UK weather: Snow, ice and 100mph gale-force winds expected across Britain

Met Office has issued an amber warning for parts of Scotland and Yellow warnings for snow and ice across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland

Motorists were caught out by heavy snowfall last weekend (AFP/Getty)

Britain is braced for more violent weather as forecasters warn of 100mph gale-force winds, snow and ice, amid dangers from “temporary blizzards” across the northern parts of the UK.

The Met Office has issued an Amber warning for strong gusts across Scotland’s Shetland Islands and Yellow warnings of snow and ice across the rest of Scotland, northern England, and Northern Ireland later today.

Heavy showers are expected to turn to snow across England and Scotland. Forecasters warned higher areas could expect as much as 8cm, while lower lying regions could still see 2-4cm.

A spokesperson for The Met Office told The Independent: “The vigorous depression is moving off towards the east, but will still hit Shetlands and northern areas today.”

They continued: “We will still have a strong north westerly over the day during the day. Nothing very unusual, but we might see some snow accumulation over higher ground."

An overturned lorry in snow on the A9 in Drumochter, Scottish Highlands, as more than 70,000 properties were left without power (PA)

The warning comes after yesterday’s extreme weather that saw 70,000 Scottish homes without power and much of the ScotsRail service cancelled.

Winds of 140mph were recorded in the Cairngorm highlands, with 113mph recorded at Stornoway Airport.

Dramatic pictures emerged of an overturned lorry as major motorways crawled to a halt, battered by 100mph gusts.

The strong winds are expected to stay with the UK into the coming week, as another depression moves across Britain, “Staying with strong winds over the weekend as another strong pressure comes in tomorrow evening, and into Monday,” the Met spokesperson said.

The Met’s chief forecaster said: “There remains some uncertainty in the extent of the highest gusts but latest indications are that the developing low is going to be more intense and a little further south than earlier expectations, hence the risk of 100 mph gusts.”