The Met Office has escalated its weather alerts, placing 66 specific areas across England, Scotland, and Wales under a yellow warning for snow from Wednesday, 7th January, right through to Friday, 9th January. Forecasters warn that some regions could see accumulations of up to 20 centimetres before the weekend arrives.
Widespread Disruption Expected
The cold snap is set to intensify as a deep area of low pressure moves across southern parts of the UK on Thursday and Friday. This system is predicted to bring a volatile mix of rain, snow, and strong winds. Meanwhile, northern areas, particularly Scotland, will bear the brunt of the conditions from Wednesday onwards.
In response to the imminent threat, authorities in Scotland are working to keep key routes open, amid concerns that some communities risk being cut off. The severity of the situation has led to the closure of every school in Aberdeen today.
Areas on Alert: The Full List
The Met Office has named the extensive list of local authorities facing snow alerts. On Wednesday, the warnings focus on Scotland, covering Angus, Dundee, Perth and Kinross, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray, the Highlands, and the island groups.
The alert expands dramatically on Thursday and Friday, encompassing a vast swathe of central, eastern, and western England, along with the whole of Wales. Affected regions include the East and West Midlands, counties across central and eastern England, the South West, and all of Wales. Major population centres like Birmingham and the West Midlands conurbation are explicitly mentioned as areas set to be hit.
Forecaster's Outlook
BBC weather presenter Simon King provided further detail, stating: "More snow showers are expected across northern Scotland and so the ongoing disruption is likely to continue with warnings for snow and ice continuing all day."
He added that while other parts of the UK would see drier spells initially, cloud and light rain would push into Northern Ireland and parts of southwest Wales and England later. Despite the snow, maximum temperatures are expected to be a marginal 2C to 7C.
Residents in the listed areas are advised to prepare for probable travel delays, potential power cuts, and the risk of isolated communities being cut off by the significant snowfall. The public should stay updated with the latest Met Office forecasts and travel advice from local authorities.
