The Met Office has issued amber weather warnings, signaling a “danger to life” as heavy snow is expected in parts of the UK. Tomorrow, alongside four yellow warnings for snow and ice, there will be a fifth yellow warning specifically for ice. The amber warnings will be in effect from 11 am until 7 pm, covering significant areas of Scotland, including Central, Tayside & Fife, Grampian, and Highlands & Eilean Siar. These regions might experience an additional 5 to 10cm of snow widely, with up to 15cm on higher ground, on top of the previous snowfall on Monday, where some areas saw 20 to 30cm accumulation.
The Met Office forecasts a heavy snow spell moving east across central and northern Scotland on Tuesday, gradually transitioning to wintry showers by Tuesday night. The national weather service advises against driving in snow and icy conditions unless absolutely necessary and urges preparedness for potential power cuts by stocking up on essentials like torches and mobile phone power packs. Vulnerable individuals, such as the elderly, those with underlying health issues, and people living alone, are encouraged to be looked after.
Most of the country is expected to clear of snow and ice by late morning, with three of the four alerts active from midnight until 11 am. However, the central and northern mainland Scotland will remain under the snow and ice warning throughout the day. Northern Ireland will also have an ice warning in place from 5 pm today (Monday) until 10 am tomorrow (Tuesday).
The Met Office’s five-day forecast from Monday, January 5, to Friday, January 9, indicates that the UK will continue to experience very cold weather with snow showers in some areas. Tuesday is anticipated to be another cold day with a mix of rain, sleet, and snow in the north, while the south may experience drier conditions with sunny skies before the onset of rain, sleet, and snow later in the evening.