The United Kingdom is preparing for an extraordinary and prolonged bout of wintry weather, with new forecasts predicting a staggering 90 hours of snowfall set to sweep the nation from north to south within the next fortnight.
Three-Day Snow Onslaught: Timeline and Impact
According to detailed projections from the weather forecasting service WXCharts, the snow event is expected to roll in from the Atlantic, first making landfall in Scotland. The initial light snowfall is anticipated in Aberdeen around 6am on January 4, but the main event kicks off a day later.
The significant snowfall is forecast to begin in earnest on January 5 at 6am, starting in Scotland before advancing across England. Near Dundee, maps indicate around 1 inch of snow could fall per hour at that time. The system will then shift towards Glasgow in the early morning before setting its sights on England by 6pm that same day.
Nationwide Blanket from Scotland to Cornwall
The snow is predicted to drift southwards along the west coast, affecting areas from Cumbria down to Manchester, albeit with a reduced intensity. A brief lull on January 6 will give a short respite, with patches lingering over northern Scotland and Blackpool.
However, this break is short-lived. A second wave is projected to strike at midnight leading into January 7. This phase could bring less than an inch of snow per hour to Blackpool, Manchester, Yorkshire, and the far north of Scotland. By 6am on January 7, the front is expected to shift east, blanketing Lincolnshire and parts of Yorkshire with similar accumulations, while Aberdeen and central Wales see a light dusting.
Remarkably, by noon on January 7, the weather system is forecast to reach as far south as Cornwall, where a very light covering is possible. Eastern areas like Norfolk could also see approximately 1 inch of snow per hour at this stage.
Icy Perils and Official Forecasts
By the evening of January 7, England is expected to be largely dry, with only scattered light showers north of London. Scotland, however, may remain fully blanketed from its northern tip down to Glasgow. As the event concludes around midnight, Cumbria, Northumberland, and Manchester face a final risk of light snow.
The aftermath poses a significant danger, with treacherous icy conditions expected on the morning of January 8 as temperatures plummet well below freezing.
It is important to note that the Met Office highlights the inherent difficulty in predicting snow. Its own long-range forecast for December 28 to January 6 suggests settled and mainly dry conditions will continue for many parts in the first week of January. However, it does acknowledge a 'small chance' of more unsettled, wetter, and milder weather developing at times, particularly in the north.
