SNOW has dusted large parts of the UK this morning as Brits warned temperatures could plunge to -12C.
Flurries have hit London today after residents across northern England and Scotland woke up to see white blankets covering the streets.
Up to eight inches of snow is forecast to fall in parts of the country over the next few hours – and it’s going to get even colder tomorrow.
The UK Health Security Agency has issued amber and yellow cold-health alerts, which remain in place until Saturday across northern England and the Midlands.
An amber warning for snow is in place from 5am until 9pm on Thursday which covers the coast of North Yorkshire.
Meanwhile, temperatures are expected to plummet to -12C in rural Scotland on Thursday night, according to the Met Office.
A yellow warning for snow and ice is also in place in Northern Ireland from midnight until 12pm on Wednesday.
Much of northern Scotland will also be subject to a yellow warning from 6pm on Tuesday to 9pm on Thursday, with the same applying from 12am today until 11.59pm on Thursday for much of north-east England and Yorkshire.
A yellow warning for ice is in place across large parts of Wales, northern and central England and southern Scotland until 11am today.
The Met Office has also issued an amber weather warning for snow in parts of Yorkshire on Thursday between 5am and 9pm, as it said power cuts and travel delays on roads were likely in the “first notable cold snap of this autumn“.
Met Office chief forecaster Neil Armstrong said: “Cold Arctic air from the north is firmly in charge of the UK’s weather, bringing the first notable cold snap of this autumn and giving an early taste of winter weather.
“As a result, winter hazards are likely through the next few days, with snow and ice a particular hazard, and the coldest conditions likely on Wednesday and Thursday.
“Wintry showers will affect areas exposed to the brisk northerly wind, in particular Northern Ireland, south-west Wales, south-west England, north-east England and across the northern half of Scotland.
“Whilst not all places will see lying snow, where showers are most frequent accumulations of 2-5cm will be possible. On higher ground in Scotland 15-20cm could accumulate and potentially as much as 15-25cm over the North York Moors and Yorkshire Wolds.”
What yellow, amber and red cold weather health alerts mean
Under the Weather Health Alert system developed by UKHSA and the Met Office, there are three cold health alert levels that may be issued:
- Yellow alerts may be issued during periods of cold which are unlikely to impact most people, but which could pose an increased risk those who are particularly vulnerable, such as the elderly or those with significant health conditions. A yellow alert may also be issued if confidence in the weather forecast is low, but there could be more significant impacts if the worst-case scenario is realised.
- Amber alerts are issued in situations in which the expected impacts are likely to be felt across the whole health service, where there is potential for the whole population to be at risk, and where other sectors apart from health may also start to observe impacts, indicating that a coordinated response is required.
- Red alerts indicate significant risk to life for even the healthy population. Impacts would be expected across all sectors with a coordinated response essential.
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