What time snow could hit Lancashire today as Storm Goretti triggers 19-hour weather warning
Lancashire is bracing for a spell of wintry weather today as Storm Goretti moves across the UK, with parts of the county at risk of heavy snowfall under a 19-hour Met Office weather warning.
A yellow weather warning for snow, issued by the Met Office, comes into force from 5pm today (Thursday, January 8) and remains in place until midday on Friday.
The warning covers Burnley, Nelson, Colne, Bacup and surrounding parts of East Lancashire.
What time will the snow hit today?
Forecasters say rain linked to Storm Goretti will move north-east across Lancashire this afternoon before turning increasingly wintry later today.
The Met Office expects light snow to develop from around 7pm, with conditions deteriorating during the evening and overnight.
BBC Weather suggests sleet could arrive as early as 4pm, turning to light snow by 5pm before reverting to sleet later in the evening.
Snowfall is most likely overnight into Friday morning, particularly over higher ground.
How much snow could fall?
The Met Office says 5–10cm of snow is likely in many areas covered by the warning, with 15–25cm possible in places above 200 metres.
However, forecasters stress there is uncertainty, especially for lower-lying areas, meaning some locations may see little accumulation while others could be more significantly affected.
A spokesperson said: “There is some uncertainty over the exact track of Storm Goretti, which will influence the locations most likely to see disruptive snow.
“Amounts will also depend heavily on elevation and precipitation intensity, leading to a mix of rain, sleet and snow.”
Which parts of Lancashire are affected?
The yellow warning applies mainly to East Lancashire, including Burnley, Nelson, Colne and Bacup.
Higher routes and rural communities are most at risk of disruption if heavier snow develops.
Conditions could vary sharply over short distances, with higher ground seeing snow while nearby lower areas experience rain or sleet.
What disruption could there be?
Residents are being warned to prepare for:
- Hazardous driving conditions and travel delays
- Possible disruption to rail and air travel
- Rural communities becoming temporarily cut off
- Power cuts and mobile signal disruption
Storm Goretti has been named by Météo-France, as the strongest winds are expected over northern France.
While Lancashire is unlikely to see severe winds, the storm’s northern edge is forecast to bring disruptive snow to parts of northern England.
The Met Office is urging people to check the latest forecasts, plan journeys carefully and be prepared for rapidly changing conditions as confidence in the forecast improves.