Travel disruption expected as snow and ice forecast across UK | UK weather
Travel disruption is expected across the UK on Friday, with snow and ice expected.
Yellow weather warnings for snow and ice are already in place for parts of the UK, while amber weather warnings are already in place for northern Scotland ahead of the start at noon on Friday.
Travelers can expect their journeys to be disrupted as winter weather moves south-east across parts of England and Wales.
A yellow weather warning for snow and ice has been in place throughout Friday morning for the region covering London, Greater Manchester and Cardiff, while a yellow ice warning has been issued for the south-west of England by the Met Office until 10am on Friday morning.
Approximately 2 cm of snow may fall in some areas and up to 5 cm in higher elevations.
Heavy snowfalls have already caused difficulties for motorists in the Highlands and north-east Scotland on New Year’s Day; There will be warnings for blizzard-like conditions on Friday and over the weekend.
Amber weather warnings for snow will remain in effect until noon on Saturday, covering areas covered by the broader amber weather warning.
The Met Office said amber zones in Scotland could lead to power cuts and stranded vehicles.
On Friday, snow accumulation of up to 20 cm in low areas and up to 40 cm in high areas may occur.
Residents in affected areas have been warned that wintry conditions are likely to persist through the weekend.
Announcing the amber warning, the Met Office said: “Heavy snowfalls will become more frequent and may combine to form longer snowfalls at times.
“The area and period covered by this warning is the period during which the heaviest and most destructive snow is thought to be likely during the current cold spell; current yellow warnings cover a wider area and a longer period of time.”
“Windy conditions will also cause some snow drift and temporary blizzard conditions,” the forecaster continued.
A yellow warning for snow and ice was in place between midnight and midday on Friday across much of England and Wales, from Chester and Greater Manchester to London and Kent.
Separate yellow warnings are in place for Northern Ireland between midnight and 10am on Friday.
People have been urged to prepare for longer journey times by road, bus and train. The AA has predicted that the number of car journeys across England is likely to reach 20.7 million on January 2, following a quieter day on the roads on New Year’s Day, when 18 million journeys were predicted.
A Met Office spokesman said: “We expect this cold weather to continue over the weekend and into next week, with temperatures remaining well below average and scattered snow showers continuing.”
The UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) has issued warnings across England until 10am on 6 January for the start of the year.
The UKHSA said this meant the weather conditions could cause significant impacts on health and social care services, including “an increase in deaths” among people with underlying health conditions or those aged 65 and over.
