UK snow: New maps show exact areas hit by huge New Year's Eve snowstorm

Revellers in Newcastle famously wear very little even in the middle of winter but even the most hardened Geordie may need to think about a coat as new weather maps reveal blizzard-like conditions are on the way on New Year's Eve.

New forecast projections from weather gurus WXCharts show a huge purple patch covering much of the north of the country from 6pm on December 31.

Northern cities like Manchester, Leeds, York, Carlisle and Newcastle all look set to get a heavy dusting of the white stuff on one of the biggest party nights of the year.

could also make travelling difficult with the potential for drifts if snowfall is heavy enough on higher ground.

Eastern parts of Northern Ireland also look set to get snow, as well as north western Scotland and the Borders.

Weather expert Jim Dale, founder and senior meteorological consultant at British Weather Services, told Express.co.uk: "New Year's Eve and New Year's Day could not just be wind, but also snow... into Scotland and the north of England, and maybe even a bit further south.

"I maintain the caveat, this is a maybe not a definite, but nonetheless with people travelling around over New Year it is worth keeping your fingers on the pulse, because it could well be quite severe in terms of the wind and snow side of things.

"It's an early warning that we could well be in for some hazardous weather to bring in 2025."

According to forecaster Ian Simpson, from Netweather.tv, cold weather could be expected on New Year.

He wrote: "There is potential for some colder weather into the New Year, when there is quite a strong signal for high pressure to develop to the west and north-west of the UK, giving increased potential for northerly winds, but there will probably still be mild interludes as well.

"However, the forecast models have moved towards a stronger high pressure influence between Christmas and the New Year, and some continental air will get into our air stream after Christmas Day.

"This means that the last week of December will not be quite as exceptionally mild for the English Midland region as had previously looked likely, with temperatures tending to fall closer to average, though still mostly above the seasonal norm."

This Evening and Tonight:

Frequent blustery showers continue overnight, turning increasingly to sleet and snow over the hills in the north and west. Some clear spells between the showers and remaining very windy.

Sunday:

A cold and very windy day on Sunday with sunny spells and blustery, wintry showers, these tending to fall as rain into the afternoon. Feeling cold despite the sunshine.

Outlook for Monday to Wednesday:

Turning milder during Monday and Christmas Eve with outbreaks of rain spreading southeast, and still windy. Drier in the south into Christmas Day although still rather damp in the north.