Millions of individuals in the UK are preparing for a significant snowfall of up to 30cm as forecasters from the Met Office raise concerns about potential power outages and transport disruptions amid widespread weather alerts.
The icy conditions are expected to persist into the beginning of 2026, with temperatures dropping below freezing and struggling to reach 5C in the upcoming week. A cold front from the Arctic Ocean is currently moving across the Atlantic, set to bring heavy snowfall, sleet, and harsh blizzards.
The cold snap is set to sweep across the entire UK in the next few days, prompting the Met Office to issue warnings for 12 regions covering the country’s length. Multiple amber and yellow warnings for snow and ice are in effect from midnight on Monday until 11 am on Tuesday for various areas in Scotland, England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Meteorologist Matthew Lehnert from the Met Office cautioned, “As we enter the first full workweek of the year, we are facing a mix of winter weather risks with snow showers and icy conditions. In northern Scotland, snow showers are expected to increase in frequency on Sunday night, with accumulations of 20-30 cm likely in some areas under the Amber warning zones by Monday morning.”
Elsewhere in the UK, intermittent snow showers, ice, and frost are anticipated, although a milder air mass is predicted to move eastward from Tuesday. This shift may result in rain in southern regions, alongside the potential for organized snow along the boundary of warm and cold air masses. Strong winds could also be a factor later in the week.
The freezing temperatures are likely to cause delays and cancellations across various parts of the UK, with rural communities at risk of power outages. The Met Office estimates snowfall between 5-10cm in many regions and up to 30cm in mainland Scotland.
Additionally, strong winds are forecasted to bring blizzard-like conditions, with temperatures expected to drop to -1C in central and eastern Scotland on Monday. Temperatures will hover around 0C in Northern Ireland and range from -1C to 2C in Wales, the South West, and the South East.
Residents in Manchester and surrounding areas will wake up to frigid temperatures of -4C, with similar conditions expected on Tuesday morning in Scotland and Northern Ireland, ranging from -1C to 1C.
Manchester residents will face chilly weather of -3C on another morning, while most areas in Wales, the South West, and the South East are likely to experience temperatures around -2C.
