Weather warnings for snow and ice have been issued across parts of England and Scotland as temperatures are forecast to plummet, with the mercury potentially dropping to -10°C in north-east Scotland. The yellow warnings, in effect from 17:00 on Friday until noon on Saturday, cover northern and southern Scotland, eastern England down to London and Kent, and are expected to cause hazardous conditions including disruption on roads and railways.
On Friday, snow swept across parts of the UK, forcing 30 schools in Cornwall to close or open late. Glasgow Airport grounded all flights on Saturday morning due to heavy snowfall, with two inbound flights diverted to Prestwick and Edinburgh. The Met Office warned of freezing rain—a rare type of precipitation that freezes on impact—which could make driving dangerous.
The UK Health Security Agency has issued an amber cold-health alert for several regions in England, including the East Midlands, West Midlands, North West, North East, and Yorkshire and the Humber, until 5 December. The alert indicates that the cold weather is likely to affect the entire health service, with significant impacts probable across the population.
Overnight from Thursday to Friday, some of the coldest temperatures were recorded in Cumbria (-9.4°C), North Yorkshire (-8°C), and the Scottish Highlands (-7°C). Many areas saw temperatures of 0°C during the day, with clear skies and light winds expected to cause a rapid drop below freezing in the evening.
Further snow is expected over the weekend, with significant accumulations possible in Wales, the Midlands, and parts of northern England by Sunday morning, even at low levels. The Met Office advised that areas 100-200 metres above sea level could see 2-5 cm of snow, particularly in Northern Ireland and western Scotland.
