BRITS are bracing for snow flurries as a yellow weather warning is in place for snow and ice.
The Met Office warning covers the entirety of Monday and Tuesday, with disruption to travel predicted.
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for snow and ice, as seen here in South Shields, Tyneside in December 2022
The heaviest snowfall is expected in northern Scotland, such as here ins Corgarff, Aberdeenshire, which saw heavy snow in December 2022
The warning begins on Monday and then expands as it lasts through to the end of Tuesday
Initially, the affected area covers northern and eastern Scotland, and the East coast of England as far south as the Yorkshire Moors.
From Tuesday, though, the warning expands further south across the Humber to cover part of Lincolnshire, including towns like Lincoln and Grimsby.
It also widens out in the north to blanket North-West Scotland.
The warning says that disruption to travel is “likely” due to snow showers, with a “small chance of more widespread disruption” in some parts.
It adds: “There is a small chance of travel delays on roads with some stranded vehicles and passengers, along with delayed or cancelled rail and air travel.
“There is a slight chance that some rural communities could become cut off. A small chance of injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces.
“There is a small chance that power cuts will occur and other services, such as mobile phone coverage, may be affected.”
It comes as forecasters expect a cold snap as an area of high pressure, which has brought relatively stable weather in recent days, moves off to the West and cold air from the North sweeps in.
The Met predicts that an “arctic maritime air mass” will bring snow showers to Scotland, Northern Ireland and the East coast of England from Monday.
The heaviest snow is expected on high ground in Scotland, with the chance of between one and three inches by Tuesday.
They add that wintry showers will mostly affect northern and eastern areas, but the whole nation will see “widespread freezing conditions”, especially at night.
Chris Almond, the Met’s Deputy Chief Meteorologist, said: “Very cold air will spread across the UK from late on Sunday through early next week.
“This brings with it snow even to low levels in the north and east through Monday and Tuesday, and in excess of 10cm could accumulate, most likely on high ground in the north, but also settling for a time at lower levels.
“With freezing overnight temperatures and the risk of ice, there’s a risk of some travel disruption and wintry hazards are likely to persist through much of next week, even further south for a time, so keep an eye on the Met Office forecast for the latest information.”
A cold weather warning is also in place, with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) warning elderly and vulnerable people about the chill, as temperatures plunged to -3C overnight.
The alert covers all areas of England from 1am on March 6 to midnight on March 8.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, the UKHSA’s head of extreme events and health protection, reminded people to check in on elderly or vulnerable friends or relatives.
Dr Sousa added: “If you have a pre-existing medical condition or are over the age of 65, it is important to try and heat your home to at least 18°C if you can.”
Although the health warning is in place, many people have been struggling to heat their homes due to the ongoing cost of living crisis and having difficulty paying their energy bills.
If people are struggling, the UKHSA has advised they seek help from Simple Energy Advice which provides free advice on energy efficiency and national grants that are available to help keep you warm this winter.
If people can’t afford all the rooms they use, they are urged to heat the living room during the day and the bedroom just before going to sleep.
Snow showers are predicted in northern areas throughout the warning period
Battling through the weather like this lady in Northwich, Cheshire in December last year is not advised under the UKHSA’s cold weather alert
Some travel disruption is also ‘likely’ as was also seen in Northwich in December
