New weather maps are predicting a significant snow event set to sweep across England in early January, placing dozens of counties on alert. Forecast data suggests a widespread covering of snow could blanket much of mainland Britain and Northern Ireland.
Widespread Snow Forecast for January 8
According to the latest projections from WX Charts, which utilises Met Desk data, 37 counties in England are at risk from a potential 'snow bomb' on Thursday, January 8. The visualisations indicate a substantial sheet of snow covering a majority of the country.
The most intense snowfall is currently modelled for the early morning, around 6am, but wintry conditions are expected to persist throughout the day for many regions. The data presents a stark picture of a nation turning white under the winter onslaught.
Full List of Counties at Risk
The counties highlighted on the snow accumulation maps encompass areas from the South West to the North East. The following is a comprehensive list of the regions expected to be affected, based on the WX Charts analysis.
Areas forecast for notable accumulations include:
- Bedfordshire
- Devon
- Herefordshire
- Northamptonshire
- Surrey
- Berkshire
- Hertfordshire
Further counties facing a dusting of snow are:
- Oxfordshire
- West Midlands
- Cambridgeshire
- Lancashire
- Rutland
- Cheshire
- Essex
- Leicestershire
Other regions identified as being at risk include Worcestershire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Norfolk, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Hampshire, and Suffolk. The list also features Northumberland, Bristol, Durham, Nottinghamshire, Warwickshire, Buckinghamshire, Shropshire, Yorkshire, Gloucestershire, Lincolnshire, Somerset, Wiltshire, Cornwall, and Merseyside.
Met Office Forecast and the Polar Vortex Question
While the dramatic term 'polar vortex' has been used in some forecasts, the UK's Met Office has not officially endorsed this specific phenomenon for the upcoming period. Instead, the national forecaster provides its own detailed outlook for the start of the new year.
The Met Office states: "Cold northerly winds, initially across Scotland are now expected to become dominant across the whole UK in the first week of January." These winds are predicted to bring wintry showers, often of snow, to many exposed coastlines and areas just inland.
The forecast elaborates that subtle shifts in wind direction from northeast to northwest will alter which locations bear the brunt of the showers. However, many inland areas across central and southern England are expected to remain mostly dry but cold.
Looking further ahead, the Met Office suggests: "There are likely to be some more coherent bands of rain, sleet and snow working south, and these may bring a risk of more prolonged wintry precipitation affecting some inland areas." The forecast indicates that slightly milder conditions may attempt to move in from the west towards the second half of that period.
Residents across the listed counties are advised to stay updated with the latest forecasts from the Met Office as the potential winter weather event approaches, and to plan for possible travel disruption.
