Weather UK live: New snow and ice warnings issued by Met Office as temperatures set to plummet overnight

Commuters face widespread travel disruption this morning after parts of the UK saw heavy snowfall and ice.

The Met Office put in place a yellow warning for ice for much of southern England, the Midlands and eastern Wales from 5pm yesterday to 10am today.

Several other warnings for snow and ice have been in force across the UK, with the Met Office advising that vehicles could be stranded, power cuts may occur and rural areas could be cut off.

The forecaster warned of snow showers developing yesterday evening and continuing overnight into this morning. The showers may be heavy at times and accompanied by lightning in some areas.

Some lying snow could reach up to 10cm or more over higher ground and ice is expected to form on untreated surfaces.

Met Office spokesperson Stephen Dixon previously told the PA news agency: “We’ve had a fairly mild November so far.

“So it’ll feel like that first taste of winter for many with that snow and ice risk layered on top.”

He added: “The highest accumulations are likely over the mountains in Scotland, where over higher ground you could see around 20cm of snow through this week accumulating on the ground.

“They are not necessarily the most disruptive snowfalls, but it only takes a couple of centimetres on lower ground to cause some level of travel disruption.”

Met Office Chief Meteorologist Neil Armstrong said: “With cold Arctic air firmly in place over the UK, continued winter hazards are likely through much of this week, with further updates to warnings likely in the coming days.

“The current focus for upcoming snow and ice risk is from later on Tuesday and overnight into Wednesday, with snow showers likely moving in off windward coasts in the north and east, as well as drifting into parts of Northern Ireland and Wales.

“In excess of 10cm of snow is possible over higher ground within the warning areas, with 1-2cm possibly settling at lower levels, which has the potential to lead to some travel disruption. Ice is an additional hazard and is likely to form quickly on untreated surfaces.”

To ensure your travel plans go without a hitch, it’s important to plan your journey in advance, particularly if you’re travelling on routes you’re not familiar with.

Here is National Highway’s advice for what to do before you travel:

• Plan your route
• Check the availability of service areas along your route
• Make sure you know how to operate your headlights and fog lights
• Check your vehicle
• Pack a winter kit
• Check the weather forecast. If snow or ice is expected, consider delaying your journey until it clears.
• Check traffic conditions on our website and on Twitter

Temperatures are due to drop dramatically over the coming days and we need to be mindful about how this chilly weather may affect our pets.

The Met Office has issued several yellow weather warnings for snow and ice for parts of the UK this week, so it’s important to prepare our dogs, as well as ourselves, for this forecast.

From diet to grooming, here are some things to bear in mind to keep your four-legged friends safe and well this winter…

– Keep their paws well-groomed: Paws are very sensitive to temperature changes, so try to give them some extra care and attention this winter.

– Be aware of winter hazards: Antifreeze is great for defrosting your car in a hurry, but make sure you keep it out of reach from your pets.

– Shovel the garden: If it snows this year, consider shovelling a patch of grass so your dog can go to the toilet comfortably and not get too cold.,

– Try to avoid overfeeding them: The winter months can lead to a reduction in the amount of activity your dog gets and can result in them piling on the pounds.

– Keep them active: Play fetch in the living room to keep your dog active if your dog doesn’t want to venture outside in the cold.

As the temperatures drop and the long nights start rolling in, it’s easy to feel like it’s all doom and gloom. But, says Katherine May, there’s great comfort to be found in winter – you just have to know how to make the most of the season

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A new ice warning has been issued after heavy snow sparked chaos on Tuesday, with widespread travel disruption and more than 200 schools forced to close.

Snow fell across large swathes of the country on Monday night and Tuesday morning, including London, Wales, Scotland and the Midlands.

The “first taste of winter” caused mass disruption as by Tuesday afternoon, more than 200 school closures had been reported, with around 140 recorded in Wales.

Read the full story here:

The Alzheimer’s Society warned that cold weather can be “particularly challenging” for people with dementia.

“Colder temperatures can be difficult for a person with dementia to adjust to, and they may not always be able to communicate that they are cold – or they may not even recognise it themselves,” the charity said.

It urged people to do the following:

• Make sure the person is dressed appropriately – layers are key;
• Keep the room warm;
• Encourage regular movement;
• Make the most of natural daylight as decreased sunlight can cause someone with dementia to feel increased anxiety, confusion, and even depression;
• Keep to your routine as a big change in routine can cause someone with dementia to become confused or agitated;
• Be careful in icy weather. Perception issues can make it difficult for someone with dementia to see icy patches;
• Make sure they’re eating and drinking regularly.

The Met Office has warned many could be facing power cuts as a result of heavy snow.

Some of those under yellow weather warnings have been told by the forecasters that short term loss of power is “likely” while others have been warned that other services, such as mobile phone coverage, may be affected.

The forecasters said: “People cope better when they have prepared in advance for the risk of power cuts or being cut off from services and amenities due to the snow. It’s easy to do; consider gathering torches and batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items.”