The Met Office has released detailed weather maps revealing which areas of the United Kingdom will be spared from snowfall on Monday, January 26. While significant snow cover is expected to affect swathes of the country, particularly in Scotland and northern England, a total of thirty-one English counties are forecast to avoid the wintry conditions entirely.
Snowfall Spread Across the UK
From midnight on Sunday, January 25, into Monday, January 26, meteorological maps indicate extensive snow coverage across the UK. The precipitation is predicted to begin primarily in Scotland during the early hours, with only isolated pockets affecting the north of England initially. However, the intensity of the snowfall is expected to increase throughout the day, spreading from the Pennines to encompass the entirety of the North East and North West regions.
Areas Impacted by Snow
The snowfall is forecast to reach as far south as Stoke-on-Trent in the Midlands, bringing wintry conditions to this area. However, the maps clearly show that further south of the West Midlands and Staffordshire, only rainfall is anticipated, leaving many counties untouched by snow.
Counties Escaping Snowfall
The comprehensive list of English counties set to avoid snow on Monday includes Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Warwickshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, West Midlands, Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Kent, and Northamptonshire.
Additionally, the following counties are also expected to be spared: Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire, Greater London, Surrey, Somerset, Devon, Dorset, Cornwall, Hampshire, Rutland, and Sussex.
Expert Weather Analysis
James Madden, a forecaster from Exacta Weather, provided insight into the developing weather patterns. "Any first and initial snow showers over the coming days are literally paving the way for something bigger in terms of snow heading into next week," he explained. "From around Monday evening and into Tuesday will see the first bout of unsettled conditions."
Mr Madden elaborated further, stating that the snow will be "pushing in from the Atlantic and clashing with colder conditions to bring at least some notable snow to the northern half of the country and also to lower levels."
Extended Weather Outlook
The meteorological situation is expected to evolve throughout the week. "Additionally, and importantly, the next bout of unsettled weather conditions will mix with the colder conditions during Tuesday evening and into much of Wednesday," Mr Madden continued. "The areas at risk for snow and heavy snow are in the northern half of the country once again and including lower levels from central England and upwards and also in large parts of Ireland but with some of this snow now starting to form in parts of southern England during this same period."
He noted that this southern snow formation is something weather experts "expect to intensify nearer time," suggesting that while many counties escape Monday's snowfall, conditions may change as the week progresses.
