A 12-hour blizzard is forecasted to bring substantial snowfall later this month during an Arctic blast with temperatures dropping to -8C. Following a chilly start to January, Storm Goretti’s arrival signals more wintry weather ahead for Brits. Weather maps indicate that low-pressure systems moving in from the Atlantic will collide with cold Arctic air, resulting in snowfall.
On January 30, a low-pressure system is expected to approach from the southwest around 6 pm, bringing a band of snow that will intensify over Wales and the West Midlands initially, with heavy rain likely along the south coast. Subsequently, the low-pressure system will move across central regions while high pressure settles in the north, causing temperatures to plummet to -8C.
The Midlands is anticipated to experience the heaviest snowfall, spreading to London by midnight, alongside snow flurries in Scotland. By 6 am on January 31, the south-east of England is projected to bear the brunt of the storm’s 12-hour snowfall, as the low-pressure system tracks eastward.
The Met Office forecasts a gradual cooling trend from January 25 to February 3, with weather systems attempting to advance from the Atlantic but encountering resistance from high pressure to the north and northeast. This scenario may bring bouts of heavy rain or showers, particularly in southern and western regions, while colder conditions could trigger snow showers, mainly in Scottish and northern English hills.
As February commences, the cold weather pattern is expected to persist, warning of wintry hazards. From February 4-18, a similar pattern is predicted with Atlantic weather systems pushing eastward intermittently. The jet stream’s southern position may lead to wetter conditions in central and southern areas, contrasting with drier conditions likely in the north and northwest. Mild, wet, and windy weather may affect the south and west, while colder conditions in the north and northeast could pose wintry risks, particularly on hills.