The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for snow across a large part of the UK, forecasting disruption from the West Midlands to southern Scotland.
The warning is in place from 12am to 12pm on Tuesday. Forecasters said a band of rain is expected to head northwards through Monday night and Tuesday morning, likely turning to snow after encountering colder air in the warning area.
Affected Areas and Snowfall Accumulation
Locations at 100-metre altitude or higher will mainly be affected, with any snow falling below this level likely to be temporary and quickly melting, the Met Office said. In areas where snow does accumulate, depths of 1-5cm are likely, with some locations above 300-400 metres potentially seeing 5-15 cm.
Forecasters have warned of potential travel disruption on higher level routes, with the possibility of ice forming on infrastructure like power lines.
Meteorologist's Forecast Details
Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern said in an evening weather update that there will be an "unsettled picture" on Tuesday. He explained that freezing rain or snow is likely over upland parts of mid to North Wales during Monday evening, with rain at lower levels. As the system moves into colder air across Northern England and southern Scotland during the early hours of Tuesday, significant and disruptive snow is expected above 300 metres for northern England and above about 150-200 metres for southern Scotland.
McGivern noted that winds of 50-60 mph gusts could make conditions hazardous for upland parts of northern England and southern Scotland, with the risk of drifting snow, ice accretion, and blizzards at lower levels. While there could be a little snow at lower levels, it will likely turn back to rain by the start of the day, adding that "for where most people live, it will mostly be wet weather rather than wintry weather."
Additional Warnings and Health Alerts
A yellow warning for ice is also in place across the north of England and Scotland until 10am on Monday. The Met Office warned of icy patches on some roads and pavements as well as injuries from slips or falls.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a yellow cold health alert for the North West, North East, and Yorkshire and the Humber, in place from 9pm on Sunday until 9am on Thursday. These alerts mean weather conditions could result in an increased use of healthcare services and a greater risk to life for vulnerable people, the agency said.
