Brits are set to be battered by more snow and rain this weekend from a fresh Arctic bomb hitting the country.
Snow and ice have been hazards this week with plummeting temperatures and we are in store for more extreme weather this weekend with it hitting on Saturday.
A map from WXCharts shows up to 22 centimetres of snow falling this Saturday in northern Scotland while most of the country is coloured purple with some snow flurries likely.
There could be up to seven centimetres in northern England on Saturday and then gradually as it becomes warmer in the south the flurries are mainly limited to Scotland by Sunday.
Sub-zero temperatures have been seen in much of the UK this week, reaching as low as -11.2°C at Braemar in Aberdeenshire while there has also been plenty of snowfall with flurries 12cm deep reported at Watnall, Nottinghamshire.
Yellow weather warnings for frequent snow showers and possible hail have been issued in many parts of north and west Scotland, from Wednesday morning to midday on Thursday. While there are also alerts for snow and ice for parts of northwest England and Wales, eastern areas of the country and the southwest for today and tomorrow.
But while Friday is free from Met Office warnings, there are fresh alerts in place for rain and snow this weekend. Maps also show a low pressure bringing rain clouds in from the west which could also lead to snow where it hits the cold.
The yellow warning for rain and snow across Scotland and Northern England runs from 4am Saturday until 9am on Sunday. It states: "Heavy snow on Saturday, followed by a rapid thaw and subsequent rain on Saturday night, may cause some disruption."
The Met Office states: "Temperatures are likely to increase from the southwest this weekend, though this will be accompanied by some strong winds and heavy rain. There’s also likely to be further snowfall in the north for a time, mainly over higher ground, as part of the transition to the milder regime, with further detail likely on this element of the forecast in the coming days."
And Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Mike Silverstone said: “A deep area of low pressure looks likely to influence the UK’s weather this weekend. While this will bring in milder air to most parts, it also brings with it some heavy rain and strong winds at times. It’s too early for precise detail, but there’s a potential for further warnings.”
While Met Office spokesperson Andrea Bishop highlighted the heavy rain set for the south of the UK this weekend. She said: “A deep area of low pressure is expected to bring a spell of prolonged and, at times, heavy rainfall across a large part of the UK this weekend. Across south-west England, rain is expected to develop during Saturday morning with heavier rain likely later in the day and overnight into early Sunday morning.
“Fifty to 75mm of rain is expected to fall fairly widely during this time with a chance that some places over Dartmoor could see 100-125mm. Strong southerly winds will accompany the heavy rain and may locally exacerbate impacts.”
RAC spokesperson Rod Dennis called on motorists to properly de-ice vehicles and ensure the entire windscreen is clear, rather than rushing out of the house “with a tiny little space” to see the road. Mr Dennis added: “We’ve seen, as you would probably expect, a really sharp rise in breakdowns – predominantly from a lot of people’s batteries failing in the cold, which is inevitable.”
“Adopt a cautious driving style” in areas with risk of black ice and “be gentle on the accelerator, never be tempted to step on the brake” as it could cause issues on slippery roads, he said. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued the first amber cold weather health alert of the season, warning conditions could be dangerous for vulnerable people, including the elderly.