New meteorological data from WX Charts indicates that more than half of England and Scotland could experience substantial snowfall within the next fortnight, with a significant band of wintry weather predicted to sweep across the country. However, detailed analysis reveals that twenty-nine counties in England are forecast to escape the heaviest accumulations, with the West Midlands region notably spared from the most severe conditions.
Forecast Maps Predict Widespread Snowfall
Advanced weather modelling, including the ECMWF system, shows potential for snow depths reaching up to twenty-six centimetres in the most affected northern regions. The forecast suggests a widespread weather event impacting areas from the Scottish Highlands down through northern England into parts of South Yorkshire.
Regions Facing Significant Snow Accumulation
The meteorological data indicates that numerous counties across northern England should prepare for challenging winter conditions. Areas projected to receive substantial snowfall include:
- Cumbria and Northumberland
- Durham and North Yorkshire
- East Yorkshire and West Yorkshire
- South Yorkshire and Lancashire
- Cheshire and Greater Manchester
Counties Expected to Escape Heavy Snow
While northern regions brace for winter weather, twenty-nine English counties are forecast to avoid the most severe snowfall. The West Midlands verdict shows this region among those likely to experience milder conditions.
Midlands and Eastern Counties Spared
Counties set to be spared from the heaviest snow include the West Midlands along with:
- Warwickshire, Shropshire, and Staffordshire
- Lincolnshire and Worcestershire
- Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire
- Leicestershire and Northamptonshire
- Norfolk, Suffolk, and Bedfordshire
Southern and Western Regions Also Escaping
Further counties expected to avoid significant snowfall include:
- Cambridgeshire and Oxfordshire
- Kent, Essex, and Surrey
- Sussex and Greater London
- Berkshire and Wiltshire
- Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall
- Dorset, Gloucestershire, and Herefordshire
- The Isle of Wight
BBC Weather Outlook for Early February
The BBC Weather team has provided additional context for the period from Monday 9th to Sunday 15th February, noting that conditions are expected to turn colder more widely across the UK. Their analysis suggests this weather pattern could persist into the second week of February, with Scotland likely to experience the coldest conditions.
Temperatures are forecast to be near or below normal across much of the United Kingdom when averaged across the week, with brisk easterly winds potentially making eastern coastal areas feel particularly chilly. However, the meteorological team notes that milder air will continue trying to spread into England and Wales at times, with the far south and south-west of England likely to experience temperatures near to slightly above average.
Precipitation and Flooding Risks
Changeable conditions are expected throughout this period, with England and Wales likely to experience normal or above average rainfall amounts. The forecast indicates continued risks of heavy rain and localised flooding, particularly in south-western areas. As precipitation bands move northward into colder air, their northern edges remain susceptible to turning to snow, mostly affecting northern hills.
The BBC Weather team notes uncertainty about the northward extent of these conditions but confirms that wintry showers are expected across northern regions, potentially reaching lower levels in Scotland. Interestingly, north-western Scotland is forecast to be drier than normal during this period, creating regional variations in weather patterns across the country.
