Overview
- Yellow warnings are in force for northern Scotland from 6am on 1–2 January, with separate warnings covering much of England and Wales from midnight to noon on 2 January and Northern Ireland from midnight to 10am the same day.
- Forecasters expect 1–5cm of snow in parts of England and Wales, 10–20cm above 200m in Scotland, and up to 30cm on the highest routes, with strong northerly winds causing drifting.
- The Met Office warns of longer journey times on roads, buses and trains and a heightened risk of slips and falls as icy patches form quickly after sleet and snow clear.
- UKHSA amber cold-health alerts are in place across large parts of England through 5–6 January, with officials advising checks on older and clinically vulnerable people.
- Separately, West Bengal in India is experiencing a short, colder spell with dense fog through 3 January and temperatures in Kolkata around 13–15°C, with local snowfall possible in Darjeeling.