BBC Breakfast presenters Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty delivered an urgent weather warning at the start of Thursday's programme as a severe cold snap grips the United Kingdom.
Immediate Weather Alert Issued
Within moments of the show beginning, the duo highlighted plummeting temperatures across the nation. Naga Munchetty announced: "A weather warning for more snow is in place for parts of England this morning, as a cold snap sweeps across the UK."
Weather presenter Carol Kirkwood provided specific details, confirming that The Met Office has activated an amber weather warning for the North York Moors and parts of Yorkshire Wolds. She warned that some areas could accumulate up to 25cm of fresh snow by the end of the day.
Widespread Disruption Expected
BBC News has verified that wintry conditions will persist throughout Britain, with snow and ice affecting multiple regions. Current Met Office yellow warnings cover Northern Ireland, northern and central Scotland, along with coastal areas of south-west Wales, south-west England, and north-east England.
Temperatures have already dropped dramatically overnight, recording -6.1°C in Cumbria, -5.8°C in Wales and -4.8°C across parts of Scotland.
Later in the broadcast, Charlie Stayt elaborated on the severity of the situation: "A cold snap has prompted multiple yellow Met Office weather warnings across the UK and a more severe Amber warning in the North York Moors."
Health and Travel Impacts
The presenters emphasised that beyond travel delays and disruption, the UK Health Security Agency has issued cold health alerts valid until Saturday. These alerts highlight potential significant impacts on elderly residents and individuals with pre-existing health conditions.
Correspondent Alison Freeman, reporting live from the snow-covered streets of Pickering in North Yorkshire, provided a ground-level perspective: "We know there's a forecast of 25cm, we know there are multiple yellow weather warnings in place across the UK, but here, in North Yorkshire, there is in fact an amber weather warning."
She added crucial advice for residents: "Along with that is coming an amber health warning as well, asking people to not only look after themselves, make sure they stay warm and stay in if they can but also keep an eye on the vulnerable."
Freeman expressed concerns about rural communities becoming cut off, potential power outages, and increasingly treacherous conditions in remote areas. She confirmed that tonight is expected to be the worst of the cold snap, with temperatures potentially dropping to -12°C in parts of rural Scotland.
In an official statement released yesterday, Met Office Chief Forecaster Neil Armstrong explained: "Cold Arctic air from the north is firmly in charge of the UK's weather, bringing the first notable cold snap of this autumn and giving an early taste of winter weather."
Armstrong detailed the snow accumulation expectations: "Whilst not all places will see lying snow, where showers are most frequent accumulations of 2-5 cm will be possible. On higher ground in Scotland, 15-20 cm could accumulate, and potentially as much as 15-25 cm over the North York Moors and Yorkshire Wolds."
He also highlighted the ongoing ice hazard, particularly overnight, warning that temperatures could fall to -10°C in rural parts of Scotland on Thursday night, creating particularly difficult travel conditions.
All weather and health warnings remain in effect until Saturday morning as the nation braces for the most severe cold spell of the season so far.
