Met Office forecasters have weighed in on the possibility of snow developing in the first fortnight of 2024. Weather maps have suggested Britons should gear up for a brisk January, with temperatures expected to dwindle in the low single figures, between 0C and 5C, following a mild Christmas.
The maps also appear to predict incoming rain and even snow, especially over high ground in northern England and Scotland, with one system appearing to fracture in two – and spill snowfall across the home nations by mid-January.
The Met Office has joined other agencies, including the government’s UK Health Security Agency, in predicting the impact of any incoming snow.
They say it is low in comparison to a higher chance of ice and frost having a detrimental impact on vulnerable people in society. It’s the plunging temperatures that could force the UKHSA to issue a cold weather alert in the coming days.
The joint forecast, issued in advance of a two week period by both agencies, details the weather pattern for early to mid-January, based on current data and map information.
Met Office and UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) forecasts state that unsettled weather will continue over the next five days, with temperatures average but starting to give way to “below average” lows across the north.
This correlates with the long-range forecast from the Met Office website, which earmarks this coming weekend as a time when thermometers may start to dip.
The cold, it says, will start to seep in on Friday, January 5, bringing some “limited wintry precipitation” over the northern hills. The conditions are unlikely to require authorities to raise any alerts for Britons, but the following few days could see that change.
Forecasters have said the “incursion” of weather systems in the next six to 15 days could raise the chances of snowfall at lower levels.
The forecast for the coming two weeks states that the developing weather could breach the UKHSA and Met Office impact thresholds.
It states: “Through the period high pressure is likely to become established close to or across the UK, bringing predominantly drier conditions and an increased likelihood of below average temperatures, frost, and ice.
“This leads to an increased chance of the impact thresholds being reached. Any incursions of weather systems into this airmass would lead to a greater chance of snowfall to low levels.”
The more distant forecast is less accurate, however, meaning the predicted conditions are subject to change over the next two weeks.
In its long-range forecast, the Met Office discusses weather “themes” and the “chances” of certain conditions rather than offering a decisive outlook for the UK.
Between January 6 and 15, the chances of sleet and snow increase, and the general theme is likely to be “settled” beyond then. This could give way to a cold easterly blast which is currently being depicted by long-range maps.
Currently, January 17 looks set to mark a turning point as to when a sub-zero blast from the east could shroud the UK in below freezing temperatures.
But more on this will come to light as time passes.
