The UK is bracing for a significant snow event that could surpass the impact of Storm Goretti. According to a weather map from WXCharts based on the ECMWF model, a vast 450-mile wide snow wall is forecast to affect large parts of the country starting January 20.
This extensive snow coverage is predicted to stretch from Aberdeen in Scotland, down through Birmingham and the West Midlands, blanketing numerous counties along the way. Areas at risk include Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Shropshire, West Midlands, Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Cumbria, Northumberland, and Durham.
Despite this intense forecast, the BBC Weather team’s outlook for the week of January 19 to 25 suggests a mostly changeable and mild pattern. Temperatures are expected to hover around or above average due to prevailing west to south-westerly air flows. The forecast notes that while rain and occasional strong winds will be common, meaningful snowfall chances remain low, limited mainly to wintry showers in northern regions like Scotland.
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Looking further ahead from January 26 to February 8, conditions are expected to stay unsettled but mild, with Atlantic low pressure systems bringing wet and windy weather. Short, colder spells in northern UK areas may bring some wintry showers, particularly in Scottish uplands, but no prolonged cold weather is anticipated. Temperatures during this period are also predicted to average above normal.
Forecasters acknowledge uncertainty with predictions this far in advance, leaving room for potential shifts. For example, if high pressure builds over Scandinavia, colder airflows might develop, increasing the risk of colder conditions. For now, however, this is not the favored scenario.
Residents are advised to stay updated on weather developments as the situation evolves and to prepare for possible significant snow impacts across many parts of the UK.