A significant snow event is poised to sweep across much of the UK next week, with forecasts predicting up to 64 centimetres (almost 26 inches) of snow in some regions, particularly in the Scottish Highlands. However, relief comes for certain areas in southern England, where the snow bomb is unlikely to make an impact.
Data from WX Charts, utilizing Met Desk information and the ECMWF weather model, indicates that snow will begin moving across the country in the early hours of January 27. By around 3 a.m., the snow is predicted to drift northward and eastward. By 6 a.m., heavy snowfall will intensify across England and southern Scotland.
Despite this widespread snowfall, 13 counties are forecasted to avoid the worst of the winter weather. These counties are Suffolk, Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Greater London, Surrey, Kent, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Wiltshire, Somerset, Cornwall, Devon, and Dorset.
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Conversely, areas such as Birmingham and the West Midlands will experience significant snowfall, underscoring the regional variability of this weather event.
The Met Office explains that weather systems moving in from the Atlantic will stall near the UK due to high pressure systems to the north and northeast. This interaction will lead to persistent rain or showers, especially in southern and western parts of the country.
While mild conditions may intermittently return to the south and southwest, cold air will dominate the northeast, generating wintry showers. The risk of snow remains highest in hilly regions, particularly where warm frontal systems meet the colder northeastern air.
Looking further ahead to the period from February 6 to February 20, the Met Office forecasts continued unsettled weather. Atlantic frontal systems will intermittently affect the UK, with wetter conditions expected in central and southern areas due to the jet stream sitting slightly south of normal. Northern and northwestern regions are forecasted to be drier but colder, with wintry hazards more likely in elevated areas where precipitation occurs.
Residents are advised to stay updated with local forecasts and prepare for potential disruptions as winter weather challenges the UK in the coming weeks.