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Warnings of heavy snow have been issued for parts of the UK, as an Arctic blast is expected to freeze the country and disrupt travel.
The Met Office has issued two yellow weather warnings, the second most serious, for parts of England and Wales. Some yellow weather warnings for rain and snow will also be in effect across almost all parts of the country.
Up to 10 inches of snow could fall on higher ground above 300 meters in the Peak District and South Pennines, which is under a yellow warning from noon until 6pm on Thursday.
In north Wales and northwest Shropshire, a separate snow and ice warning will be issued from 8am to 3pm on Thursday, with up to 6 inches of snow expected in areas above 200 metres.
Amy Bukota, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said easterly winds meant places “inland and higher elevations” were likely to see the most snow.
Some travel disruptions are also possible. The forecaster warned that “it is best not to drive in these conditions” unless necessary.
The Met Office map shows the risk of snow and ice on Thursday
(office met)
“The snow could cause very poor driving conditions in parts of the Pennines and Wales, especially during the afternoon and early evening,” Ms Bokota said.
“The cold snap is likely to impact vehicle breakdown levels, with faults such as flat batteries and wiper failures,” she added.
“Make sure you plan your journey times longer, especially in the snow,” said Katherine Chalk, chief meteorologist at the Met Office.
Untreated sidewalks and bike paths may become impassable. Power outages are likely, and there is a good chance some rural communities will be temporarily out of power.
The freezing conditions are the result of a collision of an Arctic air mass pressing down on the UK with a rain front moving north-east across England and Wales.
Yellow weather warnings are spread across the country, covering large parts of Scotland, England, Wales and the whole of Northern Ireland.
“It will be a short-lived cold snap across most of the UK, but will last a little longer across parts of northern England and Scotland into the early hours of Friday and the start of the weekend,” Bokota said.
A single yellow rain warning covers most of southern England and south-east Wales – including London and Cardiff – from 2am on Thursday until 6am on Friday, with 15-25mm of rain possible and up to 45mm on raised roads.
Other yellow snow and ice warnings cover southern and central Scotland from 6pm on Thursday until 3pm on Friday. In Northern Ireland, the warning runs from 10am on Thursday until 6pm on Friday. Snow thickness may reach 3-4 inches in both areas.
