A 280-mile-wide band of snow is due to sweep across the north of England and Scotland on New Year's Day, according to forecasters. The Met Office has released a new weather map, showing a massive swathe of snow approaching the UK by midday on January 1.
Greater Manchester faces sub-zero temperatures and up to 5cm of snow by midnight in the hardest-hit areas. The area of snow depicted on the Met Office map spans 280 miles from Kilbirnie in Scotland all the way down into Derbyshire.
Partygoers celebrating New Year's Eve have been advised to wrap up warmly, as temperatures are expected to plummet to -2C. Tom Morgan, Met Office meteorologist, said: "Not a lot changes through the rest of this week and indeed this weekend, but as we move towards the New Year, we could see a change to cooler conditions and wetter conditions more widely."
He added: "There could be some heavy rain at times and there is an increasing chance of some snow - but it's too early to say where that snow is going to fall." According to Met Office meteorologists, temperatures in the north of England and Midlands will hover around 4C, reports the Manchester Evening News.
A yellow weather warning remains in place for the Pennines on Monday and Tuesday, with further warnings likely as the time approaches. Tony Wisson, Met Office deputy chief meteorologist, stated, "Later in the week, wintry showers are likely to be a feature of the forecast as a cold northerly flow becomes established."
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for snow and rain in Scotland next week, cautioning that heavy downpours could cause "significant disruption" as the nation prepares for Hogmanay festivities.
The alert will encompass most of Scotland, excluding Orkney and Shetland, on December 30 and 31; between 50-70mm of rain could fall, with potential for up to 140mm in western regions. Areas north and east of Perthshire are expected to see snow, with 10-20cm set to settle on higher ground, the forecasters say.
A separate yellow weather warning for wind is flagged for northern England on Monday, where gusts could reach up to 60mph. This windy spell, scheduled from 11am to 6pm, might result in travel disruptions and power cuts across Durham, Northumberland, Cumbria, and North Yorkshire.
