The Met Office has issued a stark warning to Britons as snowstorms are forecast to return to various parts of the country tonight. This follows days of persistent ice, frost, and subzero temperatures that have already caused significant disruption.
Essential Preparations for Winter Disruption
While preparing for heavy snow might seem excessive for the UK, both the Met Office and energy supplier British Gas are urging households to take immediate action. The key is to be ready for potential power cuts or being cut off from essential services.
The Met Office advises that people cope significantly better when they have prepared in advance. Their guidance suggests gathering a simple kit including torches with spare batteries, a mobile phone power pack, and other essential items to withstand potential isolation.
Echoing this, British Gas has provided specific recommendations, urging UK households to ensure they have seven key items ready. According to their guidance, reported by the Express, your home should be stocked with:
- Spare batteries
- An adequate supply of drinking water
- Non-perishable food and snacks
- Essential medicines
- Extra blankets for warmth
- A reliable torch
- A phone charger
Widespread Warnings and Forecasted Deep Freeze
The Met Office has predicted further snow and ice for many parts of the UK today. This comes after three consecutive days of yellow and amber weather warnings for snow affecting England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Chief Forecaster Steve Willington provided a sobering update, stating, "We're still in the grip of a cold, Arctic air mass today and into Friday, and that means further wintry showers for some, and ice, particularly overnight." He confirmed that multiple warnings are currently active, with new ice warnings issued for the overnight period into Friday morning.
Temperatures are expected to plummet sharply again overnight. Rural parts of Scotland could see lows of -12°C, with widespread below-freezing temperatures elsewhere. This sharp drop will cause ice to form rapidly on untreated surfaces, leading to potential travel disruption.
Weather Pattern Shift on the Horizon
Looking ahead, the forecast for Friday indicates a frosty start leading to a cold but bright day, though sunshine may turn increasingly hazy. Thicker cloud and outbreaks of rain are expected to arrive into the northwest later.
The Met Office forecast from Saturday to Monday suggests a change. Outbreaks of rain will spread eastwards on Saturday, turning conditions less cold but windier over the weekend. Further spells of rain or showers are expected on Sunday and Monday, interspersed with some brighter spells.
For the rest of November, the forecast indicates a trend towards drier, cooler, and more settled conditions as high pressure builds from the Atlantic. However, this settled period is not expected to last long, with a return to more changeable and potentially unsettled conditions as Atlantic weather systems move in. Temperatures are predicted to rise above average as these systems arrive, though confidence in the long-range forecast remains low.
