UK households urged to buy batteries this week | UK | News

Households in the UK have been advised to stock up on batteries this week as harsh weather conditions could cause power cuts to homes across the country. The weather service has issued multiple yellow weather warnings and one yellow warning for various regions across the country.

Winter conditions will cause snowfall and ice formation across the country, with the weather agency warning of a range of potential problems including travel delays, bus and train cancellations, injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces and power outages.

Yellow weather warnings for ice, snow or both have been issued for parts of Scotland, Northern England, the Midlands and the South West from Wednesday 19 November until Thursday 20 November.

The Met Office said there was a “small chance” of power outages potentially affecting other services such as mobile phone coverage. However, the agency urges people to keep batteries in their homes.

The Met Office explained: “People cope better with power outages when they are prepared in advance. This is easy to do; consider packing flashlights, batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items.”

Met Office Chief Forecast Officer Neil Armstrong said: “Cold Arctic air from the north is keeping a tight grip on the UK weather forecast, bringing the first significant cold snaps of this autumn and providing an early taste of winter weather.

“As a result, wintry hazards are likely to occur over the next few days, with snow and ice a particular hazard and the coldest conditions likely on Wednesday and Thursday. Showers will affect areas exposed to gusty north winds, particularly Northern Ireland, south-west Wales, south-west England, north-east England and the northern half of Scotland.”

Not all areas are at risk of power outages. But weather warnings can change quickly, so it’s best to be prepared. Brits should also monitor local weather forecasts regularly in case any weather warnings change.

Below is a full list of areas that may be affected by power outages:

Central, Tayside and Fife

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• Aberdeen
• aberdeenshire
• Muren

Highlands and Eilean Siar

• Na h-Eileanan Siar
• Plateau

Orkney and Shetland

• Orkney Islands
• Shetland Islands

Stratchclyde

SW Scotland, Lothian Borders

North East England

• Darlington
• Durham
• Kapibasi
• hartlepool
• Middlesbrough
• Newcastle upon Tyne
• North Tyneside
• Northumberland
• Redcar and Cleveland
• South Tyneside
• Stockton-on-Tees
• Sunderland

South West England

Wales

• carmarthenshire
• Ceredigion
• pembrokeshire
• swansea