Fresh weather data indicates a significant snow event is poised to strike large parts of England later this month, with only a handful of counties expected to escape the wintry conditions.
Which Areas Will Be Hit by the Snow?
According to the latest ECMWF charts generated by WX Charts on January 15, snow is forecast to return across the country starting from Monday, January 27. This comes just weeks after Storm Goretti caused disruption in areas like Birmingham.
The data, which also incorporates information from Met Desk, suggests that 35 counties in England are at risk of being affected by the incoming snowfall. Only four counties are currently predicted to avoid the flurries entirely: Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, and Somerset.
Full List of Counties at Risk
The extensive list of counties facing potential snow includes Sussex, Kent, Essex, Surrey, Greater London, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, and the Isle of Wight.
In the East of England, Norfolk, Suffolk, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Rutland, and Warwickshire are also on alert.
Further north and into the Midlands, the counties of Shropshire, Staffordshire, the West Midlands conurbation, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire, and Cheshire are at risk.
The list is completed by Greater Manchester, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, Durham, Cumbria, Northumberland, and Worcestershire.
Immediate Weather Outlook and Flood Risk
Looking at the more immediate forecast, meteorologist Nick Finnis from Netweather TV provided insight into a low-pressure system affecting the UK. He noted that while earlier models predicted a deeper system, it now appears "less developmental" with rain being the primary concern.
"We’re not talking large rainfall totals by the end of tomorrow, widely 20-30mm possible across southern and eastern England, perhaps locally 40-50mm towards the south coast," Finnis stated.
He issued a warning about potential flooding, adding: "But falling on saturated ground following recent rain, it may cause some localised flooding issues."
For Thursday, conditions are expected to be mostly dry and bright elsewhere, with some showers along western coasts. Friday will see an area of low pressure near western Ireland, bringing showers to Ireland and western and southern parts of the UK, before becoming confined to the southwest later. Scotland and northern England are forecast to remain mostly dry and sunny, away from far southwestern Scotland.
Residents in the affected counties are advised to monitor the latest forecasts and travel updates as the potential snow event approaches at the end of the month.
