A potential second snow blizzard is looming over major cities in the UK, including London, in the upcoming week as indicated by updated weather maps. The latest data suggests a strong snow band is expected to move across the country starting from the early hours of January 9, with wintry conditions anticipated as early as 6 am. A region may witness up to fifteen inches of snow, while London could experience slightly over two inches.
This forecast comes in conjunction with existing snow and ice warnings issued by the Met Office for this week covering England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland until Sunday. The new maps illustrate the initial wave of snow showers affecting cities like London, Bristol, Southampton, Plymouth, and Swansea in the south-east and south-west, while snowfall is predicted to spread across the Midlands, Wales, and Scotland, setting the stage for a widespread wintry morning.
Areas such as Shropshire, Wolverhampton, Liverpool, Glasgow, and the Scottish Highlands are also expected to encounter snowfall, with the snow band peaking during the morning rush hour before diminishing and moving eastwards by midday. Snow coverage projections for January 10 indicate a substantial portion of the UK, potentially more than half, could witness snow next week, encompassing Scotland, vast areas of the North East, and a significant portion of southern England and Wales.
Cities at risk include Newcastle, Leeds, Middlesbrough, Bradford, Manchester, London, Oxford, Luton, Reading, Bath, Portsmouth, Southampton, Bristol, and Plymouth. In Wales, Swansea, Cardiff, Newport, and possibly Belfast might witness light snow showers. Snow depth predictions vary by region, with around 5cm (two inches) expected in the London vicinity, 6cm (slightly over two inches) between Bristol and Southampton, and up to 8cm (around three inches) in parts of Somerset, particularly the Taunton area.
Scotland is set to experience the most significant snow accumulations, with the Highlands potentially receiving up to 39cm (around 15 inches) of snow. Aberdeen is likely to see around 34cm (13 inches) of snow, while lighter snowfall is anticipated in cities like Glasgow. The Met Office forecasts the possibility of further snowfall in central and eastern UK regions next week, with lighter snow probable in the south and west. The long-range outlook from January 6 to January 15 suggests a gradual easing of the recent cold spell, with potential intermittent snow showers, predominantly in the north and east, while central and eastern areas may experience further snowfall amidst milder conditions in the south and west.