The Met Office says a deep area of low pressure, named Storm Chandra, will lead to strong winds, heavy rain and snow falling on saturated ground across the UK, notably the Southwest of England
This striking weather map shows SNOW is forecast across several parts of the country today.
Storm Chandra is sweeping across the nation from the southwest and this will lead to rain, wind and snow throughout the day. The hazards of the storm will represent “danger to life” in some parts, including the Southwest of England, and delays on roads and railways are likely.
The severest of the weather will be the snow across parts of Scotland, northern England and the Midlands. Temperatures will struggle to exceed 5C across the Midlands and places further north today, which will lead to the wintry weather. Up to eight inches (20cm) of snow is forecast ion higher ground.
Met Office Chief Forecaster, Paul Gundersen, said: “As Chandra interacts with colder air further north snow becomes a hazard, with 10-20cm of snow possibly accumulating over higher ground in the Pennines, southern Scotland and the Highlands. With a complex spell of weather, its important people stay up to date with the forecast and any warnings in your area.”
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There are three weather warnings in place for snow, covering areas as far south as Derbyshire and Staffordshire. Further warnings, including amber alerts, are in place for rain and wind, such as the downpours feared for Devon, Dorset and Somerset.
But the snow is expected as early as 6am across Aberdeenshire, the Scottish Highlands, Ayrshire, North Yorkshire and Derbyshire among other parts. The weather maps, issued by meteorologists at Metdesk, show snow will continue to fall throughout the morning, getting heavier in places. Derbyshire and Staffordshire in the Peak District will be most vulnerable to snowfall by around 9am, at the same time blizzards are expected across the hills in Scotland.
The snow across North Yorkshire will lead to delays on roads and railways, and some interruption to power supplies, the Met Office says. Snow will be far less widespread by around midday, however it will be particularly heavy across County Durham, North Yorkshire and Dumfries and Galloway by then.
The band of low pressure slowly moves northeastwards in the afternoon but turns to rain across the east coast, including Humberside. This rain will be heaviest across Northumberland during evening rush hour.
Mr Gundersen continued: “Chandra will bring a range of hazards to the UK through Monday night and Tuesday. Initially strong winds will impact the Isles of Scilly, western Cornwall and southwest Wales which are still vulnerable after Storm Goretti, gusts of 70 to 80mph are possible here. Heavy rain is an additional hazard as it falls on saturated ground in Dorset and southern parts of Devon, Somerset and Cornwall.”
