Britain is braced for a severe wintry spell in the days following New Year's Day, with forecasters predicting a colossal 540-mile snow belt and hazardous freezing rain. The latest weather maps indicate significant snowfall stretching from Durness in the far north of Scotland all the way south to Birmingham.
Widespread Snow and Icy Hazards Expected
According to detailed projections from WXCharts, the disruptive weather will not be confined to Scotland. Substantial snow is also expected across northern England, impacting counties including Northumberland, Cumbria, Tyne and Wear, Durham, North Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Greater Manchester.
The Midlands is also in line for a covering, with Cheshire, Staffordshire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, and Bedfordshire all named in the forecast. In a separate but equally dangerous development, freezing rain is forecast for Essex and Hertfordshire. This phenomenon, where rain freezes instantly on contact with surfaces, creates treacherous, icy conditions on roads and pavements.
Met Office Outlook: Settled to Changeable
The Met Office has provided its outlook for the period, indicating a shift in conditions. A spokesperson stated that high pressure will likely dominate across the UK towards the end of the year, centred to the west over the North Atlantic. This will bring relatively settled conditions initially, though with some coastal showers.
"Towards the first weekend of January, high pressure is likely to shift a little farther away from the UK, allowing a greater chance of more changeable conditions to develop," the forecaster explained. This change will bring an increased risk of rain or showers which, combined with cold air, may lead to wintry hazards. Temperatures are expected to be near or slightly below average for the period overall.
Christmas Day Wind Warning
Before the New Year snow arrives, the weather authority has issued a yellow weather warning for Christmas Day. The alert is in place for 20 hours, from 4am on December 25th until 11.59pm.
The Met Office warns that east to northeasterly winds will become strong and gusty, with peak gusts widely reaching 45-55 mph, and 55-65 mph along some exposed coasts. They cautioned that the unusual wind direction could lead to some disruption to transport and power supplies, with large waves posing an additional hazard on coasts.
Residents across the affected regions are advised to stay updated with the latest forecasts and travel advice as the new year begins.
