UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – The UK faces snow and icy conditions with travel alerts in place across Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, and northern England until Monday.
As reported by Sky News, UK forecasters warned of extended snow and ice warnings across the country as freezing conditions continue to disrupt travel.
What did the Met Office warn about UK snow and ice disruptions?
The Met Office said yellow warnings for snow and ice remain across northern Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and parts of England, as Arctic winds push temperatures below zero.
Some parts of Scotland have seen heavy snow, with 20 cm in the north and 37 cm in Tomintoul, while parts of England and Wales have had less snow. Daytime temperatures will stay low across Britain and below zero in northern Scotland.
According to forecasters, Loch Ness recorded temperatures near -6°C on Friday night, while parts of northern Scotland could see overnight lows between -10°C and -17°C on Saturday.
Met Office meteorologist Greg Dewhurst said the “spine” of the UK would see clear winter sunshine, while Northern Ireland, Scotland, and western Wales could face snow and sleet.
He stated,
“It remains very cold across the whole of the UK, Arctic air in place… northerly airflow right across the UK bringing that cold air to all of us, and icy stretches, snow in place too.”
Dewhurst said,
“It will remain so through the rest of the weekend and into the beginning of next week, with temperatures well below average.”
The Met Office chief meteorologist Rebekah Hicks said, “Arctic air and brisk northerly winds are gripping the UK as we start the new year.”
She added,
“Snow and ice warnings remain in force for many areas, with the risk of heavy snow showers, especially across northern Scotland and over higher ground elsewhere, though many inland areas will stay largely sunny and clear.”
Hicks continued,
“Bitterly cold conditions will persist through the weekend and into next week, with daytime temperatures struggling to rise above freezing for some, and overnight lows dipping to minus double figures in places.”
She went on,
“We urge people to stay weather aware, keep up to date with the forecasts and plan ahead as icy roads and slippery surfaces are likely.”
According to the Met Office, heavy snowfall could trap residents in rural areas and cause power outages in some regions.
Northern Scotland, north of Edinburgh and Glasgow, and all of Northern Ireland have a yellow snow and ice warning until Monday. Wales will have an ice warning, with yellow snow and ice alerts from Sunday until 11 am on Tuesday.
What did Network Rail and ScotRail say about snow and travel disruptions?
Network Rail said snow patrols were operating on the Highland Main Line, Aberdeen-Inverness, and Far North Lines, but warned that severe weather and poor road conditions were affecting response teams.
It said,
“We’ll likely see conditions worsen on all routes out of Inverness, where we could experience disruption due to deepening and drifting snow, coupled with the low temperatures.”
The rail company added,
“We’re unlikely to see much change on Sunday and Monday, with drifting snow in the north of Scotland and continued freezing temperatures and sharp frosts everywhere else. On Monday, we expect to see more widespread snowfall, spreading from the northwest.”
It continued,
“We’ll continue to work hard to keep the railway running, with teams working around the clock despite the conditions out there.”
ScotRail confirmed that teams were conducting inspections across the network, keeping track of snowfall levels.
Mark Ilderton, ScotRail’s service delivery director, said,
“They will make sure we’ve got the most up-to-date information in our control centres and keep everyone safe and moving.”
What advice did Police Scotland give to drivers amid snow and icy conditions?
Police Scotland’s head of road policing, Ch Supt Scott McCarren, advised the public to plan journeys carefully and assess whether travel was essential.
He said,
“If you need to travel, please drive to the conditions, be prepared for delays and allow extra time for your journey.”
McCarren added,
“Please don’t drive through road closures, the decision to close roads is not taken lightly and is done for public safety.”
How much snow fell across the UK?
The Met Office warns of snow across Britain as Arctic air moves in, with many areas, including London, expected to see 2-5 cm, while northern hills could get more.
In the Highlands, Tomintoul got 37 cm of snow, Glascarnoch 23 cm, Aboyne 22 cm, Dyce in Aberdeen 20 cm, Aviemore 15 cm, and Tulloch Bridge 13 cm.
Long-term data (1961-1990) reveal regional differences in UK snowfall, with Birmingham averaging 86.6 cm, London 46.7 cm, Edinburgh 46.4 cm, and Lerwick in Shetland 90.5 cm per year.