The UK is bracing for up to 15 centimetres of snow next week, with Birmingham and the West Midlands expected to be blanketed in snow. According to new maps and charts from WX Charts, which draw on Met Desk data, significant snowfall will begin on January 6 and intensify as the week progresses.
By Friday, snow is expected to settle across most areas north of Birmingham, accumulating up to 15cm in certain locations. London may also experience notable snowfall, with forecasts suggesting up to 1cm of snow falling per hour from midday onward. By January 11, nearly the entire country will have snow either settled or falling, with Bristol as a possible exception.
The Met Office offers a detailed outlook from January 6 onwards, explaining that cold northerly winds are expected to ease by midweek, reducing the frequency and intensity of snow showers in northern and eastern regions. Nonetheless, bands of rain moving in from the Atlantic may meet the cold air over the UK, triggering further snowfall, particularly in central and eastern parts, while rain is more likely in the west.
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Looking ahead to the weekend and beyond, the forecast becomes less certain. Conditions are expected to warm slightly but the potential remains for additional snow spells, especially across northern and central regions. Southern and western areas might experience milder periods, accompanied by heavier rain and occasional stronger winds.
The Met Office emphasizes that January’s weather is likely to be highly variable, with no dominant weather pattern emerging. Periods of wet, windy, and mild weather may alternate with colder, drier stretches featuring overnight frost and fog. Although the likelihood of snow and ice decreases compared to earlier in the month, they still remain possible, particularly in central and northern parts of the UK.