Heavy snow and ice to hit UK as Met Office issues new amber warnings

The Met Office has issued two amber weather warnings of “potential risk to life” from snow and ice as a swathe of the UK prepares for more weather chaos.

Both come into effect on Thursday, with the first covering north Wales and north-west Shropshire, and the other the Peak District and south Pennines.

The warning in Wales and Shropshire lasts from 8am until 3pm. The warning for the Peak District and Pennines lasts 12pm to 6pm.

Up to eight inches of snow are expected in parts of England, Wales and Northern Ireland throughout the day.

The band of heavy snow is expected to disrupt rail and air travel, while damage to property, and cuts to power and mobile phone services are possible.

It will hit the West Midlands and northern England, including Yorkshire, while large parts of Wales and Northern Ireland will be affected by wintry showers from 6am on Thursday until 6am on Friday morning.

Up to 25cm could fall across some hilly parts of the UK, the Met Office warned, with 1-2cm possible at lower levels and 2-5cm on ground above 200 metres.

Above-average temperatures will give way to a winter freeze that could see –10°C in rural parts of Scotland on Wednesday night, according to the Met Office.

A yellow weather warning for ice was issued for Scotland. It will remain in place until 12pm on Wednesday covering the Highlands, Western Isles, Orkney, Shetland and parts of Argyll and Bute and central Scotland.

On Tuesday evening, the Met Office extended the warning further east and south to include Glasgow and Aberdeen.

The forecaster has also warned of possible delays in air and road travel in Scotland.

Its deputy chief meteorologist Chris Almond said: “While the early part of this week will see some rain, at times heavy, gradually sinking southwards, there’s an increased signal for wintry hazards as we move through the week as cold air from the north moves over the UK.

“It’s from Thursday that the snow risk becomes more potentially impactful, as mild air attempts to move back in from the south, bumping into the cold air and increasing the chance of snow developing on the leading edge.

“While there are still lots of details to work out, the initial snow risk looks highest in northern England and Wales from Thursday.”

Forecasters have warned that people travelling could face difficult driving conditions and transport may be disrupted.

The snow is then expected to ease on Friday and Saturday, with some rain in the south, wintry showers further north, dry spells in the east, with a blanket of cloud covering most of the west.

In England and Wales, sunshine will be hazy today with a cloudier picture in the far south, before the rain returns to the southwest later tonight with frost expected across the country.

This will be followed by a blast of cold air that will gradually sink southwards from the north, making way for wintry showers later in the week.

More scattered snowfall is then expected to spread south, reaching most parts of the UK over the weekend, though there will be spells of intermittent sunshine throughout the weekend with frost expected overnight.

The snow will ease later in the day on Thursday, and may turn back to rain or drizzle, especially in the south and east of the area, the Met Office said.

Further warnings for ice could also be issued later in the week as temperatures drop below average for this time of year.