The Met Office says Brits should expect “a prolonged spell of very cold weather for the start of 2026”, and it has issued several weather warnings for snow and ice
05:00, 03 Jan 2026Updated 05:02, 03 Jan 2026
The Met Office has mapped out its weather warnings
More snow is expected across parts of the UK today as temperatures will struggle to exceed freezing.
The Met Office is so concerned about the cold snap it has seven weather warnings still in place today, including an amber alert for the accumulation of up to 20 inches of snow in parts of Scotland.
Annie Shuttleworth, meteorologist with the Met Office, said last night: “We’ve got Arctic maritime air moving in from the north, bringing a bitterly cold feel, and some frequent snow showers to northern areas.
“This feature across more eastern areas will bring a risk of snow to northeastern areas of England. By the end of the weekend, we could see up to 50 cm accumulating over the highest ground. There’s an added risk of strong winds that brings a risk of blizzards and snow drifting.”
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Some roads have been gritted in anticipation for snow(Image: PA)
The coldest place in the UK on Friday was Drumnadrochit, Scottish Highlands, where -5.7C was recorded by the Met Office. Similar temperatures are expected today, but these will be more widespread across the UK.
The weather warnings concern snow and ice but it will be windy today too, especially along the North Sea coast in Tyne and Wear and County Durham. Travel disruption, notably in the Northeast of England, is expected, forecasters warn.
Bitter temperatures will plunge further during Saturday night. Ms Shuttleworth continued: “We could see some ice developing where we do see any of those snow showers throughout the course of Saturday, as it is going to be another widely very cold night on Saturday night, once again down into those minus single figures.
“We could be down as low as -8C across anywhere where we do have any lying snow, particularly across northern areas. So a very very cold feel to come on Sunday.”
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It snowed as far south as Surrey on FridayList of Saturday’s weather warnings in fullAmber warning for snow until midday
Orkney & Shetland
Central, Tayside & Fife
Grampian
AberdeenAberdeenshireMoray
Highlands & Eilean Siar
Yellow warning for snow and ice until midday
Central, Tayside & Fife
AngusDundeePerth and KinrossStirling
Grampian
AberdeenAberdeenshireMoray
Highlands & Eilean Siar
Na h-Eileanan SiarHighland
Orkney & Shetland
Orkney IslandsShetland Islands
Strathclyde
Argyll and ButeInverclydeWest Dunbartonshire
Children, like these in the Scottish Highlands, have been able to enjoy the wintry weather(Image: PA)Yellow warning for snow and ice until Sunday
East Midlands
East of England
North East England
DurhamGatesheadHartlepoolMiddlesbroughNewcastle upon TyneNorth TynesideNorthumberlandRedcar and ClevelandSouth TynesideStockton-on-TeesSunderland
Yorkshire & Humber
East Riding of YorkshireNorth East LincolnshireNorth YorkshireYellow warning for snow and ice until 10.00am
Wales
BridgendCardiffCarmarthenshireCeredigionConwyDenbighshireGwyneddIsle of AngleseyMerthyr TydfilNeath Port TalbotPembrokeshirePowysRhondda Cynon TafSwanseaVale of GlamorganWrexhamYellow warning for ice until 10.00am
South West England
CornwallDevonPlymouthSomersetYellow warning for snow and ice until midday
Northern Ireland
County AntrimCounty ArmaghCounty DownCounty FermanaghCounty LondonderryCounty TyroneSeparate yellow warning for snow and ice from midday Saturday until midday on Monday
Northern Ireland
County AntrimCounty ArmaghCounty DownCounty LondonderryCounty Tyrone