The United Kingdom is shivering under a severe Arctic onslaught, with the Met Office issuing a swathe of yellow weather warnings for snow and ice that are causing significant travel disruption across the nation.
Record Snowfall and Plummeting Temperatures
A powerful northerly wind has dragged a wave of bitterly cold Arctic air across Britain, sending temperatures tumbling far below the seasonal average. The freeze is most acute in Scotland, where the village of Tomintoul has already been buried under a staggering 37 centimetres (close to 40cm) of snow.
Forecasters warn the mercury will drop to perilous lows overnight on Saturday, with parts of northern Scotland braced for temperatures between -10C and -17C. This follows a reading of nearly -6C at Loch Ness on Friday night. Daytime temperatures on Saturday are expected to remain in the low single figures for most, and below freezing in northern Scotland.
Widespread Travel Disruption Across the UK
The freezing conditions are severely impacting transport networks. ScotRail has been forced to cancel several train services in the north of Scotland, including routes serving Wick and Inverness. A number of roads in the region have also been closed due to the hazardous conditions.
While the "spine" of the country may see winter sunshine on Saturday, Met Office meteorologist Greg Dewhurst confirmed that Northern Ireland, Scotland, and western parts of Wales will continue to face snow and sleet. "It remains very cold across the whole of the UK, Arctic air in place... with icy stretches, snow in place too," he stated, adding that the cold spell will persist through the weekend and into next week.
Extended Weather Warnings and Public Advice
The Met Office's yellow alerts, indicating potential low-level impacts, are extensive. They remain in place for the north of Scotland, much of Wales, Northern Ireland, and parts of England. The warnings highlight risks including travel delays, road closures, and the potential for rural communities to become cut off. There is also an increased risk of injury from slips and falls on icy surfaces.
These warnings are set to last until at least Monday, with some areas seeing them extend into Tuesday. Specifically, warnings for England's southwest and northwest, including Cornwall, Manchester, and Blackpool, are active until 12pm on Monday. Most of Wales is under an ice warning for Saturday, followed by a snow and ice alert from Sunday until 11am on Tuesday. All of Northern Ireland and Scotland north of Edinburgh and Glasgow are under a yellow warning until 12pm on Monday.
The public is urged to check travel updates, allow extra time for journeys, and take extreme care on untreated surfaces as the UK endures this prolonged period of severe winter weather.
