UK weather latest: Travel disruption as Met Office issues yellow warnings for snow and heavy rain

Five weather warnings and 150 flood alerts in place across the country

Monday 02 April 2018 11:52 BST
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UK weather: The latest Met Office forecast

Torrential rain and heavy snow are expected to lead to long traffic jams and other travel disruption as the bank holiday weekend draws to a close.

Up to four inches of snow expected in northern England and southern Scotland, where two yellow weather warnings are in place.

Another three yellow rain warnings are in place across much of Wales, Northern Ireland and the west of England.

Yellow warnings mean severely bad weather is possible and could lead to travel delays/

Temperatures dipped as low as -7C (19.4F) in the Scottish Highlands overnight while torrential rain moved in from the south and west amid milder conditions.

Heavy rain will affect Southwest England and Wales with fears that spray and flooding will lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures.

Four roads are closed in Derbyshire due to heavy snow, with the A53 Axe Edge, A54/A537 Cat and Fiddle, A57 Snake Pass and the A6024 Holme Moss all shut because of the weather.

Adverse conditions have also led to road closures on the A63 in Hull the A616 in Nottinghamshire and the A458 heading towards Shrewsbury.

Accidents on the M1, M5, M25, M54 and the M62 are also adding to drivers' misery as the AA warned motorists to take extra care. The motoring organisations said the bank holiday weekend is "likely to be one of the busiest on the roads in recent years".

Disruption is not just confined to the roads and National Rail also cited weather related problems. Flooding between Harrogate and Leeds and between Lisekard and Looe has caused severe delays after the lines had to be temporarily closed.

Planned engineering work is already causing some disruption on the rail and replacement buses have reported they are struggling to run between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Dolwyddelan in Wales due to the snow.

Small rural communities may be cut off with power cuts possible as the adverse weather conditions batter large parts of England, Scotland and Wales.

Forecaster Marco Petagna said: "With this rainfall we are certainly looking at some localised flooding in south-west England, Wales and Northern Ireland anywhere in the warning area. In terms of snow there could be travel problems on some Pennine routes and higher ground."

The Met Office has issued five yellow weather warnings with around 150 flood alerts in place across the country.

“Rain will become heavy and persistent for a time before easing from the south during Monday morning. 15-25 mm of rain is likely widely, with 30-50 mm possible locally in parts of South Wales,” a spokesperson said.

“As a weather system moves in from the south and comes up against cold air over the UK, rain will turn to heavy snow, mainly on high ground. 5-10 cm of snow is expected to accumulate in places, mainly above 350m, with a smaller chance of 2-5 cm accumulating below this, above 250m.”

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