Met Office Snow Alert: Full List of 14 UK Regions to Be Hit by Monday

As the new year unfolds, Britain faces one of its most treacherous weather events yet. The Met Office has issued a stark warning: snow and ice will ravage 14 UK regions by Monday, with some areas expecting up to 40 centimetres of snow at higher elevations.

Arctic air is sweeping down from the north, bringing sub-zero temperatures, whiteout conditions and the risk of stranded vehicles, severed power lines and isolated communities.

Six yellow weather warnings for snow and ice are already in place, stretching into Monday, while amber alerts — the second-highest warning level — blanket northern Scotland and Shetland throughout Saturday. Met Office chief meteorologist Rebekah Hicks painted a bleak picture: 'Arctic air and brisk northerly winds are gripping the UK as we start the new year. Bitterly cold conditions will persist through the weekend and into next week, with daytime temperatures struggling to rise above freezing for some, and overnight lows dipping to minus double figures in places'.

Parts of northern Scotland have already experienced widespread disruption to roads and railways. The Met Office warns of 10–20 centimetres of snow at lower altitudes, escalating to a treacherous 30–40 centimetres on higher ground, with winds powerful enough to trigger blizzards. The danger is compounded by icy surfaces, slippery roads and the potential for communities to become cut off entirely.​

14 UK Regions Face Perilous Winter Conditions

The regional breakdown is comprehensive and alarming. Northern Ireland faces yellow warnings from midday Saturday through midday Monday, affecting County Antrim, Armagh, Down, Londonderry and Tyrone. Scotland bears the brunt, with amber alerts across Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Highland, Shetland and Orkney — areas expecting the heaviest snow loads and most severe disruption.​

England's impact extends across the North East (Durham, Gateshead, Hartlepool, Newcastle, Sunderland), North West (Greater Manchester, Cheshire), East Midlands (Derbyshire, Lincolnshire) and Yorkshire & the Humber. Wales sees warnings across Swansea, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Powys and Pembrokeshire. Even the South West — typically milder — faces alerts in Cornwall, Devon and Somerset.​

The phased timeline compounds the danger. Yellow warnings expire at varying times throughout Saturday and Sunday, but new alerts activate Sunday afternoon, remaining in place until Monday midday. This rolling pattern means Britons cannot simply 'wait out' the weather; conditions will remain treacherous throughout the entire period.​

Arctic Freeze Threatens Vulnerable Populations Across England

Beyond road chaos and travel disruption, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued amber cold health alerts across nine English regions, remaining active until 10 a.m. on Jan. 9. These warnings signal severe impacts on health and social care services, with officials expecting an increase in deaths, particularly amongst those aged 65 and over or with pre-existing conditions.​

Daytime temperatures on Saturday will languish in low single figures for most of Britain, dropping to sub-zero across northern Scotland. Overnight lows could plummet to minus double figures in exposed locations. For elderly residents, disabled individuals and those with chronic illnesses, such conditions pose genuine mortality risk.​

The Met Office has urged people to 'stay #WeatherAware, keep up to date with the forecasts and plan ahead'. For Britons living in the 14 affected regions, the weekend ahead demands serious preparation: stock supplies, charge devices, ensure heating systems function and avoid unnecessary travel.

The Arctic beast has arrived, and Britain must brace for impact.