Britain is bracing for a potential snow bomb as early as next week, with a leading forecaster bringing forward the predicted date of the severe wintry outbreak.
Forecast Shift: Snow Could Arrive a Week Sooner
Meteorologist Jim Dale of British Weather Services has forecast that significant snow could begin to affect the UK from Wednesday, January 21. This revised prediction is a full week earlier than other models, such as those from WX Charts, which had suggested snow would return around January 26 to 28.
The change hinges on the development of high pressure over Scandinavia. "The last few simulations have shown that high pressure develops over Norway and Sweden, and essentially we then start taking easterly winds," Dale explained to the Mirror. "Now the easterlies start to come in around about the 21st."
Potential for a 'Beast from the East' Scenario
While the easterly wind direction is a key ingredient for very cold weather, Dale cautioned that it doesn't guarantee a major snow event on its own. For a repeat of a historic Beast from the East, sustained and moisture-laden conditions are needed.
"What we need to see is something a little bit more sustained that's got weight with it, with the weight obviously being snow – not just the cold direction of wind. But at the moment it is dry," he stated.
However, if the conditions align, the impact could be severe and prolonged. "If it is a proper Beast, I think we have to be on the lookout for significant snow, widespread, becoming more widespread across the country from east to west in time," Dale warned. He added that such an event "could well last into the early part of February" and wouldn't be unusual to persist for a week or more.
Mixed Forecasts for the Coming Days
The immediate outlook from the Met Office for the week beginning January 19 is described as "changeable." They predict often cloudy conditions with showery rain, alongside overnight frost and patches of fog, which could be slow to clear.
Independent forecaster Netweather TV suggests the week will start mild, with low pressure to the west bringing wet conditions and a risk of flooding, particularly in southern and western Britain. However, they note a shift is possible later in the week: "There is potential for the weather to turn drier, with closer to average temperatures... as blocking highs to the north-east play a larger role, bringing colder and drier weather."
This sets the stage for the colder easterly flow that Jim Dale is monitoring closely. The nation is now watching to see if the incoming weather system will be a brief "damp squib" or develop into a full-blown, disruptive snow event starting next Wednesday.
