An amber weather warning has been issued as parts of the UK are set to see as much as 25cm of snowfall this week as temperatures plunge in the first cold snap of the winter.
The Met Office has warned that the next seven days will be “markedly colder” than it was last week, with “harsh frost” and snow expected on some days.
Parts of Yorkshire including York and Scarborough are now subject to an amber weather warning from 5am to 9pm on Thursday, with travel delays and power cuts likely.
The forecaster has issued multiple yellow weather warnings for snow and ice affecting parts of Scotland and northern England from Monday to Thursday, with sub-zero temperatures expected.
Three are in place on Tuesday, while four cover northern Scotland, the south west, and the east coast on Thursday. Forecasters have warned of potential snowfall in Wales, Yorkshire, and norther Scotland towards the end of the week.
It comes as yellow and amber health alerts from the UK Health Security Agency for cold weather came into place on Monday.
The amber warning is in place for the North East, North West and Yorkshire and the Humber, while a yellow alert is in place for the rest of England until 8am on Saturday.
Wet weather is expected across Scotland, Northern Ireland, and northern and western parts of England and Wales on Tuesday.
“With that cold air we have across us, no wonder we are going to see some sleet and snow mixed in with that as well,” Met office meteorologist Alex Burkill said.
Icy patches are expected across the country on Tuesday, which may lead to some “difficult, slippery conditions”, and parts of Scotland may see snow.
He continued: “There is an area of low pressure that’s pushing its way southwards as we go through Tuesday night and into Wednesday, and that’s bringing the focus for that burst of showery rain, with a bit of sleet, bit of hill snow mixed in, but a lot of that is going to be clearing away towards the south as we go through the morning.”
Temperatures for much of the UK will be down “a couple of degrees” on Wednesday, including across the south where it will turn colder than average for this time of year.
Deputy Chief Forecaster Tom Crabtree explained: “Wednesday to Friday will be the coldest part of the week, and this period has the greatest potential for impactful weather, with multiple warnings in place.
“Overnight, temperatures could get down to minus ten, with a significant wind chill from the strong northerly wind making things feel even colder.
“I’m not sure how much wintry stuff we’re going to see across the southern areas, mostly just falling as rain.”
He added: “Northern parts of Scotland seeing plenty, and also down the eastern side of England and eastern Scotland as well – plenty of these rain, sleet and snow showers.”
By Wednesday, most of the country will be under a cold Arctic airmass, with a strong and cold flow making temperatures feel colder. There are four yellow snow and ice warnings in place covering northern Scotland, the east coast from Newcastle to Hull, and southwest Wales and parts of Devon and Cornwall.
Two yellow ice warnings are in place covering the southwest and northwest and central Scotland.
Deputy Chief Forecaster Tom Crabtree said this would be the coldest part of the week, with temperatures expected to get down to minus ten.
Wintry snow showers are expected to extend south through Wednesday and into Thursday, mainly affecting north facing coastal areas.
Forecasters said the North York Moors and parts of the Yorkshire Wolds could potentially receive 15-25 cm of snow by Thursday, warning of potential disruption. Yellow snow and ice warnings remain in place for the east coast from Newcastle to Hull, northern Scotland, and southwest Wales and parts of Devon and Cornwall.
Mr Crabtree said: “With sub-zero temperatures in the first ‘cold snap’ of the year, updates to the current warnings are possible, so its important people keep up to date with the forecast.”
