The UK is in the middle of an Arctic blast with yellow warnings for ice and snow from the Met Office which ran from Thursday and on until Monday with flurries of up to 30cm in some areas
Arctic air spreading across the UK has caused the first cold snap of the year as large parts of the country brace for a white weekend.
Met Office yellow warnings for snow and ice have been issued for much of England and Wales and parts of Scotland over three days until Monday.
Separate warnings for ice are in force on Friday after large areas were lashed by strong winds and heavy rain, which has led to widespread flooding. About 5cm of snow is expected across the Midlands, Wales and northern England, with up to 30cm over high ground in Wales and the Pennines.
Meteorologist Tom Morgan said: “We’ve issued a very large snow warning but it doesn’t mean everywhere within that could see snow. It’s just a heads-up there could be some impacts.”
The Met Office has also warned there is a small chance of power cuts, stranded vehicles, cancelled train and air travel, and some rural communities being cut off because of treacherous roads. Flooding has already led to homes being damaged and cars becoming trapped in fast-rising water.
A major incident declared on New Year’s Day after flooding in Greater Manchester has been stood down. There were no reports of casualties. The Met Office said 2024 was the UK’s fourth warmest year on record, with a mean temperature of 9.78C. The top four warmest years on record now include all of the past three years, the hottest being 2022 (10.03C).
Met Office records begin in 1884. Senior scientist Mike Kendon said: “It’s a clear illustration that our climate is changing, right now, and we continue to head up this warming curve.”
