Met Office forecast 18-hours of 'disruptive' snow to fall as warnings extended

09 February 2024 , 09:08

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Heavy snow in Allenheads in Northumberland (Image: PA)

The Met Office has updated its weather warnings as heavy snow is expected to continue into the weekend.

Disruption from snow and ice is "likely" in northern Scotland for around 18 hours on Friday and Saturday, according to the national forecaster.

It follows widespread winter showers across the UK on Thursday, with many towns and cities across northern England and Wales seeing several inches of settled snow by the late afternoon.

A warning from the Met Office reads: "Outbreaks of sleet and snow will continue overnight into Friday. Accumulations will vary from place to place and will mainly be across high ground (above about 200 metres) - here, some areas are expected to see 1-3 cm of snow through this period but perhaps as much as 8-10 cm in a few locations, mainly above 300 metres. On low ground, rain is more likely."

Met Office weather warning for Friday 9 February (Met Office)

Offering advice to drivers who may face hazardous conditions, the agency added: "Snowy, wintry weather can cause delays and make driving conditions dangerous. Keep yourself and others safe by planning your route, giving yourself extra time for your journey.

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"Check for road closures or delays to public transport and amend plans if necessary. If driving, make sure you have some essentials in your car in the event of any delays (e.g., warm clothing, food, water, a blanket, a torch, ice scraper/de-icer, a warning triangle, high visibility vest and an in-car phone charger).

The Met Office also said it may be necessary to "amend your travel plans" in an affected area if conditions suddenly change The new warning will expire at 3pm on Saturday.

The Met Office's latest UK-wide forecast for Friday reads: "Today, there will be a continuation of the wintry showers in the far north, with a band of rain and mainly hill snow across central areas initially, but moving northwards through the day. Cloudier in the south with some showers, these locally heavy. Mild in the south, colder elsewhere.

"Tonight, rain and hill snow persist across north and east Scotland. Elsewhere, patchy and cloudy with some showers or longer spells of rain. Fog patches may develop underneath the clearest spells.

"Tomorrow will see rain and some snow persisting in the far north, mostly over higher ground. Further south there are likely to be occasional brighter interludes once any fog clears, with showers, these mostly in the west."

Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas