Snow and ice deep freeze onslaught sparks amber climate warning for 2 large UK areas

Temperatures have already dropped across the UK as the first weekend of 2025 is billed to be absolutely freezing sparking new amber weather warnings for two regions

Amber weather warnings are in place (Image: Getty Images)

This weekend’s onslaught of snow and ice has sparked two new amber weather warnings.

The Met Office has issued alerts to parts of England and Wales set for the deepest and ultimately most dangerous freeze.

A warning for snow and freezing rain covering most of Wales and central England is in place from 6pm on Saturday to midday on Sunday, the Met Office said.

The second warning for snow, covering most of northern England, has been issued from 9pm on Saturday to midnight on Sunday.

Up to 30cm of snowfall is expected locally in both warning areas, with 3 to 7cm likely in other areas. It comes after a series of yellow weather warnings were already issued across the UK by the forecaster between Friday and Monday.

Amber or yellow, most of the UK has been warned of the weather this weekend

The UKHSA has issued cold weather health alerts for all of England until January 8, meaning a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions, is likely.

Regions and local authorities warned of snow:

East Midlands

  • Derbyshire
  • Lincolnshire
  • Nottinghamshire

North East England

  • Darlington
  • Durham
  • Gateshead
  • Newcastle upon Tyne
  • Northumberland
  • Stockton-on-Tees
An amber warning suggests the weather could pose a serious threat to public safety (Image: Getty Images)

North West England

  • Blackburn with Darwen
  • Cumbria
  • Greater Manchester
  • Lancashire
  • Merseyside

West Midlands

  • Staffordshire

Yorkshire & Humber

  • East Riding of Yorkshire
  • North Lincolnshire
  • North Yorkshire
  • South Yorkshire
  • West Yorkshire
  • York
Driving probably isn’t a good idea in certain areas this weekend (Image: Getty Images)

Regions and local authorities warned of snow and ice:

East Midlands

  • Derby
  • Derbyshire
  • Leicester
  • Leicestershire
  • Lincolnshire
  • Northamptonshire
  • Nottingham
  • Nottinghamshire
  • Rutland

London & South East England

  • Buckinghamshire
  • Oxfordshire

North West England

  • Cheshire East
  • Cheshire West and Chester
  • Greater Manchester
  • Halton
  • Lancashire
  • Merseyside
  • Warrington

South West England

  • Gloucestershire
  • South Gloucestershire
  • Wiltshire

Wales

  • Blaenau Gwent
  • Bridgend
  • Caerphilly
  • Cardiff
  • Carmarthenshire
  • Ceredigion
  • Conwy
  • Denbighshire
  • Flintshire
  • Gwynedd
  • Merthyr Tydfil
  • Monmouthshire
  • Neath Port Talbot
  • Newport
  • Pembrokeshire
  • Powys
  • Rhondda Cynon Taf
  • Swansea
  • Torfaen
  • Vale of Glamorgan
  • Wrexham
Article continues below

West Midlands

  • Herefordshire
  • Shropshire
  • Staffordshire
  • Stoke-on-Trent
  • Telford and Wrekin
  • Warwickshire
  • West Midlands Conurbation
  • Worcestershire

Yorkshire & Humber

  • East Riding of Yorkshire
  • North Lincolnshire
Met OfficeSnowUK WeatherWeather Forecast