Two weather warnings are in place today as the Met Office says ice, snow and wind will present considerable hazards, including tricky driving conditions and the risk of slipping
Brits face “tricky driving conditions” throughout rush hour this morning, the Met Office warns.
Motorists must leave early and take extra care on roads because ice will increase the risk of accidents, the forecasters warn. Two weather warnings – for ice and wind – remain in place today as temperatures continue to plunge.
The mercury dropped to -6.4C in Braemar, Aberdeenshire, on Tuesday, and this area is subject to the ice warning, which remains in place until 10am today. It also covers Strathclyde, Scottish Borders, Central, Tayside & Fife among other parts. The wind warning covers Highlands & Eilean Siar, Orkney & Shetland and Strathclyde, and remains in place until 9am on Thursday.
The Met Office website says: “Ice will form on untreated surfaces, perhaps causing some transport disruption and increasing the chance of accidents… Probably some icy patches on some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths, leading to tricky driving conditions and increasing the risk of accidents and injuries. Some injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces [are possible].”
Snow will likely fall this morning across the same regions, potentially as far south as higher ground in Cumbria. This too will make rush hour hazardous, forecasters say.
“A band of rain and snow will move east across Scotland this afternoon and evening (which could lead to some lying snow on higher transport routes). Once this clears temperatures will quickly fall during Tuesday evening and ice is likely to form readily on untreated surface during the evening and overnight into Wednesday morning,” the Met Office site continues.
The mercury is expected to plummet to below freezing across Aberdeenshire, and the Scottish Highlands. Even later in the day, it’ll be around 0C to 1C across County Durham, Humberside and North Yorkshire. Parts of the Midlands, including Herefordshire, will see a 2C chill throughout Wednesday.
The Met Office adds: “Keep yourself and your family safe when it is icy. Plan to leave the house at least five minutes earlier than normal. Not needing to rush, reduces your risk of accidents, slips, and falls. If you need to make a journey on foot, try to use pavements along main roads which are likely to be less slippery. Similarly, if cycling, try and stick to main roads which are more likely to have been treated.”
Morning rain will fall as drizzle in most parts but a fresh band is likely to arrive this evening, meteorologists understand. It will be heaviest across Northwest of England and Wales, and linger throughout the night. Five flood warnings are in place, most of which concern Southwest of England, such as Middle Hampshire Avon from Salisbury to Ringwood.