Britain is bracing for a 96-hour spell of snow and icy conditions to kick off the new year, as per the most recent weather predictions. Updated weather maps from WX Charts indicate a snow front moving in from the East, with the Met Office cautioning about wintry risks in the initial weeks of January.
The maps demonstrate snow showers hitting Scotland and England’s North East coast starting at midnight on Saturday, January 3, followed by intermittent wintry precipitation lasting until the following Wednesday. This shift in weather follows a significant drop in temperatures post-Christmas, expected to persist into the New Year, diverging from the predominantly mild December experienced in many regions.
According to the Met Office’s extended forecast spanning Wednesday, December 31 to Friday, January 9, a cold air mass over the British Isles will usher in wintry conditions, with temperatures anticipated to dip below seasonal norms. WX Charts data reveals that cities like Newcastle, Leeds, and Norwich are likely to witness snowfall on Saturday, January 3, with the most intense flurries anticipated across the North East, potentially reaching 20mm per hour.
The snowfall is projected to endure into the subsequent week, with the Midlands poised to face the brunt of the wintry outburst. WX Charts’ data indicates up to 20mm of snowfall per hour across the region by 6pm on Monday, January 5. Snowy conditions are expected to linger into Tuesday, with flurries anticipated across eastern England.
Forecasts show precipitation rates of up to 20mm per hour hitting Colchester and Ipswich by noon on Tuesday, January 6. The Met Office’s forecast for this period warns of “low pressure to the east” alongside systems of low pressure moving over the North Sea, potentially bringing wintry conditions to Britain. It mentions, “Temperatures will probably be below average for this period overall and so wintry hazards remain a possibility in places.”
Looking forward from Saturday, January 10 to Saturday, January 24, the Met Office highlights an “enhanced risk of wintry hazards affecting some parts,” though temperatures are expected to rise above average. The forecast elaborates that temperatures are likely to slightly recover to near or slightly below average during this period, with persistent risks of wintry conditions in some regions. Later on, a transition to more variable or unsettled conditions is probable, accompanied by temperatures nearing or slightly exceeding average levels.