Londoners are being told to brace for another bout of wintry weather later this week, with the Met Office forecasting the potential return of sleet and snow. This comes after the capital was dusted with a picturesque, if brief, snowfall on Tuesday, January 6.
Ice Warning Follows Tuesday's Snowfall
Flakes began to fall across the city shortly after midday on Tuesday, creating eye-catching scenes and prompting many to capture the moment. While that snow has now cleared, the cold snap is far from over. The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for ice, valid until 10am on Wednesday, January 7.
The warning highlights that icy patches formed overnight could lead to some disruption for early morning travellers. Despite the chill, temperatures are expected to climb to around 6°C this afternoon, a noticeable rise from the freezing start to the week.
Deep Low Pressure to Bring Snow and Strong Winds
The respite will be short-lived. Forecasters state that sleet, and possibly further snow, could return as a deep area of low pressure moves in from Thursday. The system, named Storm Goretti by Meteo France, is expected to bring the worst of its wind impacts to northern France, but will still affect southern Britain.
Thursday morning is forecast to be cloudy with patchy light rain or sleet, before heavier rain arrives in the afternoon. Winds will also strengthen significantly, with coastal gales developing later. "The current cold snap continues, before a deep area of low pressure threatens to bring further snow, strong winds and heavy rain to southern parts of the UK from Thursday night," the Met Office said.
Weekend Outlook and Beyond
Looking ahead, Friday could begin with a mix of heavy rain, sleet and snow, before conditions slowly clear from the west later. Saturday is predicted to be cool but largely dry, with temperatures around 3°C. Sunday may see the return of rain, with possible wintry conditions initially as another system approaches from the west.
The longer-range forecast offers some hope for those weary of the cold. Milder air is likely to push in from Sunday, reducing the risk of further snow in London. Temperatures are expected to climb next week, potentially reaching a milder 8°C by Monday, January 12 and Tuesday, January 13. However, forecasters caution there remains a small chance of colder conditions returning later in January.
London Day-by-Day Forecast:
- Wednesday, Jan 7: Yellow ice warning. Light winds, max 6°C.
- Thursday, Jan 8: Heavy wind and rain, chance of snow. Max 5°C.
- Friday, Jan 9: Heavy rain likely most of the day. Max 5°C.
- Saturday, Jan 10: Crisp and dry with a gentle breeze. Max 4°C.
- Sunday, Jan 11: Dry start, light afternoon showers. Max 5°C.
- Monday, Jan 12: Dry and warmer. Max 8°C.
- Tuesday, Jan 13: Warm continues, chance of afternoon rain. Max 8°C.
