Overview
- Yellow warnings are active for northern Scotland from 6 a.m. Jan. 1 through late Jan. 2, with additional yellow warnings for Northern Ireland from midnight to 10 a.m. Jan. 2 and for much of England and Wales from midnight to noon Jan. 2.
- Forecasters expect 1–5 cm of snow for many with locally 10 cm, rising to 10–20 cm above 200 m and 30 cm or more on the highest routes, with strong northerly winds causing drifting in northern Scotland.
- Travel disruption is likely with longer journey times and icy surfaces increasing the risk of slips and falls, and forecasters flag gale-force gusts in the far north and large waves along exposed eastern coasts.
- The UK Health Security Agency has issued amber cold health alerts across all English regions into the morning of Jan. 6, warning of heightened risks to older people and those with health conditions and added pressure on health and social care.
- Separate forecasts note light snow and dangerous wind chills across parts of the US Northern Tier around New Year’s, while West Bengal faces below-normal temperatures and dense fog expected to persist through Jan. 3 with possible snow in Darjeeling.