The Met Office has implemented two separate yellow weather warnings for snow, placing 13 distinct areas across the United Kingdom on alert for significant wintry conditions commencing today. Forecasters predict several inches of snowfall could accumulate, with flurries anticipated to persist for extended periods, potentially leading to widespread travel disruption.
Dual Warnings Signal Widespread Snow Risk
One yellow warning, which became active overnight, remains in effect until 3pm tomorrow, encompassing extensive regions of eastern and northern Scotland. Meteorological data indicates that rain within the affected zones will progressively transition to sleet and then snow throughout Tuesday and into Wednesday.
Expected Snow Accumulations and Impacts
Snow accumulations of 1cm to 3cm are projected above 100 metres by Wednesday, with the possibility of up to 20cm in some locations above 200 metres. The anticipated sleet and snow are likely to cause considerable disruption today and tomorrow, with delays expected for road, bus, and train services. Authorities are urging residents in the warned areas to plan their journeys meticulously in advance and to ensure their vehicles are stocked with essential supplies in case of unexpected delays.
A second yellow warning is specifically in place for the Shetland Islands, active from 6pm today until the end of Wednesday. Wintry showers are forecast to evolve into more persistent snowfall from Tuesday evening, continuing throughout Wednesday. Widespread totals of 1cm to 3cm are expected, with up to 10cm possible over higher ground.
Regions Under the Snow Warnings
The areas covered by the Met Office snow warnings include:
- Central, Tayside & Fife: Angus, Clackmannanshire, Dundee, Fife, Perth and Kinross, Stirling
- Grampian: Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray
- Highlands & Eilean Siar: Highland
- Orkney & Shetland: Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands
- Strathclyde: Argyll and Bute
Contrasting Conditions Across the UK
In a stark contrast, much of southern England has been experiencing persistent rainfall since Monday. A separate yellow warning for rain is in force from Monday evening until 7pm on Tuesday, covering areas in the south-west. The Met Office cautions that additional rainfall into Tuesday could precipitate some localised flooding and associated disruption.
Detailed Forecast for Today and Wednesday
In its forecast for today, the Met Office states that persistent rain across the south will migrate slowly northwards, accompanied by further rain and hill snow in the northeast of Scotland. Conditions between these weather systems will be predominantly cloudy but mostly dry, with clearer spells developing in the southwest.
Later today, the rain will continue its northward progression, turning to snow over the higher hills of Wales, the Pennines, and eastern Scotland. It will be windy in northern regions and rather cold, while clearer conditions further south will be interspersed with showers.
Looking ahead to Wednesday, the Met Office forecasts: Rain and hill snow becomes confined to the north where it is still windy in the northeast. Drier further south with some brighter spells. Temperatures mild here, cold further north.
