Yellow and amber weather warnings for snow and ice are in place across the UK
Britain is bracing itself for snow and ice on Friday, with forecasters warning of significant travel chaos across the country. Yellow weather alerts for snow and ice are already active across parts of the UK, while amber snow warnings for northern Scotland kick in at midday on Friday.
Wintry conditions are expected to sweep southeastwards across England and Wales on January 2, bringing widespread disruption to travel networks. A yellow weather warning for snow and ice remains in force throughout Friday morning, affecting a vast swathe including London, Greater Manchester and Cardiff.
Some areas could see around 2cm of snow, whilst higher ground may experience accumulations of up to 5cm. Motorists in the Highlands and north-east of Scotland already faced treacherous conditions on New Year’s Day due to heavy snowfall, with forecasters predicting blizzard-like conditions arriving on Friday and persisting through the weekend.
The amber weather warnings for snow remain active until noon on Saturday, encompassing areas within a broader yellow weather warning zone. The Met Office has cautioned that the amber-alert regions in Scotland could experience power outages and vehicles becoming stranded on roads.
Friday could bring snow accumulations reaching 20cm on lower ground and as much as 40cm on higher terrain. Residents in the affected regions have been cautioned that the harsh winter conditions are likely to persist throughout the weekend.
Explaining the amber warning, the Met Office stated: “Heavy snow showers will become more frequent and may merge to give longer spells of snow at times.
“The area and period covered by this warning are when the heaviest and most disruptive snow is thought most likely during the current cold spell, with existing yellow warnings covering a wider area and a longer period.”
The weather expert went on to say: “Windy conditions will also result in some drifting of snow and temporary blizzard conditions.”
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Police Scotland’s head of road policing, Chief Superintendent Scott McCarren, advised: “Our advice is to plan ahead and consider if your journey is really necessary during the bad weather or if it can be delayed until conditions improve.
“If you need to travel, please drive to the conditions, be prepared for delays and allow extra time for your journey. Please don’t drive through road closures, the decision to close roads is not taken lightly and is done for public safety.”
On Friday, a yellow warning for snow and ice was issued across large swathes of England and Wales from midnight until noon, spanning from Chester and Greater Manchester down to London and Kent. Separate yellow warnings have been put in place for Northern Ireland from midnight until 10am on Friday.
The public has been urged to brace themselves for extended travel times by road, as well as on bus and train services. The AA has estimated that car journeys are likely to hit 20.7 million across the UK on January 2, following a quieter New Year’s Day when only 18.0 million trips were anticipated.
A spokesperson for the Met Office stated: “We expect this cold spell to persist into the weekend and on into next week, with further warnings possible as temperatures remain well below average and snow showers continue in places.”
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued alerts across England for the beginning of the year, remaining in effect until 10am on January 6. According to the UKHSA, this indicates the weather is “likely” to have a substantial impact on health and social care services, including a “rise in deaths” particularly amongst those with underlying health conditions or individuals aged 65 and above.
Dr Paul Coleman, consultant in health protection at the UKHSA, warned: “The weather is forecast to be very cold across England over the coming few days.
“Low temperatures like these can have serious impacts on the health of some people, particularly older people and those with serious health conditions.
“Exposure to cold can lead to increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections. It is therefore really important, as the colder weather sets in, to check in on friends, family and neighbours that are most vulnerable.”
