The Met Office Issues Snow Warning for London as Arctic Air Brings Wintry across much of England and Wales including London, with up to 5cm of snow expected on higher ground amid freezing temperatures plunging to -3C, prompting health alerts and travel disruption warnings as the UK faces a prolonged cold spell into the first week of January.
The Met Office issued a yellow warning for snow and ice covering London, Kent, Chester and Greater Manchester from midnight to noon on Friday January 2, as Arctic air sweeps across the UK bringing sub-zero temperatures and potential snow accumulations of up to 5cm in parts of North Wales and north-west England.
Yellow Warnings Expand Across England and Wales
A yellow warning for snow and ice took effect from midnight on January 2 until noon, encompassing a large area from London and Kent in the south-east to Chester and Greater Manchester in the north-west, according to the Evening Standard. Areas on higher ground in North Wales and north-west England could see snow blanketing up to 5cm deep, with the Met Office warning of injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces developing quickly as sleet and snow clears. Separate yellow warnings cover Northern Ireland from midnight to 10am on January 2 and northern Scotland from 6am on New Year’s Day until the end of Friday, as reported by Hello Rayo.
As reported by Chris Maskery for Hello Rayo, many parts of the UK can expect freezing temperatures and widespread snowfall throughout the beginning of 2026 as Arctic air sweeps across the nation.
Health Alerts Issued Amid Freezing Conditions
The UK Health Security Agency has issued yellow cold health alerts for London and the East, South East, South West of England, East and West Midlands, and Yorkshire and the Humber, according to the Evening Standard. Amber health alerts are in place for the North East and North West of England from 8pm on December 31 until 10am on January 6, with the agency warning of potential significant impacts on health and social care services and a rise in deaths among those aged 65 or over or with health conditions, as stated by Hello Rayo.
Temperatures Plunge Below Freezing Nationwide
Temperatures in London are forecast to drop to -1C on New Year’s Eve, -2C on January 2 and 3, and -3C on January 4, with light snow possible on January 5 as many return to work, according to BBC Weather via the Evening Standard. Mark Sidaway, Deputy Chief Forecaster at the Met Office, said according to Hello Rayo: “Arctic air and strong northerly winds will bring cold or very cold conditions to all parts of the UK, and it will feel especially cold in the strong winds. Widespread and locally severe frosts are expected, along with the first snow of the winter for many.”
Travel Disruptions and Cold Spell Forecast
The Met Office has warned of travel disruptions from frequent and heavy snow showers, particularly in northern Scotland where a yellow warning notes potential issues, with conditions expected to develop more widely into the New Year and persist through at least the first week of January. A Met Office spokeswoman told London Loves Business: “This warning highlights the risk of disruptive snow showers and icy surfaces, particularly in northern and eastern areas, with impacts on travel and potential hazards for the public.” The cold snap coincides with a 0.2% increase to Ofgem’s energy price cap effective from New Year’s Day, adding about 28p a month to average household bills in England, Wales and Scotland on standard variable tariffs, as reported by the Evening Standard.
Yellow warnings for snow and ice remain active across multiple UK regions into early January, with health agencies urging vigilance against cold-related risks and the Met Office advising the public to monitor forecasts amid ongoing Arctic influences.
