Snow has hit hit parts of Britain as the country plunged into a big winter freeze.
A yellow weather warning for snow and ice has been put in place for large parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland from 3pm on Monday – with as much as 10cm of the white stuff predicted to settle in higher ground areas.
But experts say there has been a southernly shift in the forecast, meaning around one to three centimeters of snow is also likely to settle in the lower-level areas of the East Midlands, Yorkshire and parts of Wales from 7pm on Monday.
A severe weather warning for snow and ice across the UK was first put in place yesterday, as the cold weather creeps in, bringing with it temperatures as low as -1C.
People living in parts of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have been told to brace themselves over the next few days, as snow falls, the mercury plummets and conditions become icy.
Communities in the affected areas could see their power cut off, disruption on their roads and public transport and the risk of injury from slipping on ice.
And for those waking up in northern England and Scotland this morning, temperatures are already likely to be below zero, bringing an end to the generally mild and dry weather conditions experienced in the first half of November.
According to the Met Office, last night saw the coldest of the season so far with the mercury recorded at -7.8C in Tulloch Bridge in the West Highland – the lowest temperature seen in the UK since last winter.
People living in parts of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have been told to brace themselves over the next few days, as snow falls, the mercury plummets and conditions become icy (pictured: A motorist scrapes ice of the windscreen of a car in Newcastle)
A severe weather warning for snow and ice across the UK was first put in place yesterday, as the cold weather creeps in, bringing with it temperatures as low as -1C (pictured: A dusting of snow at the Glenshee Ski Centre near Braemar in Aberdeenshire)
As much as 10cm of the white stuff has already been predicted to settle on the higher ground areas of Orkney and Shetland in northern Scotland on Monday, while around one to three centimeters is also likely to settle in the lower-level areas of the East Midlands, Yorkshire and parts of Wales
A yellow weather warning was issued for parts of northern England and southern Scotland for the start of this week, with up to 20cm of snow possible on higher ground by Tuesday evening.
The warnings cover much of southern Scotland and north-east England, as well as parts of Yorkshire and parts of north-west England, including Lancashire and Cumbria.
The England warning is from just over the border and goes as far south as Nottingham and includes north Wales.
London is not forecast to see any snow this week, but temperatures will remain cold with highs of just 5C on Wednesday and 4C on Thursday.
Chief Meteorologist, Andy Page, said ‘We have issued yellow warnings for snow and ice as cold weather moves in from the north.
‘This brings snow showers and some ice to parts of Scotland on Sunday night, and then the potential for a spell of snow to lead to disruption to some transport routes across a central swathe of the UK on Tuesday morning.
‘Gusty winds in the east also remain a potential hazard. Updates to the warnings for wintry hazards are likely so it is important to stay up to date with the latest forecast’.
In addition, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a Cold Health Alert for large swathes of England running until Thursday – putting NHS services on notice to expect greater demand.
Yellow weather alerts are in place across the UK – meaning we could see scenes akin to those seen earlier in the year (file photo)
Brits are being told to expect icy patches on the roads and, as the cold flurries continue, a risk of power cuts and disruption to bus and train services (a file photo from 2022)
The Met Office details how colder air from the Arctic will arrive across northern Scotland and travel further down into southern parts of England, as temperatures drop
The Met Office shows the extreme weather experienced on Sunday, November 17 across the UK
It will be a chilly and icy start to Monday in Scotland with sleet and snow showers expected. It will be drier across Northern England and parts of Wales and there will be outbreaks of heavy rain in the south
Up to 10cm of snow is expected to fall in northern parts of the country, bringing an end to the generally mild and dry weather conditions experienced in the first half of November (file photo of snow in March)
As the north prepares to feel the colder temperatures first, Age Scotland’s Chief Executive, Katherine Crawford, has issued advice on how to stay warm (file photo)
As the north prepares to feel the colder temperatures first, Age Scotland’s Chief Executive, Katherine Crawford, has issued advice on how to stay warm.
She said: ‘As we get older it can take us longer to warm up, and colder temperatures can exacerbate respiratory problems, heart disease and other health conditions.
‘There is also a concern for older people who have difficulty heating their homes to a comfortable level because of the bigger energy bills we are facing.
‘There is concern too for those with restricted mobility, who may find it harder to get out and about while travel disruption prevents people from being able to get from one place to another safely.
‘There are also simple steps we can all take to ensure no one feels they are facing this period alone.
‘Bad weather may make it difficult for people to get out for essential shopping or medical appointments, so we’d urge everyone to check in on older family, friends and neighbours during this period to find out if they need any extra support.
‘A friendly phone call or an offer to help with shopping, collecting prescriptions or de-icing paths could be a lifeline for someone who feels isolated at home during this cold spell.’
‘Older people, their carers and families in Scotland looking for help or advice can call Age Scotland’s free helpline on 0800 12 44 222.’