UK weather: Drivers braced for ‘impactful snow’ to wreak havoc on roads

Drivers have been warned to pack a torch and warm clothes should they become stranded this week as “impactful snow” lashes large parts of Britain.

On Tuesday, the UK was braced for the coldest evening of the year, as Arctic air continued to move south across the country.

The Met Office has forecast a low of -15C overnight in sheltered areas of the Scottish Glens, which would be the coldest March night since 2010 and surpass the current lowest temperature of -10.4C, recorded near Inverness in the Highlands on Jan 19.

Multiple “national severe warnings” for snow and ice have been issued by the Met Office, which warned that “further warnings are likely to be issued throughout the week” with “impactful snow for many”.

Yellow weather warnings for snow and ice will be in force across parts of the South East, London, the West Country, the Midlands and Wales from Wednesday, with the North East, Yorkshire and much of Scotland already covered.

It means disruption to some roads and railways is likely, along with a risk of falls.

Parts of the Home Counties, including Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, woke up to snow on Tuesday. Forecasters are expecting 2cm-10cm of snow across the south of England and the Midlands on Wednesday.

However, “heavy snow” is then expected to sweep across all of England north of Birmingham and Scotland on Thursday and Friday, of 10cm-15cm on lower ground and 30cm-40cm on higher ground, prompting another Met Office yellow warning which says it “has the potential to cause significant disruption”.

Dale Hipkiss, the national network manager at National Highways, said: “Keeping a kit of essential items like a torch and warm clothes, in your vehicle, can be vital in case you and your passengers become stranded in winter.

“Freezing conditions bring so many hazards such as snow and ice and take every possible step to understand your journey in advance and allow lots of extra time when travelling to prepare for the unexpected.”

Matthew Lehnert, the chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “Snow could lead to some travel disruption, with a chance some rural communities in the north could be cut off.

“The focus for the snow moves to southern England and South Wales on Wednesday… Further snow and hail showers are also expected along northern coasts, especially in northern Scotland..”

He added: “During the afternoon, a further spell of sleet and snow is likely to develop across southern England and South Wales which could cause travel disruption into the evening. The impact of lying snow and ice on untreated surfaces may have an impact on Thursday morning travel.”

The UK Health Security Agency has extended its “level three cold weather alert” to cover the whole of England until midnight on Thursday, its second-highest alert, which means a health risk to the vulnerable.

The coldest temperature recorded last March was -9.1C in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire and the coldest March night ever was in 1958 – -22.8C at Logie Coldstone, Aberdeenshire.