UK weather – latest: Snow and ice warnings as Brits warned conditions ‘worse rather than better’

Saturday and Sunday slapped with fresh set of alerts for snow and ice

Cars stranded on motorway as M62 at standstill following heavy snow

Britain has been warned of more snow and ice this weekend after temperatures plummeted to -10C overnight.

Conditions are “actually going to get worse rather than better”, said Andrew Page-Dove of the National Highways, as there is risk of freezing rain on the roads after Storm Larisa.

The Met Office has issued yellow warnings for snow and ice which cover large swathes of the country.

Met Office meteorologist Matthew Box said rain, sleet and snow will push northeast across the country during the weekend, likely falling on the hills and mountains of the Pennines, the Cumbrian vales and some parts of Scotland.

But added snowfall would be “nothing to the same extent as what we saw on Thursday”.

It comes after persistent snowfall caused “absolute carnage” on the M62 trans-Pennine motorway on Friday.

Storm Larisa brought with it “treacherous conditions”, with 50mph winds and up to 40cm of snow forecast in some areas.

Key Points

• Conditions to be ‘worse rather than better’
• Snow warnings extended to weekend as travel ‘chaos’ set to continue
• Motorists report delays of six hours on snow-covered M62
• Met Office shares update on when snow will clear
• Tens of thousands of homes without power as snow storms sweep across country
• Schools closed today as Storm Larisa set to bring 'treacherous conditions’

[10 March 2023 05:06 · Maroosha Muzaffar]

How to drive in snow and ice

The current heavy snow across the UK means drivers are facing icy roads and treacherous conditions.

The gritters are out but motorists are still being advised against making unnecessary journeys and to proceed with extreme caution when setting out proves unavoidable.

Read the piece:

[10 March 2023 05:39 · Maroosha Muzaffar]

Met Office shares update on when snow will clear

Rain, sleet and snow across England and Wales will gradually clear southeast through the morning, clearing most areas by lunchtime, Met Office said today on its website.

“Sunshine with scattered snow showers in the north and east and developing locally inland. Remaining cloudy in the far southwest,” it added.

“Scattered snow showers affecting northern Scotland. Cloudy with outbreaks of rain and hill snow developing in the far southwest. Elsewhere, clear spells with a severe frost over lying snow.”

[10 March 2023 05:45 · Maroosha Muzaffar]

Mapped: Where snow will fall on Friday as amber warnings issued

New maps have revealed where snow will fall as the UK is gripped by freezing temperatures.

As temperatures continue to plummet amidst the Arctic blast, areas across the UK have been swept by snow and ice, with the Met Office issuing weather warnings across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

[10 March 2023 06:00 · Maroosha Muzaffar]

Temperatures continue to plummet amidst Arctic blast as UK swept by snow and ice

[10 March 2023 06:01 · Maroosha Muzaffar]

Why UK is seeing snow and -15C temperatures

Forecasters have explained that a major change in climate is underway, as Arctic air moves in from the north, bringing snow, ice and freezing temperatures for many.

Experts believe the sudden drop in temperature is being caused by sudden stratospheric warming.

Warnings for snow and ice were issued across northeastern parts of the UK as well as some Northern Ireland and southern and central areas of England and Wales.

[10 March 2023 06:10 · Maroosha Muzaffar]

Met Office says snowfall on Saturday to cause further disruption

Met Office has said that further snowfall has the “potential to cause disruption” on Saturday evening into Sunday.

It has asked Britons to expect possible delays or cancellations to air travel. It has also advised that bus and train services may be delayed or cancelled, with some road closures and longer journey times possible.

Met warned that “untreated pavements and cycle paths might be impassable”.

There is also a chance of injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces.

Met Office said that “there is a small chance that power cuts will occur and other services, such as mobile phone coverage, may be affected”.

[10 March 2023 06:25 · Maroosha Muzaffar]

Met Office says ‘it will be getting drier and brighter throughout the day’ on Friday

Met Office tweeted that “after a snowy and icy start for some, it will be getting drier and brighter throughout the day, although feeling quite chilly”.

[10 March 2023 06:36 · Maroosha Muzaffar]

Met Office says snowfall on Saturday to cause further disruption

Met Office has said that further snowfall has the “potential to cause disruption” on Saturday evening into Sunday.

It has asked Britons to expect possible delays or cancellations to air travel. It has also advised that bus and train services may be delayed or cancelled, with some road closures and longer journey times possible.

Met warned that “untreated pavements and cycle paths might be impassable”.

There is also a chance of injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces.

Met Office said that “there is a small chance that power cuts will occur and other services, such as mobile phone coverage, may be affected”.

[10 March 2023 06:55 · Maroosha Muzaffar]

How to drive in snow and ice

The current heavy snow across the UK means drivers are facing icy roads and treacherous conditions.

The gritters are out but motorists are still being advised against making unnecessary journeys and to proceed with extreme caution when setting out proves unavoidable.

Read the piece:

[10 March 2023 07:52 · Emily Atkinson]

Motorists report delays of six hours on snow-covered M62

Persistent overnight snowfall has stirred long delays on the M62 trans-Pennine motorway.

Frustrated drivers took to Twitter in their droves to share tales from the tailback, with some claiming they had been in the queue for upwards of six hours.

In its latest update, National Highways said there were delays of “at least 3 hours” eastbound between J20 (Rochdale) and J24 (Huddersfield).

“There are delays of at least 90 minutes on the westbound carriageway between J24 and J22,” it said.

The M62, which runs from Liverpool to Hull, is covered by a “severe weather alert” for snow. Similar warnings are in place across the North West, North East and Midlands regions until 8am on Friday.