Maps show where heavy snow could hit UK in coming days, with weather warnings issued

Parts of the UK could see heavy snow in the coming week thanks to arctic airmass spreading over the UK which has prompted yellow weather warnings for snow and ice for Scotland on Sunday and Monday.

Deputy chief meteorologist David Hayter said a northerly airflow will bring arctic air to the UK from Sunday, with snow showers focused around Northern Ireland and northern areas of Scotland. He said there is an "ongoing likelihood" of some disruptive snow.

Hayter said the snow would initially hit in coastal areas in the north before moving to the southwest as the cool air bumps into milder air, adding: "It’s where these airmasses meet that there’s a likelihood of some substantial snow for some places. At the moment, models are showing us a variety of options for exactly when and how this situation plays out and it’s something we’ll be able to add more details to in the coming days."

A cold weather alert is in place from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), which also warned that it could be escalated to an amber alert for some regions on Sunday. An amber alert means that weather impacts are likely to be felt across the whole health service.

The Met Office issued yellow weather warnings for snow and ice for Scotland, saying snow showers are likely to cause some travel disruption and icy surfaces. It said people should expect some roads and railways to be affected with longer journey times by road, bus and train services, as well as some icy patches on some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths and the potential for injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces.

Senior meteorologist at BBC Wales Derek Brockway said on X: "There's a risk of a spell of heavy rain and heavy snow next Wednesday as low pressure moves in from the Atlantic." However, he added: "Predicting snow in the UK is tricky and never trust a snow forecast more than three days ahead."

RAC Breakdown said travel plans could be affected, with drivers advised to be prepared in the event of a breakdown during the cold weather.

It comes after the UK Health Security Agency issued a cold weather alert covering the East and West Midlands, the North West of England, the South East and the South West, running from Tuesday to Friday.

The cold weather can increase the risks of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections and can have a serious health impact for older people and those with pre-existing health conditions. There is also a yellow cold health alert in place for the North East of England, Yorkshire and The Humber, East of England, and London.

Dr Agostinho Sousa, from the UKHSA, said: "The temperatures we will see leading into the weekend can rapidly have a serious impact on the health of those over the age of 65 and those with pre-existing health conditions as it increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections."

The UKHSA said on its site: "This alert may be escalated to AMBER for some regions on Sunday, 14 January 2023. Please note that the Met Office may issue National Severe Weather Warnings (eg snow and ice) with short notice that you need to be aware of, so you can take appropriate action to prepare for."

The Met Office has released projections of where it thinks snow could hit in the coming days.

Sunday 6pm

Monday 6pm

Tuesday 6am

Wednesday 3am

Below, Yahoo breaks down what the weather will be like for each region of the UK.

Scotland

• Friday to Saturday

Heavy rain predicted to hit the north west tip of the country on Friday evening developing into hail in some areas as it heads south over Friday night. Temperatures to remain above freezing.

• Sunday to Tuesday

Temperatures to start dipping below freezing and could hit as low as -3C in some areas. Heavy snow and rain predicted to be nearly constant in much of the highlands throughout the start of the week but there are expected to be clearer skies over Glasgow and Edinburgh. Yellow weather warnings for snow and ice in place for Sunday and Monday.

London and the South-East

• Friday to Saturday

Dry and cloudy weather but cold over much of the region with temperatures hovering around freezing.

• Sunday to Tuesday

Temperatures dipping into the minuses as the week begins and rain creeping in around the capital on Sunday evening. Heavy hail and snow predicted off the coast but not expected to hit the region until later in the week.

South-West

• Friday to Saturday

Temperatures of around 3-5C during the day dipping to freezing after dark with clouds expected throughout and some smaller showers.

• Sunday to Tuesday

Signficiant amounts of rain coming in from the east predicted on Sunday with it developing to hail in north Cornwall in the evening. The hail and rain will spread across the region over Monday and Tuesday with temperatures staying between 0-5C.

Midlands

• Friday to Saturday

Temperatures around 2-5C and dry and cloudy until showers sweep across the region on Saturday evening.

• Sunday to Tuesday

Temperatures getting colder and going as low as -2C with clouds covering the sky for most of the start of the week. Showers predicted across much of the region until Monday evening when a blanket of heavy snow is expected to land just north of Birmingham.

North-East

• Friday to Saturday

Mostly dry and cloudy for much of the end of the week with light showers predicted in some regions and hail predicted north of Newcastle on Saturday morning. Temperatures expected to hover between 2-5C.

• Sunday to Tuesday

Temperatures getting much cooler going as low as -3C with clearer skies than much of the rest of the UK predicted. Much of the snow will hit just south of the region with the possibility of spreading northwards later on Tuesday.

North-West

• Friday to Saturday

Cloudy with showers across much of the region on Friday before more widespread rain settles in on Saturday evening. Temperatures staying above freezing with the chance of hitting 7C around Liverpool.

• Sunday to Tuesday

Rain with a chance of snow near Kendal on Sunday morning but much of the rest of the region spared snow until Monday evening. Heavy snow, rain and hail expected to blanket the region from 6pm on Monday lasting through the night until the early hours of Tuesday. The heaviest snowfall in the country is expected south of Preston on Tuesday morning. Temperatures to remain around freezing.

Northern Ireland

• Friday to Saturday

Rain is predicted across the south of the country on Friday and Saturday with clearer skies expected in Belfast. Temperatures to remain around 5C.

• Sunday to Tuesday

Temperatures to head towards freezing as the week begins with some subzero temperatures predicted in the evenings. Rain and hail predicted across much of the country on Sunday and Monday day time with it developing into snow as Monday progresses. By the end of Monday, heavy snow is predicted across most of the country.

Wales

• Friday to Saturday

Light showers across much of the country on Friday and Saturday with more widespread rain settling in across the north by Saturday evening. Temperatures to stay around 5C in the north with cooler temperatures closer to freezing in the south.

• Sunday to Tuesday

Temperatures expected to hit freezing across all of Wales at the start of the week with sporadic showers turning into hail as time goes on.

Snow predicted around Snowdonia, Cardigan and Wrexham on Monday evening with large blankers of hail hitting the north of the country on Tuesday morning.