Britain is preparing for a significant wintry spell, with fresh weather data indicating a potential 56-hour continuous snowfall event set to sweep across large parts of England in the New Year.
Snow Timeline and Affected Counties
According to detailed projections from WX Charts, the first flurries are scheduled to arrive at 6am on Monday, January 5, initially impacting Cumbria and Northumberland.
Throughout that Monday, the snow is expected to extend its reach, with further flurries likely over Merseyside, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, and Devon.
Peak Intensity Midweek
The situation is forecast to intensify on Tuesday, January 6. Heavier snowfall is predicted over the Midlands, covering counties including Staffordshire, Cornwall, Leicestershire, Derbyshire, and Nottinghamshire.
Wednesday, January 7 could see the most widespread disruption. Weather models suggest snow falling simultaneously over the North East of England, the East Midlands, and the South East, blanketing at least ten counties.
The prolonged event is currently projected to persist until 12am on Thursday, January 8, finally clearing from remaining areas like Merseyside, Lancashire, and Cornwall.
Met Office Long-Range Outlook
In its official forecast covering December 28 to January 6, the Met Office suggests a different initial picture. It states that high pressure will likely dominate, bringing largely settled and dry conditions for many as the year ends.
The forecast notes: "It may often be rather cloudy, but any rainfall that does develop is expected to be light with overall accumulations small. Winds will mostly be light with temperatures close to or slightly below normal."
Looking into early 2026, the Met Office anticipates little change for the first week of January, with settled conditions continuing for many. However, it does acknowledge a small chance of more unsettled, wetter, and milder weather developing at times, particularly in the north.
Residents across the highlighted regions, especially in the Midlands and northern counties, are advised to monitor the latest forecasts as the New Year approaches, given the discrepancy between the Met Office outlook and the specific snow event predicted by other weather models.
