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The forecast snowfall across higher ground of Gloucestershire materialised - eventually - earlier this week for a number of upland districts, notably in the Forest of Dean but also for parts of the Cotswolds.

Andrew Lockie has sent ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Weather some wonderfully evocative shots of how things looked yesterday (Wednesday) morning around Broadway Tower on the northern Cotswolds escarpment. His excellent choice of black and white photography really captures the mood of a postcard-like winter vista in upland Gloucestershire. Two of his images are reproduced here.

So, we end 2009 on an increasingly cold note and 2010 starts in similar fashion, with largely dry and bright weather for New Year's Day but also the chance of some snow showers.

I'm watching developments closely for tomorrow, especially into the afternoon, as the somewhat complex and -Ìýin some respects -Ìýrather uncertain forecast signals a risk of showers developing into parts of the Westcountry where they'll surely prove wintry.Ìý

At present, I'dÌýestimate the likelihood of some snow showers at around 40% or so, but with such an elastic forecast this risk could become more prevalent... or wane entirely!

Beyond that, the cold weather continues for a prolonged period and albeit next week sees the snow threat primarily confined to eastern and north-eastern parts of England, it's not impossible we could see some manifested into parts of the SW at times. One to watch...

Meantime, a very Happy New Year to all of you; thanks for supporting my blog and indeed our weatherÌýforecasting efforts at ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ West.Ìý We've seen some very varied and occasionally dramatic weather in 2009 and I dare say 2010 will yield just as many topics to discuss here with you!

UPDATE: Thursday 31 December 2009, 10.45hrs:

TheÌýlatest Met Office modelling of Friday night / Saturday morning is worth highlighting here. As stressed above, a lot of uncertainty remains...Ìýbut there is aÌýpossibility of some snowfall (albeit perhaps 1-2cm only) sinking southwards intoÌýparts of the Westcountry,Ìýas indicated by the blue dots you can seeÌýin the attached time frames from Met Office predictive graphics.