The Met Office has issued a rare amber weather warning for heavy snow, covering a 16-hour period from Thursday evening into Friday morning. The severe warning primarily affects parts of Northern England and Scotland, with forecasters predicting significant snowfall that could lead to widespread disruption.
Meteorologists anticipate that between 2cm and 10cm of snow could accumulate at lower elevations within the amber warning zone. On higher ground, particularly over hills and mountains, snowfall could reach up to 20cm. Alongside the heavy snow, strong winds are expected, potentially leading to blizzard conditions and significant drifting of snow, further exacerbating travel difficulties.
The amber warning, which is the second-highest level of alert, indicates a high likelihood of impacts to daily life. These include severe travel disruption on roads and railways, with a risk of vehicles becoming stranded. There is also a heightened chance of power cuts and other utility service interruptions. The Met Office has warned that some rural communities could become temporarily isolated due to impassable roads.
The affected regions include much of the Scottish Borders, Cumbria, Northumberland, and parts of North Yorkshire. Temperatures are forecast to drop significantly, with daytime highs struggling to get above freezing point in many areas within the warning zone, and overnight lows plummeting several degrees below zero Celsius. Wind speeds could reach between 30-40 mph in exposed areas, making conditions feel even colder.
While the amber warning is concentrated in the North, broader yellow warnings for snow and ice are also in place across wider areas of Scotland, Northern Ireland, and parts of North Wales, indicating a wider risk of wintry conditions and associated hazards throughout Thursday and Friday.