UK climate map reveals the place snow will fall immediately with Met Office warnings in place as a lot of Britain wakes to sub-zero temperatures

Brits will be reaching for their scarves and gloves before they head out the door this morning as much of the country wakes to sub-zero temperatures. 

Wintry showers began developing overnight, with snowfall expected to be heavy at times and with icy conditions settling in. 

The Met Office advised that vehicles could be stranded, power cuts may occur and rural areas could be cut off as a result. 

Some lying snow could reach up to 10cm or more over higher ground and ice is expected to form on untreated surfaces. 

Parts of England, Scotland and Wales are expected to fall below freezing this morning, with temperatures in Kendal, in the Lake District, forecast to reach -4C. 

The Met Office has put in place a yellow warning for ice for much of southern England, the Midlands and eastern Wales from 5pm on Tuesday to 10am today. 

An additional five yellow warnings for snow and ice were also imposed as follows:

• South and North Wales from 6pm on Tuesday until 10am today for 5cm of snow;
• Northern Ireland from 6pm on Tuesday until 10am today for 5cm of snow;
• East England from 6pm on Tuesday until 12pm today for 10cm (4in) of snow;
• Western Scotland from 7pm on Tuesday until 10am today for 5cm of snow; and
• Northern Scotland from Monday until 10am today for 20cm (8in) of snow.

The UK Health Security Agency has also issued the first amber cold weather health alert of the season, warning conditions could be dangerous for vulnerable people. 

It came amid a big chill with the coldest UK temperature this early in the season since 1998 recorded on Tuesday as Braemar in Aberdeenshire fell to -11.2C (12.2F).

Snow also impacted rail routes on Tuesday, with no trains able to run between Nottingham and Worksop or between Llandudno and Blaenau Ffestiniog in North Wales.

Northern services across Yorkshire between Bradford and Huddersfield, Hebden Bridge to Halifax and Halifax to Hull were also impacted, while flooding near Ulverston in Cumbria caused disruption between Barrow-in-Furness and Lancaster.

Meanwhile a Stagecoach bus in Aberdeenshire toppled onto its side with a passenger on board in icy conditions on Tuesday in the New Leeds area.

A spokesperson for Stagecoach North Scotland said: ‘We can confirm that one of our vehicles operating on service X67 has been involved in an incident at New Leeds this morning due to ice on the road. One passenger was on board, and there were no injuries.’

Nearly 5in (12cm) of snow fell at Watnall in Nottinghamshire, with 3in (8cm) recorded at Cranwell in Lincolnshire and 2in (5cm) at Lake Vyrnwy in Powys, Wales.

The UK Health Security Agency issued an amber cold weather health alert for the East and North of England, the Midlands, and Yorkshire and the Humber.

Yellow health alerts also came into place for the South East, South West and London at 8am on Tuesday, lasting until 6pm on Saturday.

Met Office chief meteorologist Neil Armstrong said: ‘With cold Arctic air firmly in place over the UK, continued winter hazards are likely through much of this week, with further updates to warnings likely in the coming days.

‘The current focus for upcoming snow and ice risk is from later on Tuesday and overnight into Wednesday, with snow showers likely moving in off windward coasts in the north and east, as well as drifting into parts of Northern Ireland and Wales.

‘In excess of 10cm of snow is possible over higher ground within the warning areas, with 1-2cm possibly settling at lower levels, which has the potential to lead to some travel disruption. Ice is an additional hazard and is likely to form quickly on untreated surfaces.’

Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon said temperatures could drop to -12C in rural parts of Scotland and -7C in rural parts of Wales on Wednesday night.

Mr Dixon said: “We’ve had a fairly mild November so far. So it’ll feel like that first taste of winter for many with that snow and ice risk layered on top.”

The Met Office, which described the conditions as ‘the first taste of winter’, issued a yellow warning for snow and ice along the east coast of Scotland and England from Berwickshire to Suffolk from 6pm tonight to midday on Wednesday.

A yellow warning for snow and ice covering Northern Ireland has also been issued from 6pm this evening until 10am tomorrow.

There are also warnings in place covering the north of Scotland until 10am tomorrow and much of central and South Wales until 11.59pm on Tuesday.

A separate warning for much of central and north Wales is in place from midnight until midday tomorrow. 

The Met Office said cold northerly winds will continue through the week across much of the UK, with further warnings likely.

It added that temperatures were likely to increase from the southwest this weekend, though this will be accompanied by some strong winds and heavy rain.

National Rail had warned the cold climate would affect various routes on northern train services until at least 2pm this afternoon.

Thousands of train passengers suffered disruption due to the severe weather.

Merseyrail issued an alert warning passengers that due to the potential of snow and ice covering tracks, the first service on each line in North West England ran without customers to ensure conditions could be checked.

National Highways also sent out a severe amber weather alert for snow, with the M1 in Leeds and Sheffield, the M56 in Manchester, junction 39 of the M6 and junctions 21-23 of the M62 likely to see disruption.

The Met Office, which described the conditions as ‘the first taste of winter’, said heavy snow would prove disruptive in England, with Derbyshire being the area most likely to be affected.

The Alzheimer’s Society warned that cold weather can be ‘particularly challenging’ for people with dementia.

‘Colder temperatures can be difficult for a person with dementia to adjust to, and they may not always be able to communicate that they are cold – or they may not even recognise it themselves,’ the charity said.

It advised the public to check in on loved ones, friends and neighbours living with the condition.

Age UK director Caroline Abrahams said the charity was worried that the loss of the Winter Fuel Payment has caused many older people to be ‘extra fearful’ about turning on their heating this winter.

‘With high energy bills and food prices it is understandable that some may think they have to cut back on food and turn their heating off, but prolonged exposure to cold temperatures can have a serious impact on an older person’s health, especially if they are already trying to manage existing illnesses,’ she said.

‘The cold raises blood pressure, which in turn increases the risk of a heart attack or stroke and breathing in cold air can also increase the risk, and impact, of serious illnesses like flu and pneumonia.’

Ms Abrahams said it is ‘vital’ that older people stay ‘fit, warm and well if they can’ by having hot food and drinks throughout the day, wrapping up warm and sleeping with the windows closed.

Have you been affected by the snow? Please email: [email protected]