Need to know
Large parts of the UK have seen snow this week, with huge amounts falling in some areas, and no sign of the cold spell letting up any time this week with more unsettled weather
What to know about the UK snow forecast headed into the weekend:
- The current cold snap is going to continue later into the week, before a deep area of low pressure threatens to bring further snow, strong winds and heavy rain to southern parts of the UK from Thursday night into Friday morning.
- Further unsettled weather is then expected to move in on Sunday as an area of low pressure to the north west of the UK brings rain – which may be heavy at times.
- This will come directly from the west during the day potentially turning to snow, with strong winds also a possibility.
- In the south west the wind will increasingly become a hazard, with a yellow warning issued for gusts of 50-60mph, possibly 70mph around exposed coasts possible on Thursday evening into Friday.
- Temperatures will stay below average into the weekend, with wintry showers and ice still a hazard in many places.
- The UK Health Security Agency has issued amber cold health alerts for all of England until 10am Friday warning there could be significant impacts across health and social care services, including a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions.
- Scottish transport secretary Fiona Hyslop says thank you to front line staff for their work already ahead of the challenges later in the week saying: “I’d like to thank all the frontline staff such as gritter drivers, chainsaw gangs, police officers and many others who have been out working in dreadful conditions.”
READ THE FULL STORY: UK snow forecast as twin Arctic storms will bring 30 inches by end of this week
