Meteorologists are forecasting an “unsettled” start to 2025, with a barrage of heavy snow, torrential rain, and howling winds set to potentially wreak havoc on New Year’s travel plans. The Met Office has blanketed the nation in severe weather warnings from Monday to Thursday, leaving nearly no corner untouched.

Scotland is up for the first bout, anticipating “pulses of rain” mixed with snow come Monday, whilst northern England is preparing for gale-force winds that could gust up to a fierce 60mph. Road users and regular commuters are on alert: strong wind warnings stretching from Durham to North Yorkshire might spell trouble for Monday’s travel between 11am and 6pm.

Meanwhile, down south in England and Wales, milder weather reigns with thermometers nudging 10 to 12C, and breaks of sun expected to slice through the clouds. However, New Year’s Eve looks set to challenge the temporary calm as rampaging winds could intensify, surging to 70mph in some parts of England and Northern Ireland.

Weather experts have warned of possible transport delays, urging the public to remain cautious amidst the tumultuous conditions.

The wind alert stands from 7am until the festive hours of 11pm on Tuesday, encompassing swathes of Northern Ireland such as Londonderry, Tyrone, Antrim and Armagh, and reaching from just north of York all the way to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Greenock in Scotland. Amid Hogmanay celebrations, Scots, in particular, are faced with the prospect of “significant disruption” given predictions of intense downpours and snow, with the Highlands preparing for a deluge that could top 140mm across Monday and Tuesday.

Forecasters have issued stark warnings as up to 20cm of snow is anticipated to blanket higher terrain in the UK, accompanied by strong gales bringing the peril of “blizzard conditions” and possible freezing of power lines. An additional warning is in place for ‘persistent snow’, setting the stage for Orkney and Shetland to encounter severe travel disruptions from the break of dawn on Tuesday.

Senior Met Office meteorologist Craig Snell advised caution, saying: “Moving into New Year’s Eve, another system moves in from the Atlantic, again, Scotland bearing the brunt of this one with some further heavy rain and snow and strong winds.”

He added, “The winds also picking up for Northern Ireland and northern England through New Year’s Eve as well, with rain arriving into that part of the world – essentially quite an unsettled last day of the year for the northern half of the UK.

“To the south, we will see some rain later on New Year’s Eve, but it shouldn’t cause too many problems, apart from if you’re out celebrating – you might get a bit damp.”

Brits are being urged to brace themselves for a wild start to the new year, as meteorologist Snell warns of impending weather chaos during the festivities. According to him: “With the multiple hazards going on across the UK, I think we can probably expect some travel delays right across the UK.”

The coming days seem poised to deliver a cocktail of snow, wind and rain, with separate weather warnings already in place for January 1. Forecasters anticipate heavy snow could bury parts of Central Tayside and Fife, the East Midlands, northern England, and the Lothian borders under a blanket up to 25cm thick.

The Met Office has forecasted very strong winds of up to 60mph across all of England and Wales throughout Wednesday and into Thursday morning, with gusts of 75mph likely around coastal areas and hills. The alert for wind is in effect from 9am on Wednesday until 6am on Thursday.

Residents have been advised to prepare by checking for loose items outside their homes and planning how to secure them. On New Year’s Day, temperatures are expected to reach between 10 to 12C in southern England with chillier conditions of around 5 to 7C further north.

The rest of the week will be much colder, with widespread frost across the country predicted on Thursday night, according to the forecaster.