An amber snow warning has been issued for parts of east and south-east England, with forecasters warning of travel disruption and potential power cuts. The alert, in place until Monday morning, is part of a broader cold snap affecting much of the UK, with yellow warnings for snow and ice covering large swathes of England, Scotland, and eastern Wales.
Met Office meteorologist Steven Keates said the current conditions share 'many similarities' with the 2018 Beast from the East, driven by cold air from Scandinavia and Russia combined with Storm Darcy. While not as extreme, he noted this is likely the coldest weather the UK has seen since then, with temperatures barely above freezing and a strong easterly wind making it feel many degrees colder.
Snowfall is expected to be heaviest in the south-east, with five to ten centimetres forecast on Sunday, and up to 20cm in some areas. The Kent Downs and North Downs could see up to 30cm, accompanied by gale-force winds gusting to 45mph inland and higher on the coast, leading to blizzards and significant drifting. Public Health England has urged people to check on elderly and vulnerable neighbours, ensuring they have enough food and supplies.
In Scotland, where heavy snow has already fallen, Deputy First Minister John Swinney said road clearing will prioritise Covid vaccination centres, though weather may disrupt the programme. Around 20 vehicles were stranded in two-metre snow drifts at Loch Droma on Friday, and Network Rail reported disruptions on the Highland Mainline despite plough trains. As of Sunday, 52 flood warnings were in place along the River Severn and other parts of England.
