UK snow: amber warning for up to 40cm this weekend

A cold start to 2025

The new year has seen colder weather arrive across the UK, with Arctic air spreading southwards in recent days.

Daytime temperatures have been struggling to reach much above 6C, and overnight temperatures have fallen well below freezing.

Frost has been widespread and wintry showers in some areas have led to icy patches.

Snow and ice this weekend

With cold air in place and an area of low pressure sweeping in this weekend, it’s the perfect recipe for some wintry and disruptive weather to affect many areas for a time.

After a cold and bright start to Saturday, rain arrives from the southwest during the afternoon and evening. However, as it bumps into the cold air, it will widely turn to sleet and snow as it pushes northwards overnight into Sunday morning.

In a nutshell, snow will last longest the further north and the higher up you are, placing the hills and mountains of Wales and northern England in the firing line for the heaviest snowfall.

Whilst there is likely to be some sleet and snow across southern parts of the UK, it is likely to be temporary and turn back to rain later Saturday evening. There could even be some freezing rain for a time, which will increase the ice risk.

Amber weather warning

Given the forecast, it will come as no surprise that the Met Office has issued numerous yellow and amber weather warnings for snow and ice this weekend.

However, it’s within the amber warning areas, which cover a large swathe of England and Wales, where the most impactful weather will be.

Here, 3-7cm of snow could fall widely – even in towns and cities. Higher up in the hills and mountains, as much as 30-40cm is possible above 300 metres.

With the snow falling thick and fast, there is likely to be very poor visibility, and brisk winds will cause the snow to drift around.

Possible impacts

The wintry weather will cause some significant disruption to travel – especially over higher routes, where there is the possibility of vehicles becoming stranded.

There could be power cuts too, with the weight of snow and ice on power lines causing them to become damaged.

Over the higher areas that see 30-40cm of snow, some rural communities could even become cut off for a time.

How long will it last?

Mild air will temporarily spread across the southern half of the UK during Sunday, with temperatures as high as 13C – leading to a rapid thaw of any snow that falls on Saturday night.

However, from northern England northwards, the cold air is going to stay in place, meaning that the wintry hazards are set to persist.

The last of the sleet and snow should clear away from northern areas early on Monday, but the cold air then surges southwards again.

So, the outlook for next week is a cold one, with frost, ice and wintry showers, accompanied by temperatures that are below average for the time of year.