Overview
- The Met Office outlook for January 2–11 points to dominant northerly winds bringing wintry showers, often of snow, to coasts exposed to onshore flow and nearby inland areas, with many central and southern inland locations staying dry but cold.
- BBC Weather expects most precipitation to fall as rain at lower levels, with any significant snowfall most likely on higher ground, particularly across the Highlands.
- Privately produced model maps from WX Charts using ECMWF and GFS data depict more extreme scenarios for January 7–9 in some runs, including near‑countrywide coverage and local totals reaching roughly 44–47 cm, though outcomes vary widely.
- The UK Health Security Agency has issued amber cold-health alerts for north-east and north-west England and warned of increased risks for older people and those with cardiovascular or respiratory conditions.
- Forecasters emphasise high uncertainty, noting possible bands of rain, sleet and snow moving south and a chance of slightly milder conditions later in the period, with no broad Met Office weather warnings in place at the time of reporting.