I think it could get quite bad; lake effect off a warm atlantic has more convective potential than that off the north sea anyway; and this is a deep cold core low with all the variables looking favourable. On higher ground we are probably looking at feet of snow and inches to favoured spots at lower levels is not inprobable.

Legit think some people are going to be taken aback by this. For all the talk of a mild xmas, sunday has alot of snow potential for some.  

I personally expect to add to my snow diary (sig) even though I'm not expecting meaningful amounts. Some favoured spots could see alot though.

Possible Cheshire Gap for the Midlands area just need the temps below 0 to support that.

"only" 19 down here in Berkshire.

I remember back in either 2017/2018 (not home to confirm which) where we had a few December snow events all from a NW direction, Cheshire gap on steroids is required.

As much as many would think the GFS is overdoing it, I wouldn't put out of the realms of possibility given the strength of the NWer. 0c is not required when a lake effect can get this far inland.

Always remember seeing the hills white above Bradford when I lived in Yeadon, Tim.

Queensbury, Shelf, Denholme. Some of the highest suburbs in England 😄

Indeed, sadly in recent years they have had far less snow than they used to.  These type of westerly wintry showers seem less frequent. 

Just had a very heavy shower which dropped the temp to 0.4c and resulted in a slushy covering on most surfaces. 

https://www.jamesgphotography.co.uk/peak-district-webcams/#catandfiddle 

I went over to Otley this morning and the roads had a covering. It looked beautiful on the Chevin but I was a little wary driving down the other side into Otley! 

Snow becoming a bit more widespread later on NYE and into NYD. By then I'd expect places like Altnahara to have 50cm+ of snow. Somewhere like Wick or Kirkwell could easily be 20cm+

This is just insane. Got to be a red level warning for that top left corner surely? 70cm+ falling over only a few days.

I would doubt it, due to the low population.  

Doesnt it increase the risk these populations will be cut off?

It’s possible but not that many people live in the far northwest of Scotland. It does look as if it will get very snowy up there but I doubt it will get much coverage due to the very inaccessibility you mention. 

Indeed, having looked it up on Wiki the population of the entire Highland area (which includes the far NW) is only 235,710 - and that's over an area of 9905 square miles. The article on Wiki mentions it's a ninth of the entire UK land area and it's larger than Wales!

In comparison the Medway Towns here in Kent (a conurbation of 5 towns, including Rochester, Strood, Gillingham, Chatham and Rainham) is just over 280,000 - and that's in an area of just 74 square miles.

The Highlands are, I would suggest, the closest we have to a true wilderness in the UK.

For comparison Aberdeen is similar to your part of the world Darren with an area of 72 square miles and population circa 225000 (so a bit less than your locality). 

For a city it has a relatively low population density and some nice open spaces. 

“Heavy rain will become persistent and widespread during Monday and Tuesday. Widespread totals of 50 to 70mm are possible over the two days with some places perhaps seeing 100 to 140mm of rain, these higher totals most likely over western Scotland.

North and east of (and including) Perthshire, precipitation is likely to fall as snow, especially over high ground, with 10-20cm accumulating above 150-200 meters, with several cm accumulating at lower elevations away from windward coasts. As milder air pushes in, snow will turn back to rain, and any rapid snow melt will contribute to flooding in places.

Strong winds may exacerbate impacts, particularly across the areas of Scotland affected by snow. Blizzard conditions are possible, especially over high ground and across much of Sutherland and Caithness. Powerline icing is possible where blizzard conditions occur.”

https://weather.metoffice.gov.uk/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#?date=2024-12-30 

Would be more attention and posts about a dusting in the Southern England then what is expected to happen in the coming cold spell. 

https://modeles16.meteociel.fr/modeles/gens/runs/2024122812/gens-31-9-240.png 

The mean snow accumulation @ 240h shows the most likely outcome IMO, a dusting to a few cm at best for most lowland locations with bigger falls restricted to higher ground away from the north.