Millions of Brits are under a ten hour warning for snow this morning, as people are warned to take care on potentially icy roads.
Several yellow Met Office warnings for snow are in place today for huge swathes of the country, including in the south west and areas of Scotland. Separate warnings are also in place for the danger of ice in the Midlands, the East and the North West of England, Northern Ireland and Wales.
The snow warning in the south west is in place between 5am and 3pm. It reads: “A spell of rain and snow is expected to develop across southwest England early on Thursday. Accumulating snow is most likely over higher ground above 200 metres where 2-5 cm is probable. There is a chance that similar accumulations occur at lower levels in places. Higher parts of Dartmoor could see 5-10 cm.
“There is likely to be a risk of ice developing as skies clear into Thursday night. Snowy, wintry weather can cause delays and make driving conditions dangerous. Keep yourself and others safe by planning your route, giving yourself extra time for your journey.”
Met Office Chief Meteorologist Matthew Lehnert said: “A northerly airflow will continue to feed snow showers into Scotland over the next few days, with this reaching lower levels at times and bringing the potential for some travel disruption.
“On Thursday, a mixture of snow, sleet and rain is likely to affect the southwest which could potentially bring disruption. It’s likely high ground in the area will see snow, with a mixture of conditions likely at lower levels. 2-5cm of snow is possible in places at lower levels, with around 10cm possible over higher parts of Dartmoor.
The ice warnings come into effect later in the day, from 4pm and overnight into Thursday. It reads: “Icy stretches are expected to form on untreated surfaces during Wednesday evening and overnight into Thursday as temperatures drop below freezing. A few sleet or snow showers are also likely at times, particularly close to coasts.”
RAC Breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson added: "The first taste of winter means drivers are suddenly contending with the some of the worst road conditions we’ve seen all year. With freezing temperatures already causing disruption in the east and north of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and snow showers now affecting regions further south, we advise motorists to plan well as ice forms on untreated surfaces.”
Areas affected by the yellow warning for snow (5am-3pm)
South West England
Cornwall
Devon
Dorset
Plymouth
Somerset
Areas affected by the yellow warning for ice (4pm-noon Thursday)
Central, Tayside & Fife
Angus
Perth and Kinross
Stirling
East Midlands
Derbyshire
Lincolnshire
East of England
Norfolk
Suffolk
Grampian
Aberdeen
Aberdeenshire
Moray
Highlands & Eilean Siar
Highland
North East England
Redcar and Cleveland
North West England
Blackburn with Darwen
Blackpool
Cheshire East
Cheshire West and Chester
Cumbria
Greater Manchester
Halton
Lancashire
Merseyside
Warrington
Northern Ireland
County Antrim
County Armagh
County Down
County Londonderry
County Tyrone
SW Scotland, Lothian Borders
Dumfries and Galloway
Strathclyde
Argyll and Bute
East Ayrshire
Inverclyde
North Ayrshire
Renfrewshire
South Ayrshire
West Dunbartonshire
Wales
Conwy
Denbighshire
Flintshire
Gwynedd
Isle of Anglesey
Powys
Wrexham
West Midlands
Shropshire
Staffordshire
Stoke-on-Trent
Telford and Wrekin
West Midlands Conurbation
Yorkshire & Humber
East Riding of Yorkshire
Kingston upon Hull
North East Lincolnshire
North Yorkshire
Areas affected by the yellow warning for ice and snow (10am-noon Thursday)
Grampian
Aberdeenshire
Moray
Highlands & Eilean Siar
Na h-Eileanan Siar
Highland
Orkney & Shetland
Orkney Islands
Shetland Islands
Strathclyde
Argyll and Bute
North Ayrshire