When is it going to snow? And can we trust forecasts and weather warnings on socials?

An image of a person walking through a snow-covered UK park, with houses in the background. They are sheltering themselves form the snow with an umbrella. — Image caption,
It is unusual to see this much snow fall in the UK - so should we believe the socials that forecast it with confidence?

When we hit the winter months of the year and temperatures drop below freezing, stories often circulate on social media about snow.

But how much faith can we put in these reports? With snow having fallen in some parts of the UK already in 2026 and more expected, BBC Bitesize Other Side of the Story spoke to the weather experts at the Met Office about the times flake news can also be fake news.

An image showing three different TikTok posts predicting a snowy winter for the UK — Image caption,
Even The Simpsons were used to predict snow hitting the UK in November 2025 - but the Met Office would not say at the time that snow was definitely coming. It’s too difficult to predict!

Can we trust a forecast for snow?

We have to be careful when we see posts on social media like the ones above. They're not official.

The Met Office has its own TikTok account and YouTube channel which provides information. For example, a post recorded for the first week in December 2025 indicated a wet start to the month with lower temperatures, but no significant snow showers predicted. A post recorded on 2 January was altogether different, showing snowfall across different areas of the UK.

The Met Office information comes from a verified account which uses fully trained weather experts and professionals to provide information to the public. It doesn't currently forecast more than a few days ahead and while it is planning to launch fourteen-day forecasts soon, these probability-based predictions are less accurate.

If you see unverified TikTok accounts and other social platforms saying that snow is definitely on the way in two or three weeks from now, this could be an example of misinformation. The user may be sharing the news in good faith, but their source may not be a trusted one.

Is it difficult to forecast snow?

It seems to be. You may hear a bit of chatter about the UK being cold, but really - as the Met Office explained - we are surrounded by seas that are relatively warm. This means the cold air which brings snow heats up slightly before it reaches land here. This warmer wind usually creates rain rather than snow, or a mix of rain, sleet and snow which is difficult to forecast.

The way different parts of the weather need to react with each other to make snow can change quickly - sometimes by the hour - making it very difficult to forecast snow a week in advance, or even a few days.

How do we get snow in the UK?

To see those flakes fall, we need at least two things - air that is cold enough and moisture in the air. You can find out more about the process in this Bitesize article.

Wind that travels from north to south in the UK comes straight from the Arctic, crossing a cold sea on its journey. Winds going from east to west in winter arrive from mainland Europe where it is already cold. If these cold winds can meet some rain on their journey, the combination of low temperatures and moisture can create snow - or it could still fall as rain, that’s how tricky it is to make snow!

What are snow warnings in weather forecasts?

The Met Office's weather warnings, issued through the National Severe Weather Warning Service, warn of the potential impacts of severe weather. It provides warnings up to seven days ahead for rain, thunderstorms, wind, snow, lightning, ice, extreme heat and fog.

These warnings are given a colour - yellow, amber or red - depending on the impact the weather may have and how likely they are to occur. Yellow is the lowest tier, with red the most serious type of warning.

Warnings state the type of weather being forecast, what to expect and advice and guidance on how to stay safe in severe weather.Sometimes dual warnings are issued covering different types of weather.

Does snow really close schools?

The short answer is yes - severe weather is an emergency that can lead to school closures. However snowfall doesn't always mean they'll be shut.

Schools set their own policies on how to deal with adverse weather and it's up to each one to decide if it's safe to open when it snows. They'll consider things like temperatures in buildings, safety conditions around the school and if transport problems mean teachers and pupils won't be able to get there.

Each school will also have their own preferred methods of contacting pupils and parents, sometimes through apps or a text message. Rumours about closures - sometimes starting with wishful thinking on the part of kids! - can spread quickly on social media. Always check your emails, school app or the school's official social media accounts for updates.

Where is the snowiest place in the UK?

An image showing people skiing in the Cairngorms in March 2024 — Image caption,
Cairngorms in Scotland is the snowiest place in the UK - this picture of people skiing was taken at Easter in 2024

These are the Top 10 places in the UK that get snow, according to The Met Office. It's all down to how many days a year, on average, snow falls there.

1. Cairngorms, Scotland (76 days)
2. Shetland Islands (65)
3. Fair Isle, Shetland (63)
4. Orkney Islands, Scotland (59)
5. Copley, England (53)
6. Leadhills, Scotland (52)
7. Widdybank Fell, England (50)
8. Eskdalemuir (50)
9. Kinbrace, Scotland (49)
10. Knockanrock, Scotland (49)

Is it going to snow this week?

Snow could fall in some parts of the UK this week, according to the latest forecasts.

The Met Office has issued two yellow weather warnings for snow and ice covering parts of England and Scotland on Thursday and Friday. It says rain and snow is expected to clear south during the early hours of Friday, with temperatures expected to "fall quickly as skies clear, leading to ice on untreated surfaces".

The first warning, covering for Central, Tayside & Fife, Grampian, Highlands & Eilean Siar, Orkney & Shetland, South West Scotland, Lothian Borders and Strathclyde is in force from 4pm on Thursday 12 January until noon on Friday. The second warning for the East Midlands, North East England, the North West, South West Scotland, Lothian Borders, the West Midlands and Yorkshire & Humber is from 7pm on Thursday until noon on Friday.

The BBC Weather outlook for Thursday is for a cloudy night with outbreaks of rain, falling as snow over higher ground in Wales and North England. It will be in Scotland with clear spells and snow showers moving into the north and east.

Friday could see rain across the south of England and Wales with a chance for snow over the hills. It will again be cold in Scotland and North England, with sunny spells and snow showers. Northern Ireland will be dry and bright.

It’s always worth looking for verified accounts when you want information on a specific subject. The thought of getting your sledge out of the shed for some winter fun can be exciting - but make sure you’ve done your proper weather research first to avoid disappointment!

This article was updated in February 2026

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