Severe conditions to hit UK this weekend

By Andre Rhoden-Paul & Rachel Russell, Dec. 10: Parts of the UK have been warned to expect severe conditions this weekend, with snow and ice forecast for Scotland and the south-east of England.

Conditions could lead to travel disruption, and a small chance rural communities could be cut off.

A yellow warning is in place for snow and ice for Scotland on Saturday, and ice in Northern Ireland, Wales, and south-west England.

On Sunday the warning for snow spreads to include London and the South East.

Temperatures are forecast to stay low, hitting -10C in some areas.

Met Office chief meteorologist Steve Willington said: “It is staying cold with daytime temperatures remaining only a few degrees above freezing in many places over the coming days and overnight temperatures dropping to -10C or lower in isolated spots.

“Although below average, these temperatures are not that unusual for this time of year.

“There is still a risk we could see some freezing fog in places particularly southern England, especially for Sunday and Monday mornings.”

The Met Office’s four yellow weather warnings include:

– Snow and ice across northern and parts of central Scotland until 12:00 on Sunday

– Ice for much of the western side of England, parts of Northern Ireland, south-west Scotland, and Wales until 12:00 on Sunday

– Snow and ice across northern, central, and eastern Scotland from 15:00 on Saturday until 12:00 on Sunday

– Snow and ice in London, the South East, and East of England from 09:00 on Sunday until 09:00 on Monday

Meteorologist Stav Danaos said in his latest BBC Weather forecast that the cold spell is “here to stay for the foreseeable future”.

He said: “Through Saturday night it stays icy in northern and western areas where we’ve had the showers. Snow drifts southwards into southern Scotland and even north-eastern England too.”

He added: “Into Sunday we need to keep an eye on this weak area of low pressure developing towards the southeast quadrant of England – that could develop into the thicker cloud and perhaps some sleet and snow particularly later in the day, which could affect parts of the south-east and east Anglia.” (BBC)