Snow started falling in London today as Britain remained in a deep freeze with temperatures set to plunge further to -11C amid a swathe of weather warnings.
People across the capital began seeing flurries at 9am this morning as the Met Office said the wintry weather ‘could create some particularly tricky travel conditions’.
Snow has been falling across Scotland since yesterday as a cold snap grips the UK, while a yellow warning for snow and ice in Northern Ireland runs until 12pm today.
Much of northern Scotland faces a yellow warning until 9pm tomorrow, with the same applying until 11.59pm tomorrow for much of North East England and Yorkshire.
The Met Office said rain and hill snow, followed by clearing skies, will lead to the risk of icy patches into this morning during the ‘first notable cold snap of this autumn’.
Elsewhere a yellow warning for ice was in place across much of Wales, northern and central England and southern Scotland until 11am today.
Forecasters also issued an amber snow warning in parts of Yorkshire tomorrow between 5am and 9pm, as it said power cuts and travel delays on roads were likely.
Frequent wintry showers will feed inland from the North Sea, giving significant snow accumulations over the North York Moors and parts of the Yorkshire Wolds.
By the end of tomorrow, up to 25cm (10in) may have accumulated on hills above 100m elevation which is likely to cause ‘substantial disruption’, the Met Office said.
It added that power cuts and travel delays on roads were likely, possibly stranding some vehicles and passengers.
Network Rail said speed restrictions could be implemented to ensure trains can travel safely through areas impacted by bad weather, which may result in cancellations.
Met Office chief forecaster Neil Armstrong said: ‘Cold Arctic air from the north is firmly in charge of the UK’s weather, bringing the first notable cold snap of this autumn and giving an early taste of winter weather.
‘As a result, winter hazards are likely through the next few days, with snow and ice a particular hazard, and the coldest conditions likely on Wednesday and Thursday.
‘Wintry showers will affect areas exposed to the brisk northerly wind, in particular Northern Ireland, south-west Wales, south-west England, north-east England and across the northern half of Scotland.
‘Whilst not all places will see lying snow, where showers are most frequent accumulations of 2cm to 5cm will be possible.
‘On higher ground in Scotland 15cm to 20cm could accumulate and potentially as much as 15cm to 25cm over the North York Moors and Yorkshire Wolds.’
A yellow weather warning has also been issued for snow and ice across South West Wales and South West England from midday today to 11.59pm tomorrow.
In addition to snow, ice will be an ongoing hazard, particularly overnight in the coming days.
Things will be drier for many by Friday, with temperatures gradually turning milder and rain reaching the West later in the day.
Mr Armstrong said: ‘Temperatures are well below average for the time of year and could get as low as -11C in rural parts of Scotland on Thursday night, with daytime temperatures generally in low single figures for many.
‘With clear skies, overnight ice could create some particularly tricky travel conditions.’
Darren Clark, severe weather resilience adviser at National Highways said: ‘With snow forecast and freezing conditions across parts of England this week, National Highways winter operation is in full swing with gritters already completing their first runs of the season.
‘We have more than 530 gritters available nationally and we can rapidly call on additional reserves when snow hits or conditions demand it.
‘We work closely with the Met Office, receiving updated forecasts throughout the day and our crews are on duty around the clock, ready to head out whenever they’re needed.
‘We’re also urging drivers to prepare for winter, and not be caught out by it. Quick checks, such as topping up fuel and screenwash, checking lights and tyres, and planning ahead, can make all the difference when the weather turns.’
The coldest night since March was recorded on Saturday when temperatures dropped to -7C in Tulloch Bridge in the Highlands.
Meanwhile Britain could be set for another ‘Beast from the East’ next month as meteorologists monitor forecasts following this week’s cold snap.
The Met Office has revealed forecast models are suggesting the potential for a phenomenon called Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW).
This caused the Beast from the East in February 2018 when the UK was hit by significant snowfall.
SSW – which could happen in the coming weeks – refers to rapid warming in the stratosphere, which can switch the direction of winds, bringing easterlies to Britain.
This change can alter the UK’s weather patterns, weakening low pressure areas and moving the jet stream south – leading to high pressure over the North Atlantic, which blocks the flow of mild Atlantic air and drags in cold air from the continent.
SSW events are therefore linked to very cold weather, with the Beast from the East caused when an icy blast of freezing Siberian winds brought freezing temperatures and heavy snow in 2018 – causing travel chaos compounded when Storm Emma hit.
The Met Office said SSW events do not always cause very cold weather, but greatly increase the chance of it because a cold snap is more likely to follow than not.
The conditions in February 2018 were among the worst the UK has experienced in recent decades – with thousands of schools closed, hospital appointments cancelled, transport networks grinding to a halt and motorists stranded in cars overnight.
Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon told the Mail: ‘This year there is a signal for a sudden stratospheric warming very early in the season, near the end of November.
‘Although we occasionally see such events in November, it is relatively early in the winter for this to be occurring.
‘This suggests that the chances of a cold start to winter is higher than in recent years, though it’s too early to be definitive about precise impacts on the UK at this stage.’
