January. According to the latest projections, a substantial blizzard stretching over 400 miles is poised to sweep across the nation.
When and Where the Snow Will Strike
Charts from WX Charts, which utilise data from the GFS system and Met Desk, pinpoint Tuesday, January 27 as the likely date for the onset of severe conditions. The system is expected to bring snow from the north of Scotland all the way south to London, with eastern England also in the firing line. Parts of Wales and the south west, including areas around Bristol, may also see some accumulation.
The most intense snowfall is predicted for the north west of England and Scotland, where some regions could be blanketed by up to 20cm of snow. This event signals a sharp downturn in conditions as the UK plunges into another bitterly cold spell during the second month of the year.
Full List of Counties Under Threat
The forecast suggests a widespread impact across England, with 25 counties specifically highlighted as being in the path of the incoming snow blizzard. The areas set to be affected include:
- Hampshire, Kent, Sussex, Greater London, Essex, Hertfordshire
- Cambridgeshire, Buckinghamshire, Huntingdonshire, Norfolk, Suffolk
- The West Midlands conurbation, Warwickshire, Leicestershire, Shropshire
- Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Worcestershire, Lincolnshire, Greater Manchester
- Cheshire, Yorkshire, Durham, Cumbria, and Northumberland
Context and Weekend Outlook
This impending cold snap follows the disruption caused by Storm Goretti earlier in the month. On January 9, that system brought Birmingham to a standstill, causing major travel and traffic issues due to heavy snow flurries.
Looking to the immediate future, Jo Farrow from Netweather TV provided an outlook for the coming weekend. "Sunday could see a few more sunny spells," she said. "Overnight, there will be clusters of showers moving east or northeast with many areas staying dry in between."
She added that light winds will persist, but more areas will be at risk of ice, with frost or fog possible on Sunday morning. A southerly breeze will develop, dispersing any fog, but a band of rain is expected to edge in from the Atlantic. Temperatures are forecast to remain similar to those expected on Saturday.
