A colossal winter weather system, dubbed a 'snow bomb', is forecast to sweep across the United Kingdom in the first week of the New Year, affecting a staggering span of the country.
Vast Geographic Reach of the Winter Blast
Fresh weather maps from WX Charts reveal the sheer scale of the impending freeze. The projections show a continuous band of snow affecting the nation from Wick on the northern tip of Scotland all the way down to Dover in Kent – a monumental distance of 746 miles.
In England alone, 36 counties are expected to face disruptions from the wintry conditions. The snowfall is predicted to arrive on Wednesday, January 7, according to data from the Met Desk, which utilises GFS modelling. The charts indicate the snow will be intermittent, coming and going over several days.
Full List of Counties at Risk
The areas south of the Scottish border facing the highest risk are extensive. Initial impacts are expected across the North East, North West, and Midlands regions.
This includes counties such as:
- Northumberland, Cumbria, Durham, and Lancashire
- Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, and Merseyside
- Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire
The band of snow will then extend further south, bringing a dusting to Derbyshire, Cheshire, Staffordshire, Shropshire, and Herefordshire. Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Leicestershire, and the West Midlands conurbation are also in the firing line.
Even southern England, the South East, East Anglia, the South West, and the Home Counties will not escape. The list continues with:
- Rutland, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire
- Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Greater London, and Buckinghamshire
- Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Berkshire, and Hampshire
- Surrey, Sussex, Hertfordshire, Essex, and Kent
A Bitter and Frosty Turn for the New Year
The snowy spell marks a sharp return to proper winter conditions following an unseasonably mild December. In its forecast from Boxing Day onwards, Netweather TV warned of a significant temperature drop.
"Temperatures through the week will sit below average, with daytime highs of 5 to 7C for most, occasionally nudging 8 or 9C in the south and west where the sun breaks through," the forecast stated.
"After a December where double figures became almost routine, it will feel like a return to winter. That brisk easterly will sharpen the cold further, particularly along North Sea coasts where the wind chill will be noticeable."
The forecast also highlighted the risk of widespread frosts due to high pressure and light winds. Rural valleys in Scotland could see temperatures plummet to minus 6°C, with parts of Wales reaching minus 4°C. The report concluded that even suburban areas will witness icy car windscreens on most mornings as the UK braces for a frigid start to 2026.
