Winter roars back for one last bite as snow hits
WINTER will deliver its parting shot this weekend, dumping several inches of snow across parts of Britain.
The Met Office has ramped up a raft of severe weather warnings for snow and ice ahead of the “significant cold snap”.
A Government health alert was this week raised to level-3 “Cold Weather Action”.
The caution, issued by the Met Office with Public Health England, warns of “severe cold weather and heavy snow” until Tuesday.
The mercury could sink to -10C (14F) in parts over the coming nights, while daytime temperatures will hover at freezing or below into next week.
Met Office forecaster Aidan McGivern said eastern Britain is in the firing line for the heaviest snowfall today before showers sweep the country. He said: “There is a snow and ice warning in force because by this stage significant accumulations of snow will start to build up.
“It is the East where the cold air will really start to dig in and snow showers will increasingly become widespread.
“As we go through Saturday the cold air will become widespread, cold enough for anywhere to see snowfall.
“Widespread cold air will be in place by Sunday as the focus turns to central and southern Britain. Snow showers are likely to continue through Sunday.”
The Met Office has issued at least nine separate warnings for snow, ice and wind across the UK today.
Amber alerts are in place across central and southern England where the heaviest downpours are expected over the next 24 hours.
Further warnings for heavy and disruptive snowfall have been issued across much of England and Scotland tomorrow.
Public Health England consultant Dr Thomas Wait said: “The weather has felt much milder for the last week or so but this weekend the forecasters tell us it will get much colder again.
“And that may come as a shock to the system for some whose bodies may struggle to cope in cold weather.
“It’s worth remembering that cold temperatures – indoors and outdoors, can affect health, particularly in young children, older people and those with heart and lung conditions.”