Snow map shows 792-mile blizzard to cover entire country | Weather | News
The start of 2026 looks set to be incredibly cold as a severe snowstorm ravages the country in a matter of days. Snow will cover almost the entire country, stretching for 492 miles from Plymouth to Kirkwell.
As Brits look forward to ringing in the new year, millions will want to make sure they have their snow boots and hats ready, as the latest cold snap is set to be brutal. WXCHARTS weather maps are turning purple and white, indicating snow is approaching. Arctic air looks set to blanket the country starting at midnight on Wednesday, January 8, for a period that could last more than 72 hours.
Weather maps show Wales will see the brunt of the snow, with the whole country engulfed in blizzards. Snow depths in mid Wales could reach 3cm, while south and north Wales will see 1mm of snow per hour.
Elsewhere, the interior, northern England and all of Scotland will be covered in snow.
By 6am Brits in the South East, South West and East Midlands were able to draw their curtains and reveal the snow. While it is predicted to snow in London, approximately 2 cm of snow is expected to fall in these regions.
Meanwhile, 2cm of snow per hour is forecast to fall on key cities in the North East, including Newcastle and Sunderland.
The whole of northern England, Wales and the rest of Scotland will be covered in snow, with depths expected to reach 3cm.
And the snow will continue to thicken as we race towards noon on January 9th, with the forecast that Plymouth will see snow.
The only areas that will be spared the grisly snow will be areas along the south coast, such as Bournemouth and Brighton.
Weather maps predict that the massive snow band will continue into the weekend, with almost the entire country covered in snow once again, and it could fall for as long as 72 hours.
Separately, in its long-range forecast for this period, the Met Office says: “Cold northerly winds, initially across Scotland, are expected to prevail across the whole of the UK in the first week of January. These will bring showers (mostly snow) to many coastlines (and areas immediately inland) exposed to onshore winds.”
“More consistent rain, sleet and snow bands are likely to occur in the south, bringing the risk of longer-lasting wintry precipitation affecting some inland areas.”
