08 March 2023 , 14:59
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A "risk of life" amber snow warning has been issued for huge swathes of England as Brits are urged to stay safe in the wintry conditions.
It brings warning of "heavy snow" and "significant disruption" and affects the North West, Yorkshire & Humber, North East, and East Midlands.
An amber warning could bring a "potential risk to life" according to the Met Office, as they cautioned Brits to reconsider their plans.
The newly issued warning covers from Ashbourne in the midlands, north over central England, including Leeds and Sheffield, to Barnard Castle, near Durham from Thursday to Friday.
The Met Office added it could bring as much as 40cm of snow in some places as well as strong winds.
Gales, snow and rain to batter country today with 80mph wind gusts
The amber warning brings a 'potential risk to life' (PA)It could also cause travel delays and power cuts as well and kicks in Thursday at 3pm and is in place until midday Friday with a focus around the Pennines.
In a statement, the forecasters said: "An Amber warning for snow has been issued covering an area from the south of the Peak District up to the North Pennines, valid from 1500 Thursday to 1200 Friday. 10-20cm of snow is likely to fall across much of the area, with 30-40cm in some places, and will be accompanied by strong winds."
Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Matthew Lehnert, added: “The boundary between milder and colder air will slowly move north through Wednesday and overnight, moving the chances of snow further north with it.
Met Office Weather Warning Wed 8th March (Met Office)
Met Office Weather Warning Friday 10th March (Met Office)"Snow will have settled quite widely in central parts of the UK as we move into Thursday morning leaving tricky conditions for the morning travel period. It will be another very cold night, especially under clear skies in Scotland where temperatures could get down to -15°C again tonight.
“An Amber warning for snow has been issued for the high ground running north in the centre of northern England as snow redevelops through the course of Thursday and persist until early Friday. Here we could see up to 40cm of snow accompanied by strong winds causing blizzard conditions.”
It comes after the Met Office has issued a string of weather warnings across this week, but none as severe as the most recent one.
According to the forecasters, an amber warning leads to "an increased likelihood of impacts from severe weather, which could potentially disrupt your plans.
"This means there is the possibility of travel delays, road and rail closures, power cuts and the potential risk to life and property. You should think about changing your plans and taking action to protect yourself and your property.
A number of Brits haven't let the wintry conditions stop them getting out and about (PA)"You may want to consider the impact of the weather on your family and your community and whether there is anything you need to do ahead of the severe weather to minimise the impact."
The UK is under three separate yellow weather warnings today, concentrated on south, central and east England, Wales, the North East, and the north of Scotland.
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Then, tomorrow, the UK is affected by five separate warnings, including the amber snow warning.
Motorists have been urged to consider if any journeys over today and the rest of week are necessary amid the difficult driving conditionsAlmost the entire British Isles is under a weather warning of some kind, with only bits of the south, parts of Wales, and central Scotland escaping the snow, sleet and ice.
By Friday, only there weather warnings will be in place, a snow yellow weather warning over Northern Ireland, the amber snow warning over central and northern England, and another yellow snow warning covering Britain from Glasgow, south to Coventry across England and Wales.