UK snow update: Polar ice blast to see Britain bombarded by fresh heavy snowfall as new warnings issued

UK snow update: Polar ice blast to see Britain bombarded by fresh heavy snowfall as new warnings issued

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GB News
Holly Bishop

By Holly Bishop


Published: 09/02/2024

- 09:10

Updated: 09/02/2024

- 09:58

Power cuts and travel disruptions are likely, the Met Office has warned

Weather warnings are still in place across the UK, as Britain is set to be battered by even more snow and ice in a wintery Polar blast.

Yellow snow and ice alerts have been issued throughout large areas of Scotland, with the Met Office warning of power cuts and travel disruptions.


The warnings come amid a 48-hour Polar pressure wave hitting Britain, with new weather maps showing regions being blasted by snow and ice since 6.00am this morning.

The wintery wall of snow and ice will travel north, covering John o’ Groats, Britain’s most northeastern tip, by 3.00pm.

Weather map/Snow falls in Knaresborough, in North Yorkshire

Weather warnings issued by the Met Office are still in place across the UK, as Britain is set to be battered by a wintery Polar blast

WX Charts/PA

The weather warnings issued by the Met Office will run into the weekend, with the first alert beginning at 12.00pm yesterday and the second ending at 6.00pm tomorrow.

Aberdeen, Stirling, Perth and Kinross, the Highlands, the Orkney Islands and Starthclyde are all covered by the warnings, which are in place across almost the entirety of Scotland.

The weather forecaster has warned that affected regions could also experience issues with mobile phone coverage.

Rural communities could be cut off, whilst travel delays are also likely, the Met Office has cautioned.

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WX Charts weather map

The map shows a flurry of snow and rain hitting the UK

WX Charts

Injuries could also occur due to the icy surfaces, so the forecaster has advised people to amend their travel plans if necessary.

They said: “Outbreaks of sleet and snow will gradually spread northwards across the warning area during Friday afternoon and through Saturday.

"Accumulations will vary from place to place, but some areas are expected to see 1-3 cm of snow through this period, and perhaps as much as 10-20 cm in some locations on higher ground (above about 300 metres).

“Ice will be an additional hazard. During Saturday, milder conditions will follow from the south with sleet and snow turning to rain.”

Alongside the alerts, over 60 flood warnings have been issued across southern, central, and north-east England.

Man running through the snow

The forecaster has warned that injuries could also occur due to the icy surfaces

PA

Heavy snow in Allenheads, Northumberland

Hundreds of schools have been shut due to the heavy snow

PA

Earlier in the week, rare amber alerts were issued by the forecaster as snow fell across the country.

In Kirkwall, Scotland, around 10cm of snow was recorded, whilst 9cm was recorded in Bingley, West Yorkshire.

The barrage of snow caused hundreds of schools to close, with the Welsh county of Flintshire deciding to shut all 88 of its schools.

Other areas affected by school closures were Bradford with eight, Powys with six, Kirklees had four and Derbyshire with two.

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