Rare amber severe weather warnings for snow and ice have been issued by the Met Office threatening to cut off power for whole communities. The national weather agency said Arctic air cascading down across the nation will be a “prolonged spell of very cold weather” for the start of the New Year.
Amber warnings for snow are in place covering parts of northern and eastern Scotland from midday on Friday January 2 for 24 hours and yellow warnings for snow and ice also remain in force across parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and central and southern England.
According to the Met Office, temperatures will drop well below average during the cold snap with “widespread frost and ice and an increasing risk of snow showers”. Amber warnings also mean there is a good chance that some rural communities could become cut off completely by power cuts and other services, such as mobile phone coverage, may be affected.
Chief Forecaster, Neil Armstrong, said “With Arctic air now covering most of the UK, very cold weather will continue through the weekend, with minus double figures overnight in places and daytime temperatures struggling to rise above 0°C for some.
“It looks like this cold spell could last well into next week and wintry hazards will continue with more weather warnings likely. It is therefore important people keep up to date with the latest forecast and warnings and plan ahead.”
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has also issued amber cold health alerts for England until January 6. Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, said: “As the colder weather sets in it is vital to check in on friends, family and neighbours that are most vulnerable.
“The forecast temperatures can have a serious impact on the health of some people, leading to increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections, particularly for individuals over the age of 65 and those with pre-existing health conditions.”
With amber warnings affecting much of Scotland, George Fiddes from Transport Scotland said: “Particularly cold weather is expected this week which is likely to impact driving conditions in the areas covered by the yellow warning, so our advice to motorists is to plan your journey, leave extra time if needed and drive to the conditions.
“The Traffic Scotland website gives people access to the latest information on the trunk road network and the Traffic Scotland X/Twitter page is also updated regularly so you can check if your route is available before setting off.
“There may also be disruption on other modes of transport, so please check with your operator before setting off if you’re planning to travel by rail, ferry or air.”
Age Scotland’s policy director, Adam Stachura, said: “With such cold temperatures and icy conditions ahead, try and make sure you have enough food and any important medications at home to reduce the need for unnecessary and potentially risky trips.
“This is particularly important if you have mobility challenges or are unsteady on your feet by avoiding slips, falls and the need for medical attention.
“If heating your home is a challenge, try and stay warm in the room or place you will spend most of your time by wearing layered clothing, taking warm drinks and food with some regular movement to help with circulation and keeping your muscles active. And if you are out clearing paths and your drive of snow an ice, please think about also doing so for your older neighbours to help make it easier for them to leave the house if they need to. That act of kindness will go a long way.”
The Met Office’s WeatherReady campaign offers practical advice to help you prepare your home, garden, and daily routines for winter weather. For the latest warnings and forecasts, visit: Met Office warnings and advice
Today:
Patchy rain and hill snow clear southwards through the day, followed by sunny spells from the north. Northern Scotland sees frequent snow showers with significant accumulations over the hills. Strong to gale-force winds affect northern and eastern areas. Cold everywhere.
Tonight:
Clear skies for many with an early frost. Snow showers persist in the north, while sleet and snow spreads south across Northern Ireland into parts of England and Wales later.
Friday:
Patchy rain, sleet, and snow move south across England and Wales Friday morning. Snow showers in the north becoming more widespread, especially in areas exposed to the brisk northerly wind.
Outlook for Saturday to Monday:
Often cold and sunny with severe overnight frosts. Snows showers continue to affect many areas exposed to the brisk northerly wind. Risk of more organised sleet and snow at times.