Up to FOUR INCHES of snow will fall as Met Office issues warnings
Up to FOUR INCHES of snow will fall in the South with temperatures set to plunge as low as -8C overnight as schools in Cornwall are shut, London declares ‘severe weather emergency’ and Met Office issues ice warnings
- Police in County Durham say snowy conditions have led to crashes on the roads
- Snow and ice warnings in place as well as UKHSA issuing amber cold-health alert
Up to four inches of snow is falling over parts of Britain today before temperatures fall significantly below freezing overnight tonight amid an ongoing ice risk.
Areas of the UK from Cornwall to the Scottish Highlands have already seen snow settle today as weather warnings were issued and temperatures fall to -8C (18F).
Police in County Durham said snowy conditions had led to crashes on the roads, and forecasters said the very cold weather is likely to continue into the weekend.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan activated a ‘severe weather emergency protocol’ which opened accommodation to rough sleepers as temperatures fell below freezing in the capital early this morning and will drop to -3C (27F) for the next three nights.
More than 30 schools in Cornwall either closed for the day today or were opening late due to hazardous conditions, while a further four in Devon were also shut.
A Met Office snow and ice warning covering Britain’s east coast from the top of Scotland down to Essex will begin at 5pm tonight and end at 11am tomorrow – coming after a similar alert that was in place between 5pm last night and 11am today.
There is a separate snow and ice warning in South West England from 3am until 4pm today, and an ice warning for Northern Ireland from 5pm yesterday until 10am today.
Road users were warned over the icy conditions and the Met Office said people could suffer slips and fall injuries in one of this winter’s first icy periods. Up to 4in (10cm) of snow is expected to fall on higher ground, with 0.8in (2cm) at lower levels.
Forecasters were also advising of the chance of disruption to road, bus and rail networks – with ice patches forming on untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued warnings of its own, with yellow and amber cold-health alerts for northern regions of England until next Tuesday.
People walk next to the Angel of the North in the snow at Gateshead in Tyne and Wear today
Snow on roads in the Cornish village of Polperro today as Met Office warnings were imposed
Snow on the rooftops of homes in the Northumberland village of Swarland this morning
Snow in Looe, Cornwall, this morning as road users are being warned of icy conditions
Wintry scenes in the village of Eastgate in County Durham this morning next to a nativity scene
Wintry scenes at Tow Law in County Durham this morning after overnight snowfall
Snow blankets houses in Dore near Sheffield this morning as Met Office warnings are in place
Frosty scenes at Windsor Great Park in Berkshire this morning as the cold snap continues
Snow has swept across the South West of England, parts of Yorkshire, the North East and Scotland, with more expected throughout the day.
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A third (33 per cent) of respondents to a poll of more than 12,000 AA members said they would go ahead with planned journeys even if a red warning for snow was issued by the Met Office. Some 62 per cent said they would ignore amber alerts.
AA analysis of Department for Transport figures found 487 people were killed or seriously injured on Britain’s roads in snowy conditions between 2017 and last year.
Nick Powell, AA patrol of the year, said: ‘It’s clear that many people will risk their vehicles and themselves on wintry roads – even when the worst weather is predicted.
‘The AA will be out on patrol as usual but there are some simple and common sense precautions drivers need to take to avoid a winter nightmare in the first place.’
He said this included allowing extra time for journeys and properly de-icing the vehicle’s windows as well as clearing snow from the lights.
Met Office spokesman Oli Claydon said parts of Dartmoor could potentially see 2in (5cm) to 4in (10cm) of snow throughout the day, with other areas of the South West seeing ‘more modest accumulations’ of one to three centimetres.
Overnight there is expected to be widespread frost, with temperatures dropping to -8C (18F) in the rural south and -7C (19F) in rural parts of Wales.
Mr Claydon said: ‘The cold conditions are set to remain for the remainder of this week and into the weekend.
‘For those inland it will remain dry, crisp and cold but showers will continue along the east, becoming more north into the weekend.’
In County Durham, police said snowy conditions had led to some crashes on the roads.
Durham Constabulary said: ‘There has been the first main snowfall of the winter across the force area which has led to roads being covered in snow.
‘We have already had collisions reported due to the weather. Please be careful if you need to drive this morning, drive to the conditions and allow extra time for your journeys.’
Yorkshire saw its first snowfall in the North Yorkshire hills earlier in the week, but it was reported to have settled in Leeds, York and parts of Bradford rgua morning.
Network Rail said it had not seen any ‘significant disruption’ as a result of the cold weather but advised passengers to check before they travel.
East Midlands Railway said passengers should expect some short notice cancellations and delays of up to 45 minutes due to a shortage of trains after damage caused by ice on the Corby/London St Pancras route.
A woman plays with her dog in the snow at Swarland in Northumberland this morning
Snowfall at Tow Law in County Durham this morning as the wintry weather continues
Snow falls in Cornwall this morning as motorists battle hazardous conditions on the roads
A van is driven through snowy weather at Swarland in Northumberland this morning
Snow falls in Cornwall this morning as motorists battle hazardous conditions on the roads
Icy conditions on roads at Tow Law in County Durham this morning amid the sub-zero chill
Snow on the rooftops of homes in the Northumberland village of Swarland this morning
Snowfall at Tow Law in County Durham this morning as the wintry weather continues
Snow falls in Cornwall this morning as motorists battle hazardous conditions on the roads
Wintry scenes at Tow Law in County Durham this morning after overnight snowfall
Snow at Alnwick Castle in Northumberland today as road users are warned of icy conditions
Icy conditions on roads at Tow Law in County Durham this morning amid the sub-zero chill
The first snowfall of winter in Cornwall this morning as the UK endures very cold weather
Wintry scenes at Tow Law in County Durham this morning after overnight snowfall
Snow falls in Cornwall this morning as motorists battle hazardous conditions on the roads
A very frosty Windsor is seen this morning as a runner goes for a jog on the Long Walk
The sun rises over the Lee Park Golf course in Liverpool today amid frosty weather
One yellow warning – covering areas in North East England, the East Midlands, the east of England, Yorkshire and Humber and parts of Scotland – was active from 5pm tonight until 11am tomorrow.
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Another, affecting Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset, will be in place until 4pm today.
An earlier warning remains in place until 11am today for eastern Scotland and north-east England down to North Yorkshire, where snow caused closures on the A169.
A yellow ice warning for Northern Ireland is in place until 10am today.
Motoring organisation the RAC urged drivers to ‘ensure they’re winter ready as some get their first real taste of snow and ice’.
Met Office chief meteorologist Neil Armstrong said: ‘We’ve already seen snow settling in parts of eastern Scotland and north-eastern England.
‘As the cold air continues to spread across the UK, we also expect to see some snow over the high ground of South West England.
‘Snow showers will continue along the North Sea coast with a north-easterly air flow, leading to further accumulations over higher ground.
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‘Where the showers fall as rain, there is a risk of icy patches forming overnight with temperatures widely dipping below freezing.’
For the rest of today, southern counties of England can expect cloudy weather with patchy rain at times, falling as snow across the hills in the southwest.
It will be sunny elsewhere, with wintry showers towards coasts in the east. However, most places will remain dry with sunny spells that will develop into a widespread frost overnight.
Come this evening, wintry showers may develop near the North Sea coasts and in parts of Northern Ireland.
Moving into tomorrow, the weather will remain cold with sunny spells and some wintry showers, mainly towards coastal areas.
It comes after temperatures plunged to a low of -7.2C in England yesterday as snow fell in Scotland, Northumberland and Yorkshire.
However, the Met Office has said it is too early to predict a white Christmas.
The forecaster said the three lowest temperatures recorded at its observation sites overnight were all in Cumbria yesterday, with a low of -7.2C in Bridgefoot, -6.5C in Shap and -6.1C in Keswick.
A man walks along a snow-covered pathway at Tow Law in County Durham this morning
Snow is cleared from cars this morning after falling overnight at Tow Law in County Durham
A man walks along a snow-covered pathway at Tow Law in County Durham this morning
Snow on cars at Tow Law in County Durham early this morning after falling overnight
Snow falling in an area within the Howardian Hills in North Yorkshire early this morning
Snow falling on a residential road in the Halifax area of West Yorkshire early this morning
A social media user took this picture of snow in the North East of England early this morning
The BBC reported that parts of the UK had their coldest November night since 2010, and that it was -8C at Aonach Mor in the Scottish Highlands.
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Met Office spokeswoman Nicola Maxey said yesterday that it had already recorded snow in eastern Scotland, Northumberland and Yorkshire – with about 0.8in (2cm) in some eastern coast areas and 2in (5cm) at Fylingdales on the North York Moors.
The UK is being hit by a blast of cold air from Scandinavia, causing a cold snap for many in the North.
Daytime temperatures are expected to drop to single-digit figures this week and night temperatures are expected to stay below freezing for large parts of England and Scotland.
Ladbrokes’ latest betting odds for snow to fall anywhere in the UK on Christmas Day are 1/2, and it says Edinburgh and Newcastle are the ‘most likely destinations to see snow’.
But the Met Office urged people to take a prediction this far in advance with a ‘pinch of salt’.
Ms Maxey added: ‘Christmas is still a month away, so it is impossible with this lead time to have any confidence in a detailed forecast.’
The Met Office added that next week could bring ‘milder conditions’.
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