Britain is bracing for fresh snowfall and disruption within hours after the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning covering large parts of England and Wales. Forecasters say a band of wintry weather will move in on Wednesday afternoon and overnight into Thursday, with motorists facing hazardous roads, transport delays and the risk of power cuts.
In its alert, the Met Office warned: « Whilst there is some uncertainty in the details, there is the potential for an area of rain and snow to affect parts of Wales, central England and into the southern Pennines during Wednesday evening and overnight into Thursday. » The warning runs from 4pm on Wednesday until 6am on Thursday, striking just as commuters prepare for the morning rush hour. Weather experts say snow and ice could create dangerous driving conditions and affect public transport across the warning zone.
Forecasters say accumulations will vary depending on elevation:
10-15cm possible above 250–300m in parts of mid and southeast Wales, Herefordshire, Shropshire and the southern Pennines
Strong east to northeasterly winds will accompany the snow, which could exacerbate impacts in places.
The snow is expected to develop as rain turns wintry in colder air pushing across the country.
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Forecasters warn the snowfall could cause widespread inconvenience, particularly during the Thursday morning commute, with icy surfaces and poor visibility making journeys hazardous.
Drivers face slower journeys on untreated roads, while rail and bus services may also be delayed. In higher or more rural areas there is also a risk communities could become temporarily cut off, and power interruptions cannot be ruled out if conditions worsen overnight.
The Met Office urged people to prepare before travelling, warning: « Snowy, wintry weather can cause delays and make driving conditions dangerous, so to keep yourself and others safe: plan your route, checking for delays and road closures, amending your travel plans if necessary. »
« 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.”
The warning was last updated at 08:49 UTC on Wednesday, February 18, with forecasters expanding the alert zone after the “warning area [was] extended north into the Pennines”, meaning more northern communities – particularly higher ground across northern England – are now at risk of disruptive snowfall overnight into Thursday.
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