A major winter blast is forecast to hit the UK in February, with snow depths potentially reaching 99cm in some areas. Wintry conditions are expected to extend as far south as London, impacting 73 cities and towns across the country.
UK Snow Forecast: February Winter Blast
Latest modelling from ECMWF, published by WXCHARTS, indicates significant snowfall across Scotland, with widespread lying snow expected across Britain as freezing air moves in from the north and east. Snow is predicted to spread across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, with temperatures low enough for accumulation in many urban areas.
Overnight temperatures near or below freezing increase the likelihood of rain turning to snow, even at lower elevations. Central and northern Scotland are expected to experience the heaviest snowfall, with deep accumulations on higher ground. However, the cold air will push south, bringing snow to northern England, the Midlands, and southern counties.
The South East, including parts of London, is also forecast to see snowfall as the cold air persists. Wales could experience several centimeters of settling snow in towns and cities, while Northern Ireland is expected to receive lighter, but still disruptive, snowfall in urban areas.
Forecasters predict the cold conditions could linger for several days, allowing snow to build up where it falls. Maps suggest much of the UK could be covered in lying snow during the peak of the cold snap.
The Met Office states that Atlantic weather systems will continue to move in from the west through early February, but may struggle to clear the UK due to the colder air positioned to the north and northeast. This could result in spells of rain and strong winds, particularly in the south and west, alongside wintry showers elsewhere.
A Met Office spokesperson said, “Cold air is likely to be positioned to the northeast, bringing wintry showers at times. Where fronts from the southwest reach the cold air towards the northeast, there is the risk of some snow, most likely across hills, but perhaps extending to lower areas at times.”
Affected Cities and Towns
England
London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield, Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford, Chester, Crewe, York, Hull, Middlesbrough, Darlington, Newcastle, Sunderland, Durham, Carlisle, Lancaster, Preston, Blackpool, Bolton, Wigan, Salford, Stockport, Oldham, Rochdale, Burnley, Bradford, Huddersfield, Wakefield, Halifax, Barnsley, Rotherham, Doncaster, Scunthorpe
Wales
Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, Merthyr Tydfil, Pontypridd, Aberdare, Bridgend, Neath, Llanelli, Caerphilly
Scotland
Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen, Inverness, Perth, Stirling, Fort William, Aviemore, Oban, Elgin, Forfar, Dumfries, Paisley, Livingston
Northern Ireland
Belfast, Derry / Londonderry, Lisburn, Newtownabbey, Bangor, Craigavon, Antrim
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