Forecasters from the Met Office and BBC have issued stark warnings about an impending snow blast set to hit the United Kingdom, with predictions indicating it could be more severe than initially anticipated. The upcoming weather event is expected to bring colder conditions than those experienced during Storm Goretti in early January, which caused significant disruption across the nation.
Forecast Details and Expected Impact
Meteorological data from WX Charts, which utilises information from Met Desk, reveals extensive snow coverage spreading across England around January 27. The forecasts suggest that next Tuesday could witness snowfall rates of up to 6 centimetres per hour, creating potentially hazardous conditions for travel and daily activities.
Regional Snowfall Predictions
Initial areas at highest risk include Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Durham, Cumbria, and Northumberland, where the north east of England is expected to face substantial disruption. North Wales is also likely to receive significant snow accumulation, while Kent in the east may experience lighter flurries.
Interestingly, the south west of England appears to be largely spared from the worst of the snowfall according to medium-term forecasting models from meteorological agencies. This regional variation highlights the complex nature of the approaching weather system.
Expert Analysis and Additional Warnings
James Madden from Exacta Weather provided detailed commentary on the developing situation, stating: "Well everyone, as we have been repeatedly covering for, and we now have widespread snow showers showing up across some large parts of the country during this weekend, including some lower levels and particularly on Sunday."
Madden further elaborated: "Additionally, we now also have some absolutely epic and widespread snow charts heading into next week and from as early as Monday evening (now days away), and as we covered in yesterday's updates about this and stating otherwise, when some of the models decided to have a little last minute wobble."
Regarding southern regions, Madden added: "Parts of the south will be involved. Parts of southwest possibly as early as Sunday and the south ‘will’ also be involved in the later snow events after Monday and if not before with any subtle changes."
Weekend Weather Concerns
Looking ahead to the weekend, BBC lead forecaster Simon King highlighted additional weather concerns beyond snowfall. He warned: "Rainfall accumulations of 60-80mm are likely, with as much as 100-120mm over high ground."
King continued: "Totals since Wednesday evening may exceed 150 mm in a few places. This is expected to lead to some surface water and river flooding across the area." The forecaster also noted a wider yellow warning across eastern Scotland where rainfall accumulations of 30-60mm are expected widely.
The combination of heavy snowfall and significant rainfall presents a dual challenge for emergency services and local authorities across affected regions. Residents are advised to monitor official weather updates and prepare for potential travel disruptions and cold weather conditions as the snow blast approaches.
