The Met Office has confirmed that 29 counties across England will experience snow on Friday as Storm Goretti sweeps through. Beginning as rain on Thursday evening, the precipitation changed to heavy snow, initially falling on elevated terrain before moving to lower altitudes overnight.
Snow accumulations are expected to reach 10-15 cm across many areas, with some hill regions, particularly above 200 meters in Wales and the Peak District, potentially seeing 20-30 cm. An amber weather warning remains in effect for Birmingham, noting that while snow will ease by Friday morning, it may transition to rain or sleet at lower levels. Disruption, however, is anticipated to continue throughout the day.
Weather expert Jo Farrow from Netweather explains, “As Goretti shifts eastwards, the mild air limits snow overnight in southern England. Yet, colder air trailing the storm could bring wintry conditions, especially along the Downs in the southeast.”
READ MORE: Counties in England Spared Snow on Friday: Full List of 21 Areas
The counties forecasted to experience snowfall include Shropshire, Staffordshire, West Midlands, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Merseyside, Lancashire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, East Riding of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Somerset, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Bristol, and Bath & North East Somerset.
Looking ahead, the Met Office highlights the unpredictability of late January and early February weather. A prevailing southwesterly pattern is expected to bring changeable conditions marked by wet, windy, and mild spells, with potential for strong winds. However, colder and drier air could also arrive from the east or northeast, bringing a renewed risk of snow.