New weather charts have outlined which parts of England could face up to 12 hours of snowfall, with several regions at risk of disruptive winter conditions early next month. Forecast maps published by WXCharts indicate that snow could fall across as many as six English counties, with accumulations of up to five centimetres in some areas. Greater Manchester, Lancashire and parts of West and North Yorkshire are among those most exposed, alongside Cumbria, Northumberland and Durham.
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According to the projections, snowfall is expected to begin at around 6am on Monday 5 January and persist for more than half a day. Data used by WXCharts, based on Met Desk modelling, suggests higher ground such as the Peak District and the Yorkshire Dales could see the greatest build-up.
Temperatures are forecast to plunge across much of the UK during the same period. Scotland could see overnight lows as cold as –9°C, while parts of Yorkshire and the North West of England may drop to around –4°C. North Wales is expected to experience similar conditions, with temperatures in Cardiff and Swansea hovering closer to –1°C.
The cold snap may not be confined to the north. Forecasts suggest the Midlands and southern England could also be affected, with the potential for snow reaching as far south as Devon, Cornwall and even Greater London. Despite this, the most severe conditions are expected further north. Areas including Ross and Cromarty and Invernessshire could be hit hardest, with some maps indicating that up to 26 centimetres of snow could fall within a single day.
Looking ahead, the BBC forecasts that high pressure will dominate into early January, bringing largely dry weather but continued cold conditions. Frosts are expected to remain widespread, with winds likely turning northerly or north-westerly as the high pressure shifts towards Iceland or the eastern North Atlantic.
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The following weekend remains uncertain, with forecasters warning of a possible transition to more unsettled weather. Northern regions, particularly Scotland and Northern Ireland, could see rain or wintry showers, especially over higher ground, while temperatures are expected to stay close to or slightly below seasonal averages.
