The Met Office has issued an amber snow warning for parts of the UK, with up to 25cm (10 inches) of snow expected to fall in a matter of hours on Thursday
The Met Office has issued a rare amber snow warning.
Britain is bracing for icy temperatures and snowstorms, with several yellow weather warnings in place today, as well as Wednesday and Thursday. The forthcoming week’s weather will be “markedly colder”, with “harsh frost” and lows of -12C anticipated later this week, the Met Office has warned.
The amber snow warning, effective for much of Thursday, cautions of “significant accumulations” across the North York Moors and parts of the Yorkshire Wolds. As much as 25cm (10 inches) of snow could potentially fall, according to the Met Office.
There has also been a warning that the weather phenomenon responsible for the infamous ‘Beast from the East’ could return later this month and drop the mercury even further.
Almost foot of snow
Met Office Chief Forecaster Neil Armstrong commented: “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, southwest Wales, southwest England, northeast England and across the northern half of Scotland.
“Whilst not all places will see lying snow, where showers are most frequent accumulations of 2-5 cm will be possible. On higher ground in Scotland, 15-20 cm could accumulate, and potentially as much as 15-25 cm over the North York Moors and Yorkshire Wolds.”
Areas in amber snow warning
North East England (Redcar and Cleveland).
Yorkshire and Humber (East Riding of Yorkshire; North Yorkshire).
Icy roads
Meanwhile, several yellow warnings for ice and snow have been issued for the forthcoming days, spanning Northern Ireland, sections of Wales, northern and southwest regions of England and much of Scotland.
An amber cold health alert has been put in place by the UK Health Security Agency for the North West of England, North East of England, Yorkshire and The Humber.
Yellow snow alert
Today, a yellow alert for snow and ice runs from 8pm until 9pm tomorrow for areas of Scotland, cautioning of “frequent snow showers”.
The alert encompasses:
- Central, Tayside & Fife
- Grampian
- Highlands & Eilean Siar
- Orkney & Shetland
- Strathclyde
An additional yellow snow alert is also in place today, covering:
- Central, Tayside & Fife
- Grampian
- Highlands & Eilean Siar
- Strathclyde
Met Office meteorologists warn that Wednesday to Friday will mark the chilliest stretch of the week. On Wednesday, five distinct yellow snow and ice alerts, together with two separate ice warnings, are active.
Tomorrow’s snow and ice warnings impact
- South West England
- Wales
- North East England
- SW Scotland, Lothian Borders
- Yorkshire & Humber
- Northern Ireland
- Central, Tayside & Fife
- Grampian
- Highlands & Eilean Siar
- Orkney & Shetland
- Strathclyde
On Thursday, four snow and ice alerts remain in force, alongside the amber snow alert referenced above.
- North East England
- SW Scotland, Lothian Borders
- Yorkshire & Humber
- South West England
- Wales
- Central, Tayside & Fife
- Grampian
- Highlands & Eilean Siar
- Orkney & Shetland
- Strathclyde
As of Friday, there are currently no weather warnings in place.
Beast from the East returns
The weather phenomenon responsible for the notorious ‘Beast from the East’ blizzard in 2018 may be poised to strike the UK once again. The dreaded Beast from the East caused temperatures to nosedive across Britain. Numerous areas witnessed up to 20 inches of snow blanketing the landscape.
It was triggered by a meteorological event called sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) which, contrary to its title, can deliver freezing temperatures and polar conditions to British shores. Weather experts are now suggesting that SSW could be on the verge of happening again.
According to the Met Office, SSW describes a swift temperature rise (reaching approximately 50C within just a few days) occurring in the stratosphere, positioned between 10km and 50km above Earth’s surface.
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