New year revellers told to wrap up warm with snow expected across UK | UK weather
Snowfall is expected across much of the UK in a cold start to the new year, forecasters said, while revelers were advised to end New Year’s Eve with temperatures near freezing.
Hogmanay celebrations in Edinburgh are expected to go ahead after being canceled last year due to high winds despite snow warnings in northern Scotland.
Elsewhere in the UK, the weather will be perfect for a fireworks display, with dry and clear skies, but temperatures will be cold, making extra layers a necessity, the Met Office said.
From Friday, weather warnings for snow are in place in Northern Ireland and extend from Wales to parts of the north-west, the West Midlands and London, and much of the south-east of England.
Transportation is expected to be affected; people are advised to allow extra time for journeys on the road, and delays and cancellations on public transport are expected.
Forecaster Simon Partridge said it would be “cold wherever you are” as 2026 kicks off.
He said: “At midnight in London it will be mostly clear skies, quite cool but with fairly light winds and temperatures will be around 1-2C. For Cardiff it will be dry again, there will be a bit more cloud around but still dry, light winds again, temperatures will be slightly warmer there, 2-3C.”
Partridge said skies will be cloudier further north, but that’s not expected to affect visibility when viewing fireworks. “We’re not looking at low clouds, fog or darkness, so you should be able to see the fireworks, not the stars.”
Wednesday morning got off to a cold start with fog lingering in the southwest, but that gave way to winter sunshine.
The national weather service said freezing fog was expected in western and north-western England throughout the day and advised early New Year’s Day travelers to exercise caution.
In a post on X, the Met Office said: “It’s a chilly New Year’s Eve evening for those celebrating outside, so extra layers will be needed.”
In London, where tens of thousands of partygoers will head to the banks of the Thames to watch the mayor’s annual fireworks display, temperatures will be just above freezing when Big Ben strikes midnight.
As we enter 2026, snow and strong winds are expected to hit the north of the country, while temperatures are expected to drop further.
By Friday morning, approximately 10 cm of snow is expected to accumulate in some areas, and up to 30 cm is expected on the highest roads and hills.
Meanwhile, yellow cold health warnings have been issued by the UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) for the north-east and north-west of England and are expected to remain in place until midday on 5 January, with temperatures expected to drop to 3-5C.
The UKHSA said this means weather conditions can cause significant impacts on health and social care services, including an increase in the number of deaths among people with underlying health conditions or those aged 65 and over.
