Cold weather and snow warnings issued for south-west England
Snow and ice set to disrupt travel as people return to school or work
Temperatures are forecast to stay low across the UK, with warnings of snow and ice coming into effect, including for south-west England.
A yellow weather warning for snow and ice covers much of south-west England, Wales, and Greater Manchester, signalling potentially hazardous conditions in the coming days. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has also issued a cold weather alert for England, running until Tuesday.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA, has advised people to check in on vulnerable friends, family, and neighbours during this cold period.
Dr Sousa said: "The forecast temperatures can have a serious impact on the health of some people, leading to increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, and chest infections, particularly for individuals over the age of 65 and those with pre-existing health conditions."
The impact of cold weather warnings
The Met Office has cautioned that travel disruptions could occur in areas affected by snow and ice warnings. Rural communities may find themselves cut off, and there’s a possibility of cancelled flights and disrupted mobile phone coverage.
Matthew Lehnert, chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said colder weather in the north of Scotland could bring 20cm-30cm of snow by Monday morning. He added: "Elsewhere in the UK, snow showers, ice and frost are expected at times, but milder air will make attempts to spread eastward from Tuesday.
"This will mean rain becomes more likely in the south, but there is also the possibility of more organised snow along the boundary of the mild and cold air masses. Strong winds could also be a feature later in the week."
Advice for travelling in snowy conditions
As people head back to school or work after the festive break, motorists in the south-west are advised to be alert to challenging winter conditions.
George Fiddes from Transport Scotland said particularly cold weather could affect driving conditions.
Fiddes said: "Our advice to motorists is to plan your journey, leave extra time if needed, and drive to the conditions."
Many areas across the UK were already under weather warnings during the weekend, and another 1cm-3cm of snow is expected to fall in warning zones. Higher areas, including parts of the north and west, could see significantly more snow.
To stay informed of the latest updates and advice, check the Met Office website or follow its alerts closely.