The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for snow and ice across much of the UK, urging the public to take “extra care” on roads. An Arctic maritime air mass is sweeping across the nation, bringing cold conditions and potential travel disruption.
A yellow warning for ice covers Wales, central and southern England from Friday evening until Saturday morning. Icy surfaces may lead to difficult travel conditions and an increased risk of slips and falls. Meanwhile, parts of northeast England and northern Scotland are under a snow and ice warning until Saturday morning.
Another yellow warning for snow and ice, stretching from Derby to Scotland, will take effect from Saturday evening through to Sunday morning. The Met Office expects snow to be “heavy at times”, with accumulations of 1-3cm at low levels, 3-7cm above 150m, and up to 10-15cm above 400m. Northern Ireland also faces an ice warning until Saturday morning.
Met Office chief forecaster Rebekah Hicks warned that snow is likely ahead of rain across northern England and Scotland, potentially reaching lower levels on Saturday night. The snow will turn to rain as a front moves east on Sunday, bringing heavy rain and windy conditions in coastal areas. Additional warnings may be issued.
The Environment Agency has urged continued vigilance due to flood risks, with 75 flood warnings and 151 flood alerts active. Flood duty manager Jonathan Day reported that over 24,000 homes and businesses have been protected, but around 330 have suffered flooding. Teams are deploying pumps, temporary barriers, and clearing waterways to mitigate impacts.
