The Met Office has issued amber and yellow weather warnings for snow and ice across the UK, with up to eight inches of snow expected in parts of Scotland. An Arctic freeze has caused temperatures to drop as low as -10°C in some areas.
An amber warning is in place for northern Scotland from 3pm today until midnight, with heavy snow showers expected to bring accumulations of 10 to 15 cm in a short time. Strong to gale force winds may cause drifting, and isolated thunderstorms are possible. Elsewhere, yellow warnings cover southern England, North Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland, with snow and ice expected overnight and into Wednesday.
The southwest of England is under a yellow warning from 6pm today until 12pm Wednesday, with a couple of centimetres of snow at low levels and up to 10 cm on higher ground. An ice warning also applies to southeast England during the same period. Another snow and ice warning covers most of Wales, the West Midlands, Derbyshire, West and North Yorkshire, and the Northwest from 12pm today, affecting southwestern Scotland and all of Northern Ireland.
The UK Health Security Agency has issued a cold weather alert, urging people to stay warm and look out for vulnerable individuals. Dr Agostinho Sousa warned that cold weather increases risks of heart attacks, strokes, and chest infections. Snowfall is expected to continue into Thursday and Friday, with over 10 inches possible in Scotland.
