Britain faces four inches of snow in new alert

JUST as you thought it was safe to go back outside, Britain is back on snow alert with some parts facing up to four inches today.

Commuters are warned to expect disruption on transport networks as wintry weather returns.

Stormy conditions this weekend will whip up gales and unleash torrential downpours across the country.

A deep, low-pressure system will swipe southern Britain on Friday night bringing widespread wet and windy weather.

The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning for snow across the East Midlands, north-west England, Wales, the West Midlands, Yorkshire and Humber today. Met Office forecaster Martin Bowles said mild air laden with moisture will sweep in off the Atlantic triggering snowfall.

He said: “We have a front coming in from the South-west, we also have some relatively cold air still over parts of Britain which means showers will fall as snow. We could see up to four inches of snow over high ground overnight.”

Chief forecaster Andy Page warned to expect icy roads and pavements with wintry conditions threatening travel disruption.

He said: “An area of rain will arrive into south-western parts of England and Wales. This will move north-eastwards and turn increasingly to snow over the high ground of Wales, parts of the Midlands and into parts of northern England with some snow to lower levels later.

“One to three centimetres is likely in some places, with five centimetres above 200 metres and possibly 10 centimetres [four inches] on roads above 300 metres [980ft].

“Some roads and railways are likely to be affected with longer journey times.”

Milder air from the Atlantic will push temperatures towards the 59F (15C) mark this weekend although it will bring stormy conditions.

Southern England faces torrential downpours and the risk of gales from tomorrow night and through the weekend.

Met Office forecaster Aidan McGivern said the immediate risk will be from wind and rain although Scotland could see further snowfall.

He said: “As we begin the weekend we are keeping a close eye on this low, there’s the threat of tightly-spaced isobars giving strong winds and some heavy rainfall, as it moves into colder air in the north there is a risk of snow.

“It looks fairly likely that this weekend will remain unsettled with low pressure in charge. That low is bringing outbreaks of rain and strong winds particularly across the South where it will be quite mild.”