Britain Weather: Met Office warns of heavy snow to cause travel chaos today as icy cold sweeps across Britain
The Met Office has warned that heavy snow will fall today as travelers face travel chaos.
The forecaster had given a yellow warning about this snow and ice cream from Tuesday 3 p.m. to Wednesday afternoon.
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The warning covered the Highlands, Western Isles, Orkney, Shetland and parts of Argyll and Bute and central Scotland.
Tuesday evening the With office extended the warning further east and south to Glasgow and Aberdeen.
It warned that accumulations of up to 3cm of snow are likely to be quite widespread across the warning area, with perhaps a further 5-8cm over the north-west Highlands, while icy surfaces will pose an additional hazard.
The Met Office has also issued a yellow warning for snow cover Northern Irelandnorth Wales and northern England from Thursday 6 a.m. to Friday 6 a.m.
Up to two centimeters of snow is forecast at lower levels, 2-5cm on ground above 200 meters and as much as 15-25cm above 400 metres.
Due to the snow, there is a chance that some train and plane trips will be cancelled.
Liam Eslick
There is a risk of that current cuts, travel delays and a “slim chance of some rural communities being cut off”, the Met Office warned.
It added that the snow will taper later in the day on Thursday and could turn to rain or drizzle, especially in the south and east of the warning area.
Met Office meteorologist Liam Eslick said most of the disruption this week was likely to occur on Thursday.
He said: “Due to the snow there is a chance that some train and air travel will be cancelled.
“If the snow reaches lower levels, we could also see some localized impacts with travel disruption.”
He added that an easterly wind meant the highest snow accumulations were likely to be on the “eastern slopes running across the Pennines and northern Welsh mountains”.
The forecaster added that it looked like a “cold wave” was on the way as an area of high pressure moves over Britain next week.
Mr Eslick said: “It looks like we could see some cooler conditions return next week and it looks like this will continue into late February.”
Advice for driving in snowy conditions
Things you should always do when driving in snow and ice:
- Before you even jump in the car, making some basic preparations can increase your chances of getting to your destination safely. Checking the air pressure And walk on your tires is something most drivers often forget to do, but the mistake can be fatal during slippery conditions. The legal minimum The tread depth is 1.6mm, but experts recommend that it should be at least 3mm to be as safe as possible.
- If you know you have to drive in the morning, soak a few towels in salt water and place them on your windshield the night before to prevent ice from building up.
- Also remove the ice from your mirrors, license plates and windows before driving away. And don't forget that snow and ice can fall on the roof and… block your windshieldso clarify as much as possible before driving.
- It may seem like an exaggeration, but packing a bag emergency supplies This is useful if your car breaks down or you are stuck in a snowstorm. A warm blanket, snacks, water and a flashlight can make the long wait along the road bearable.
- In icy conditions, always maintain a longer braking distance and stay alert for pedestrians braving the cold.
- Driving in a higher gear whenever possible can help you maintain control on treacherous roads.
- It can also be helpful to have an old rag on hand to remove any condensation from your windshield before it turns to ice.
And you should avoid them:
- If you come across black icemany drivers will hit the brakes and go into a skid if they start to lose control – but that can be a dangerous move for inexperienced drivers. Instead, slowly take your foot off the accelerator and stand up straight as your car speeds away.
- Accelerating and braking too quickly is a recipe for disaster in icy conditions. Make sure you drive slowly around corners and avoid overtaking maneuvers.
- It may seem urgent at the time, but it's important not to make unnecessary trips when it's icy.
- If you have to go somewhere, don't take an unfamiliar route as road signs are likely to be covered in snow and phone reception may be limited.
- Some drivers rely on pouring boiling water over a frozen windshield to remove the ice, but there's a good chance the glass will crack. Invest in one decent ice scraper or defrosting spray can work just as well and protect your windshield.
- Don't take shortcuts and stay off rural roads as they may not be cleared and are often difficult even in warm weather. Stay on the main roads as much as possible.
- Finally, don't forget that top up your oilfuel and screen wash before every winter trip.