Parts of the UK are being braced for snow on the first day of the new year. Heavy snow is expected across parts of Scotland and northern England on New Year’s Day. Coupled with strong winds, it could bring ‘blizzard’ conditions sparking travel chaos on the first day of 2025.
The heaviest snowfall will be in the north of England. Weather stations in Cumbria, County Down, Merseyside, Northumbria and Sunderland are forecasting severe snow on January 1. Meanwhile, stations in areas such as Anglesey, Glasgow, Dumfries and Rhyl are forecast to receive heavy snow.
But with heavy rain also forecast in many areas, there is less chance of the snow ‘sticking’. The snow will spread down the country on January 2, with light snow forecast as far south as Sussex and Cornwall, forecasts suggest.
READ MORE: ‘Danger to life’ warnings as 70mph winds and wall of rain to batter Britain on New Year’s Eve
Don’t miss the biggest and breaking stories by signing up to the BirminghamLive newsletter here
Senior Met Office forecaster Craig Snell said: “The main bit of advice from the Met Office over the coming days is, with the celebrations and people on the move throughout the new year and Hogmanay period, is the keep checking the forecast and to stay up to date with that.”
Those with travel plans should allow extra time for journeys and keep updated with flood alerts and warnings, Mr Snell said. “With the multiple hazards going on across the UK, I think we can probably expect some travel delays right across the UK,” he added.
Almost every part of the country is covered by at least one of the multiple weather warnings that have been issued by the Met Office between Monday and Thursday. In Scotland up to 20cm of snow may blanket areas of higher ground while strong winds have the potential to “exacerbate impacts”, creating “blizzard conditions” which could freeze powerlines.
The new year will be off to a turbulent start with separate weather warnings in place for snow, wind and rain on January 1. Up to 25cm of snow could fall in the worst affected areas, including Central Tayside and Fife, the East Midlands, northern England and the Lothian borders.
Very strong winds of up to 60mph are forecast across the whole of England and Wales all day Wednesday and into Thursday morning, with gusts of 75mph likely around coastal areas and hills, according to the Met Office.