The United Kingdom is preparing for a significant winter weather event, with forecasters predicting a 746-mile-long snowstorm set to sweep the nation. An Arctic vortex is expected to bring wintry conditions from Wick in northern Scotland all the way down to Dover on the south coast of England.
Timeline of the Wintry Onslaught
According to detailed maps and charts from WX Charts, which utilises Met Desk data, the snow will first arrive from the west. The initial flurries are scheduled to begin at midnight on Wednesday, January 7.
The first regions in the firing line will be the North West of England, the Scottish Highlands, north Wales, south west Wales, and Northern Ireland. The wintry weather will then push eastwards, with the Midlands expected to be hit by 6am on Thursday, January 8.
The forecasting models indicate that some areas could see accumulations of up to 1.6 inches (4cm) of snow at the peak of the event.
Expert Forecast and Short-Term Outlook
Nick Finnis from Netweather TV provided analysis of the broader pattern. He stated that early next week would remain mostly dry and settled for many areas, with Monday and Tuesday staying chilly and cloudy for most.
"New Year's Eve will see sunshine return in the south, but it will be cloudier and windier further north with a few showers arriving later in far northern Scotland," Finnis explained. He added that New Year’s Day would see a brisk northwesterly wind develop across all areas, with showers turning increasingly wintry across northern Scotland by the day's end as colder Arctic air arrives.
In the immediate short term, the BBC Weather team forecast for Tuesday, December 30 suggests a continuation of similar conditions. They predict large areas of cloud for central and eastern England and far northern Scotland, with wintry sunshine around this and the odd shower possible.
Preparing for the New Year Chill
Looking ahead to the period from Wednesday to Friday, the BBC outlook states: "New Year's Eve will see wintry sunshine in the south, but cloudier and windier further north with a few showers later in Scotland."
They warn that New Year's Day will be breezy with bright spells and showers, these turning wintry in the north. Friday looks to see some patchy light rain and hill snow push southwards, while the north can expect wintry sunshine and scattered snow showers around the coasts.
Residents across the UK are advised to stay updated with the latest local forecasts and travel information as the precise track and intensity of the predicted snowstorm becomes clearer in the coming days.
