Twelve counties will be hit by  deep snow and freezing temperatures later this month according to new weather data. New weather maps from forecasters WXCharts indicate that wintery weather is set to arrive in the UK on January 15.

Snow will be deepest in central Scotland, with as much as 28cm in Cairngorms National Park. The rest of northern and central Scotland will see depths between 3cm and 27cm. South Scotland will also see light snow, up to 2cm while the Lake District will also see light snow of around 1cm.

Temperatures will also be lowest in central Scotland, with lows of -8C in Cairngorms National Park. Across Scotland, cities such as Aberdeen and Glasgow will be between -1C and -7C.

Northern England will be between 0C and -2C while the rest of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland will be between 1C and 5C.

The Met Office said of the period: “Changeable and occasionally unsettled conditions are expected across the UK during this period. Low pressure systems moving in from the Atlantic will tend to dominate, meaning showers or longer spells of rain for much of the UK.

“Some heavy rain or showers are likely at times, most often across high ground in the west where rainfall totals will probably be highest. Periods of strong wind or gales are possible, especially around coasts and if any deep areas of low pressure develop in the vicinity of the UK. 

“Some short-lived spells of mainly dry weather are likely between weather systems. Temperatures are expected to be close to or slightly above average for the time of year overall.”