Met Office: Cold start to 2026 with wintry weather on the way
The Met Office has warned of a colder, wintry spell developing across the UK as the country moves into the New Year, with snow and ice warnings already in place for northern areas.
High pressure will continue to dominate early this week, bringing settled but chilly conditions and widespread overnight frost, particularly across northern parts of the country.
Tomorrow (Tuesday) will remain mostly dry with some sunshine, though isolated showers are expected in eastern coastal counties. Cloud and strengthening winds will spread into northern Scotland later in the day.
Conditions are expected to stay largely settled for most areas on New Year’s Eve, turning windy with showers in the north.
By New Year’s Day, a shift to much colder weather will take hold as Arctic air moves south, bringing widespread frosts and the first significant snowfalls of the winter for some.
A yellow warning for snow and ice has been issued for northern Scotland from Thursday, with potential for “significant accumulations” by Friday morning.
Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Mark Sidaway said:
“It certainly looks like we are in for a taste of ‘winter’ as we welcome in the New Year, initially in the north, but more widely across the UK for the first week of 2026.
“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.”
He added that further warnings are likely to be issued as the cold spell extends southwards, with wintry hazards such as snow, ice and strong winds expected to continue through the first week of January.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued an amber cold-health alert for the North East and North West of England until 5 January, and a yellow alert for other regions.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, said:
“As the colder weather sets in it is vital to check in on friends, family and neighbours that are most vulnerable.
“The forecasted temperatures can have a serious impact on the health of some people, leading to increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections, particularly for individuals over the age of 65 and those with pre-existing health conditions.”
The Met Office’s WeatherReady campaign is advising people to prepare for the cold by checking heating systems, keeping emergency supplies at home, and taking extra care on icy roads and pavements.
For Wales and the border counties, no weather warnings are currently in force, but temperatures are forecast to drop below freezing overnight later in the week, with the possibility of icy stretches on untreated surfaces.
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