Britons are bracing for two colossal snowstorms, potentially bringing up to 19 inches of snowfall, with 90 per cent of the UK predicted to be affected.
Advanced weather prediction maps indicate the first storm sweeping across the UK on January 29, with Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland's west coast and the south-west of England expected to experience the initial snow showers.
Read more: UK weather maps show 33 inches of snow as blizzards to hit in days
Read more: Snow forecast maps show blizzards as far south as London and Cornwall
The snow is forecast to shift eastward throughout the day, descending over northern England, the Midlands and the south-east by 9am. Major cities including London, Southampton, Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool could all be targeted, with additional snow showers falling in parts of Northern Ireland and Scotland.
A subsequent blizzard is then anticipated on January 30, with the GFS weather model illustrating intense snowfall in the south-west, Wales, the north-west and parts of Scotland around 9pm.
In a similar pattern to the first blizzard, this storm is projected to progress eastward during the early hours of January 31. Yorkshire, the Midlands, and the southern regions of England could all witness further snowfall around 6am.
Snow coverage maps disclose the full scale of these two blizzards, with approximately 90 per cent of the UK blanketed by snow on January 31. Only the south-west and certain areas of Wales and Northern Ireland appear likely to escape.
Snow depth forecasts indicate as much as 48cm (approximately 19 inches) could accumulate in the Scottish Highlands. Northern and central England may experience 12cm (five inches), whilst North Wales could see 15cm (six inches), and parts of southern England might receive 7cm (three inches).
Meanwhile, the Met Office also suggests further snow could fall towards the end of this month and into early February. The national weather agency's outlook for January 24 to February 2 states: "The UK will likely continue to sit in the battleground between Atlantic weather systems attempting to push in from the west, but tending to stall in the vicinity of the UK as they encounter high pressure to the north and northeast.
"As such, further spells of rain or showers are likely at times, which may be heavy and persistent, especially in the south and west, with the best of any drier interludes in the far north and northwest.
"Whilst mild conditions will encroach into the south and west at times, it is likely to turn somewhat colder through this period, bringing the risk of some snow, more especially on hills in Scotland and northern England.
"Wintry hazards" are also likely later in February, according to the Met Office. Their forecast for 3rd to 17th February states: "Little overall change is expected in the weather patterns impacting the UK through much of this period, as Atlantic frontal systems attempt to push eastwards at times, but on a south-shifted storm track such that the wettest conditions are more likely in central and southern areas.
"North and northwestern parts of the UK are most likely to be drier than normal. Whilst mild incursions are favoured at times in the south and west, colder conditions in the north and northeast will bring associated wintry hazards as wet weather attempts to spread in, especially on hills."
