Weather forecasters are warning that the UK could be hit by a colossal new 'snow bomb' within days, with predictions suggesting it may be even more severe than the recent Storm Goretti. Fresh analysis of meteorological data indicates a potential 450-mile wide wall of snow is on course to sweep across the country.
Maps Turn White as Major Snow Event Looms
According to a detailed weather map from WXCharts, which utilises the ECMWF model, significant snowfall is projected to return from Monday, January 20, 2026. The charts show a vast swathe of the nation turning white, indicating heavy snow accumulation. The predicted snow band is expected to impact a huge stretch of the UK, from Aberdeen in Scotland all the way down to Birmingham and the wider West Midlands conurbation.
The counties and regions identified as being at particular risk include:
- Greater Manchester and Lancashire
- Merseyside and Cheshire
- Derbyshire, Staffordshire, and Shropshire
- West Midlands and Nottinghamshire
- Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
- Cumbria, Northumberland, and Durham
Official Forecast Presents a Milder Outlook
In contrast to the dramatic snow maps, the official BBC Weather team forecast for Monday 19 to Sunday 25 January suggests a generally changeable and milder than average period. Their outlook states that temperatures are expected to be mostly above or close to average, driven by frequent west to south-westerly winds.
The BBC forecast explains: "Broadly, there should be higher pressure than normal across far eastern and north-eastern Europe with low pressure systems moving across the Atlantic, occasionally pushing across the UK. As a result, there will be periods of rain, occasionally heavy and accompanied by strong winds."
Regarding snow, the BBC adds: "The chance of any meaningful snowfall is low, but some wintry showers are possible in northern regions, chiefly in Scotland, in fleeting chillier and brighter spells between weather systems."
Long-Term Forecast and Lingering Uncertainty
Looking further ahead to the period from Monday 26 January to Sunday 8 February, the BBC predicts conditions will remain "unsettled and relatively mild." The dominant weather pattern is expected to persist, with Atlantic low-pressure systems continuing to bring wet and windy weather.
The forecast notes that any colder interludes should be short-lived, primarily affecting the northern UK, with little sign of a return to a lasting cold spell. Any wintry precipitation is likely to be confined to Scotland's uplands, with temperatures probably averaging above normal.
However, meteorologists acknowledge the inherent uncertainty in longer-range predictions. The BBC outlook concludes with a note of caution: "There are suggestions of high pressure building at higher latitudes, possibly over Scandinavia. If that were to develop more strongly, then there would be a chance of some colder flows, so that's something to keep an eye on. However, it's not the favoured outcome at the moment."
This discrepancy between the raw model data shown by WXCharts and the broader BBC forecast highlights the challenges in predicting specific winter weather events more than a week in advance. Residents across the highlighted regions are advised to monitor official updates as the potential January 20 date approaches.
