Weather maps have captured what appears to be a significant system heading towards the UK later this month that could tip out up to a foot of snow. Snowy and icy precipitation is expected to descend in patches next week, with some potential wintry showers likely to arrive over southern England by January 17.
While many Britons waking up to minus temperatures across the country may hope the latest forecast will prove short-lived, new weather charts suggest the cold will endure for up to another week.
A system orbiting Norway appears set to travel over the North Sea, and charts show it arriving in the UK by late January.
The intense weather could see some areas coated in more than a foot of snow as the country heads into what is traditionally one of the coldest months of the year.
Maps from WXCharts provisionally show that, on January 24, precipitation will envelop parts of northern England and Scotland already coated in snow.
Flurries appear set to arrive from the east during the early morning, between 12am and 6am, and gather full steam by the afternoon.
Totals could reach highs of 38cm (1.24 feet) over high ground in Scotland by 12pm and 25cm (10 inches) in northeast England around the North Pennines and Yorkshire Dales.
The forecast is far from set in stone, as additional modelling from Ventusky and the European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) differs slightly.
Ventusky’s maps show snowfall in the same areas but to a lesser extent, with totals only reaching between 1cm and 5cm in Newcastle and a maximum of 15cm in Scotland.
ECMWF mapping shows developing chances of rain and snow anomalies across England but with a lower significance level for the UK.
The Met Office long-range forecast for January 24 and the first week of February presents only a general theme for the period and predicts “generally reduced” precipitation.
The forecast states: “Through this period, the greatest likelihood is that high pressure will remain the more dominant influence on the weather, most likely centred somewhere to the northwest of the UK, with winds from the north or north-east perhaps more frequent than usual, with generally reduced amounts of precipitation.
“There is an increased chance, compared to normal, of cold conditions along with the associated impacts from low temperatures.
“Even within a predominantly more settled pattern, there is a still a chance that frontal systems could move in from the west or southwest at times, which while they would likely bring an interlude of slightly milder, more unsettled weather, for a time, this would also introduce a risk of snow and ice where it meets the colder air in place across the UK.”
Today:
Dry across most southern and some western areas with plenty of sunshine, though a cold breeze still blowing. Northern England, central and northern Wales, along with central and eastern Scotland and Northern Ireland, will be cloudier with patchy drizzle.
Tonight:
Largely dry with clear periods and a frost across southern England, parts of south Wales and the west of Scotland. Cloudier skies elsewhere giving the odd spot of drizzle.
Thursday:
Sunshine across the south of England becoming increasingly confined towards the southwest. Some sunny spells across western Scotland and at times Northern Ireland too. Otherwise rather cloudy with some drizzle.
Outlook for Friday to Sunday:
Mainly cloudy on Friday with patchy light rain or drizzle. Brighter, but colder and windier weather slowly spreading from the north during the weekend, with some snow showers in places.
