The first full working week of 2026 is set to begin with major travel disruption as a blast of Arctic air brings snow and ice to large parts of the UK. The Met Office has issued a significant yellow weather warning, predicting hazardous conditions that will affect roads and railways from Sunday afternoon.
Widespread Warning for Snow and Ice
The national forecaster has placed the warning for snow and ice across five extensive areas: the East Midlands, North West England, South West England, Wales, and the West Midlands. The alert is active from noon on Sunday, 4 January, until noon on Monday, 5 January 2026.
Whilst not every location will see settling snow, the Met Office forecasts that 1-3cm could develop widely by Monday morning. In some more severely affected spots, particularly inland and higher parts of Wales, accumulations of 5-8cm are possible.
A Met Office forecast stated: "Snow showers are expected to push further inland across the warned regions during Sunday afternoon and evening. Icy stretches are likely to form widely."
Commuters Face Travel Nightmare
Transport networks are expected to bear the brunt of the wintry weather. The Met Office has warned that some roads and railways are likely to be affected, leading to longer journey times for road, bus, and train services.
Commuters are being urged to plan for significant delays at the start of the week. The conditions also pose a safety risk, with injuries from slips and falls likely on untreated icy pavements, cycle paths, and roads.
In a separate alert, the forecaster issued a more severe amber warning for snow in parts of Scotland on Sunday morning, covering areas including Aberdeen, Aviemore, and Ullapool.
How to Stay Safe in the Wintry Conditions
Authorities are advising the public to take precautions to ensure their safety. Key advice includes:
- Plan your journey: Check for road closures and public transport delays before you travel, and allow extra time.
- Prepare your vehicle: If driving, ensure you have essentials like warm clothing, food, water, a torch, and an ice scraper.
- Drive with extreme care: If you must drive, use dipped headlights, accelerate gently, keep a safe distance from other vehicles, and use a low gear on hills.
- Take care on foot: Use main road pavements which are more likely to be gritted, and plan to leave home earlier to avoid rushing on slippery surfaces.
The public is reminded to stay updated with the latest local forecasts, as weather warnings can change rapidly. The following local authority areas are under the yellow warning:
East Midlands: Derbyshire.
North West England: Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool, Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Greater Manchester, Halton, Lancashire, Merseyside, Warrington.
South West England: Cornwall, Devon, North Somerset, Plymouth, Somerset, Torbay.
Wales: Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Pembrokeshire, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea, Torfaen, Vale of Glamorgan, Wrexham.
West Midlands: Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Telford and Wrekin, West Midlands Conurbation, Worcestershire.
