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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Tim Hanlon

Snow to blanket Britain as ice and fog warnings issued in -15C freeze TODAY

Brits are set for heavy snow with more than 10 inches possibly falling and temperatures dipping to -15C with people warned of ice and freezing fog.

The Met Office has yellow warnings for snow and ice in place for much of Scotland on Saturday as well as Northern Ireland and Wales along with north and western England.

Forecasters brought their yellow warnings for snow and ice forward.

The perishing conditions will affect large parts of the UK with warnings in place for western areas areas of Scotland and snow now expected to reach South East England.

In addition to the north east of Scotland in Aberdeenshire which has already seen heavy snow falls, forecasters from the Met office extended Yellow warnings to other parts of the country just before 7am this morning.

There could be more than 10 inches of snow falling over the weekend (PA)

In the update warning Stirling, Edinburgh and parts Dumfries, Galloway, Lothian & Borders the snow and ice warning warned travel may be affected.

The Met Office said: "Snow and ice will make travelling difficult across central and southern Scotland during Saturday and into Sunday morning.

"Some roads and railways likely to be affected with longer journey times by road, bus and train services. Some injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces"

Icy patches would affect some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths. with wintry showers during this morning.Forecasters have brought their Yellow warnings for snow and ice forward.

There are weather warnings for snow and ice up and down the country (met office)

The perishing conditions will affect large parts of the UK with warnings in place for western areas areas of Scotland and snow now expected to reach South East England.

In addition to the north east of Scotland in Aberdeenshire, which has already seen heavy snow falls, forecasters from the Met office extended Yellow warnings to other parts of the country just before 7am this morning.

In Stirling, Edinburgh and parts Dumfries, Galloway, Lothian & Borders the snow and ice warning warned travel may be affected.

The Met office said: "Snow and ice will make travelling difficult across central and southern Scotland during Saturday and into Sunday morning.

"Some roads and railways likely to be affected with longer journey times by road, bus and train services."

Icy patches will affect some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths. with wintry showers during the morning (Claire Sheppard / SWNS)

Icy patches would affect some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths. with wintry showers during this morning.

The warnings spread on Sunday to include London and the south-east of England, with this area remaining on Monday and with a 30% chance of up to 5cm of snow on Sunday.

The Met Office said the conditions could lead to travel disruption, especially on Monday morning, and a small chance of some rural communities becoming cut off along with a possibility of power cuts and mobile phone coverage being affected.

There is the possibility of significant snow with more than 10 inches falling in Scotland over the weekend but the main concern is for ice on the roads.

Temperatures have dipped to -9C so far in the past few days in Oxfordshire and it could go lower with reports that it could drop as low as -15C (PA)

Temperatures have dipped to -9C so far in the past few days in Oxfordshire and it could go lower with reports that it could drop as low as -15C.

Met Office forecaster Aidan McGivern, looking to Saturday morning, said: "Inland in northern Scotland that snow is continuing to build up and around some of these western coasts of England as well as Wales, Northern Ireland, we will see sleet and snow coming inland as well and some snow building up for the likes of Snowdonia, Cumbria.

"At lower levels there could be patchy snow covering as well by dawn in these spots but more concern are the icy patches because those showers will be coming and going and the air will be freezing, well below freezing.”

Freezing fog is a danger on the roads said Met Office chief meteorologist Steve Willington.

"It is staying cold with daytime temperatures remaining only a few degrees above freezing in many places over the coming days and overnight temperatures dropping to minus 10C or lower in isolated spots," he said.

A woman walks her dog through snow near the Terris Novalis sculpture in Consett, County Durham (PA)

"Although below average, these temperatures are not that unusual for this time of year. There is still a risk we could see some freezing fog in places particularly southern England, especially for Sunday and Monday mornings.

"There is also a small risk of a band of sleet or snow moving into the far south-east on Sunday. If this happens it could potentially bring some disruption, especially to rush hour on Monday. A warning has been issued."

Darren Clark, severe weather resilience manager at National Highways, said gritters would be out to keep motorways and major A-roads open.

He said: "National Highways is committed to treating every road which needs to be treated - whenever it is needed."

The RAC has reported it has been "exceptionally busy" in recent days receiving a quarter more breakdowns than is normal for this time of year.

UK 5 day weather forecast

Headline:

Cold. Some sunshine but scattered wintry showers and freezing fog.

Today:

Wintry showers focused in northern and western areas, with possible snow cover and ice. Near coasts, rain, sleet or hail and possible thunder. Many inland central and southeastern parts sunny but isolated freezing fog patches. Light winds for many. Cold.

Tonight:

Many inland areas clear and frosty, freezing fog becoming more of problem in parts of the south. Wintry showers near northern and western coasts, with ice and snow cover possible.

Sunday:

Some sunshine for most. Wintry showers likely in coastal counties, perhaps focused in northern UK and southwest England initially, but possible snow by evening in parts of southeast England. Cold.

Outlook for Monday to Wednesday:

Remaining cold with sharp overnight frosts and some freezing fog patches, but sunny spells by day. Wintry showers continuing, mainly near coasts. Chance of snow far southeast England early Monday.

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