UK braced for icy blast as new amber warnings issued for snow in the South West
The Met Office issued an additional amber weather warning on Wednesday, for snow in the South West, as icy conditions continue across the UK.
The new warning, which is in place until 9pm on Wednesday, is the latest in a series of alerts for snow and ice covering large parts of the country across Wednesday and Thursday.
The Met Office has said further alerts are likely to be issued as the week continues.
The latest amber alert for snow is in place for parts of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset. Disruptions are likely, including travel delays, power cuts and rural communities being cut off. The rest of the South faces a yellow warning for snow until midnight.
Yellow weather warnings for snow and ice are being issued for Northern Scotland and parts of Northern Ireland Wednesday, going into Thursday.
Additional yellow snow and ice warnings are expected for most of Wales, parts of the North West and Cornwall on Thursday.
Oli Claydon, a spokesperson for the Met Office, said it will be “bitterly cold” on Thursday night.
He said the lowest temperatures will be recorded in rural Scotland and rural northern England where there is lying snow, cloudless skies and very cold airflow.
A temperature of minus 16C would be the lowest recorded in January in the UK for 15 years, since minus 22.3C was logged in Altnaharra in the Highlands on January 8, 2010, according to Met Office data.
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The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued amber cold weather health alerts on Thursday for all of England, which have been extended until January 12. They said a rise in deaths is likely given the continued weather warnings.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at the UKHSA, said: "This weather can have a serious impact on the health of some people, including those aged 65 and over and those with pre-existing health conditions, and it is therefore vital that we continue to check in on friends, family and neighbours that are most vulnerable.
“These people could be more at risk of heart attacks, stroke and chest infections as a result of cold temperatures.”
The Met Office has warned that snow and icy patches in these areas could lead to some travel disruption.
There are warnings for drivers as car insurer RAC said it has seen the highest levels of demand for rescues in a three-day period since December 2022.
RAC breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson said: “Cold conditions will last until at least the weekend, so we urge drivers to remain vigilant of the risks posed by ice and, in some locations, snow,”
“Black ice on rural roads can be impossible to spot, leaving very little time to react if driving at speed. Sticking to major roads that are most likely to have been gritted is strongly recommended.”
What do the colours on weather warnings mean ?
The Met Office issues weather warnings when severe weather has the potential to bring impacts to the UK. These warnings are given a colour - yellow, amber or red.
Yellow Warning: This means it is likely that the weather will cause some low level impacts, including some disruption to travel. However, some yellow warnings are issued when there is a risk of more severe impacts, but the certainty of those impacts occurring is much lower. The Met Office says it is important to read the content of yellow warnings to determine which weather situation is being covered by the yellow warning.
Amber Warning: If an amber alert is issued, there is an increased likelihood of impacts from severe weather, which could potentially disrupt your plans. There is a possibility of travel delays, road and rail closures, power cuts and the potential risk to life and property. The Met Office says if you are in an area covered by an amber warning, you should think about changing your plans and taking action to protect yourself and your property.
Red Warning: This means dangerous weather is expected and you should take action now to keep yourself and others safe from the impact. It is very likely that there will be a risk to life, with substantial disruption to travel, energy supplies and possibly widespread damage to property and infrastructure. You should avoid travelling, where possible, and follow the advice of the emergency services and local authorities.
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