The United Kingdom is on high alert as a severe winter storm sweeps across the nation, bringing with it the threat of significant snowfall and plummeting temperatures. The Met Office has activated five separate weather warnings, with forecasters predicting up to 30 centimetres of snow in parts of Scotland and lows of -11°C.
Nationwide Warnings as Deep Freeze Takes Hold
The national weather service issued a major update on Sunday morning, detailing the extensive areas expected to be hit by snow and ice. The warnings, many of which came into force early on Sunday, are set to remain active until Monday afternoon, the 5th of January. This frosty blast arrives just as the festive season concludes, marking a harsh start to the new year for many.
Maps from the Met Office indicate that temperatures will widely drop below zero, with the most extreme conditions seeing the mercury fall as low as -11°C within the next 24 hours. The agency has cautioned that "snow and ice" will form across large parts of every home nation, urging the public to take care.
Scotland Braces for Heaviest Snowfall
While much of the UK is under alert, Scotland is forecast to bear the brunt of the severe conditions. A major warning covering most of the country north of Glasgow is in place until around midday on Monday. The Met Office states that "frequent and heavy" snow showers could lead to accumulations of up to 30cm, particularly above 200 metres in the northwest Highlands and Grampians.
"Snow showers are expected to continue through the weekend, being brought well inland by strong northerly winds," the warning explains. It also notes the risk of drifting snow, temporary blizzard conditions, and even lightning near showers. Forecasters add that with inland temperatures likely to stay below freezing, any lying snow is not expected to thaw until conditions ease on Monday.
Full List of Affected Regions
The Met Office warnings are extensive, covering numerous counties and local authorities. Here is the complete breakdown of the alerts in place:
Yellow warning for ice (until 10am Sunday): This covers parts of South West England, including Bath and North East Somerset, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, North Somerset, Plymouth, and Somerset.
Yellow warning for snow and ice (until 10am Sunday): This alert spans all of Wales, listing counties from Bridgend and Cardiff to Gwynedd and Wrexham.
Yellow warning for snow and ice (until 11.59pm Sunday): This affects eastern parts of England, including Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Durham, Northumberland, North Yorkshire, and surrounding areas.
Yellow warning for snow and ice (from midday Sunday to midday Monday): This covers all of Northern Ireland, encompassing County Antrim, Armagh, Down, Londonderry, and Tyrone.
Warning for snow and ice (until midday Monday): This is the most significant alert, covering vast swathes of Scotland. Affected regions include:
- Central, Tayside & Fife: Angus, Dundee, Perth and Kinross, Stirling.
- Grampian: Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray.
- Highlands & Eilean Siar: Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles), Highland.
- Orkney & Shetland: Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands.
- Strathclyde: Argyll and Bute, Inverclyde, West Dunbartonshire.
Regarding additional snow depths, the Met Office stated: "Through the weekend and into Monday morning, a further 2 to 5, locally 10 to 15 cm of lying snow is possible in low lying areas."
The combination of heavy snow, ice, and sub-zero temperatures is expected to cause widespread disruption to travel and infrastructure. Residents across the warned areas are advised to stay updated on the latest forecasts, plan journeys carefully, and check on vulnerable neighbours during this period of extreme winter weather.
