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

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 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.

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, but they never forecast more than a few days ahead. 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?

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?

Some parts of the UK woke up to snow on Monday and there may be more to come throughout the week.

The BBC Weather outlook from Monday 5 January shows dry, clear and cold conditions for most areas, with patchy snow in Scotland. There could also be isolated snow showers in west Wales and eastern England.

Tuesday could see more of those isolated snow showers in northern England, with hill snow in north-west Scotland. Wednesday will be dry, bright and chilly for most, followed by a cloudy day on Thursday. Looking ahead to Friday, there's a chance of further snow in the south, but it should be brighter in the north.

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 January 2026

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