The UK is bracing for a harsh winter weekend, with heavy snow and freezing rain set to hit parts of England and Wales. The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings, predicting widespread disruption due to the bitter conditions, especially in northern England, the Midlands, and much of Wales.
The Met Office has upgraded its weather alerts, issuing an amber warning for snow and freezing rain across most of Wales, central England, and the north-west cities of Liverpool and Manchester. This warning is in effect from 18:00 on Saturday until noon on Sunday. Additionally, a snow warning is in place for northern England, including Leeds, Sheffield, and the Lake District, from 21:00 on Saturday to midnight on Sunday.
The UK is expected to experience dangerous weather conditions, including temperatures as low as -10C in rural Scotland, with an Arctic wind bringing bitterly cold weather that could last into next week.
Snowfall and Impact on Travel
BBC Weather forecasts up to 40 cm (15.7 inches) of snow across northern England and southern Scotland from late Saturday into Monday. Wales and northern and central England are expected to see significant snow and freezing rain, with 3-7 cm of snow expected, and up to 30 cm on higher ground. These weather conditions could lead to widespread travel disruption, including power cuts, stranded vehicles, delayed or cancelled rail and air travel, and rural communities potentially being cut off.
Vulnerable Groups and Health Concerns
As the cold snap continues, health officials are urging the public to check in on vulnerable people, particularly the elderly and those with health conditions. The UK Health Security Agency has issued warnings about the potential health risks posed by the extreme temperatures. NHS officials have also reported a sharp increase in hospitalizations due to flu, with 5,000 flu patients in hospitals across England by the end of last week almost 3.5 times higher than the same week in 2023.
On Friday, temperatures plummeted to -7.5C in Shap, Cumbria, and -6.7C at Bournemouth Airport. In Scotland, temperatures fell to -6.4C in Eskdalemuir, Dumfries and Galloway, and in Wales, the lowest recorded temperature was -5.1C in Usk. In Northern Ireland, Katesbridge saw a low of -5.7C.
Incidents Linked to Weather Conditions
The icy weather has already caused several incidents. Police are investigating whether a crash on Thursday night near Grantham, which resulted in the death of a seven-month-old boy, was caused by icy road conditions. Additionally, three hillwalkers had to be rescued in the Cairngorms in Scotland after getting into difficulty amid the wind and snow.
