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Snow and ice has caused disruption across parts of the UK
Parts of the UK could be facing “ice rink Monday” as snow refreezes overnight, the RAC has warned.
The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for ice for much of the north of England.
There are separate warnings of snow in higher parts of Wales and the Peak District, as well as for both snow and ice in eastern Scotland.
It follows days of freezing temperatures and disruption caused by snow.
RAC breakdown spokesman Simon Williams said “treacherous icy conditions” were expected in northern parts on Monday as he urged drivers to take care when travelling.
“Those who decide to drive should leave extra space behind the vehicle in front, reduce their speeds to give plenty of time to stop,” he said.
“Before setting out, it’s important to allow more time to de-ice and de-mist vehicles thoroughly.”
The Met Office said a thaw of recent snowfall will lead to wet roads and pavements, adding that the refreezing of thawed snow as temperatures fall overnight will cause some icy patches on untreated surfaces.
Its warning for ice in the north of England is in place until midday.
In its warning for Wales and the Peak District, the Met Office said there could be 2-5cm of snow “on some roads above around 150m, and perhaps 10-15cm on roads above around 350m”.
Further south, temperatures are expected to be milder than previous days. A warning for rain is in place for parts of the south and south west of England.
Met Office chief meteorologist Jason Kelly said: “The first Atlantic air mass for a while is making some inroads across southern and central parts of the country bringing less cold conditions to many southern areas, whilst the cold air mass continues to hold on in the north.
“Where these two air masses meet is the focus for continuing ice risk. For parts of northeast Scotland, wintry showers will bring some icy conditions overnight, as well as some accumulating snow inland.”
Saturday night saw the coldest temperatures since last winter, with -12.5C (9.5F) recorded in Altnaharra in the Highland region of northern Scotland, according to the weather service.
In Cumbria, police declared a “major incident” on Saturday evening after snow caused about 7,000 homes and businesses to lose power and made roads unpassable.
Drivers were forced to abandon their cars to seek warm places to spend the night.
Meteorologist Tom Morgan estimated 20 to 30cm of snow fell in southern Cumbria but cautioned these were not official measurements.
Electricity North West said on Sunday evening that 1,500 properties in Cumbria remained without electricity, adding that power had been restored to 7,500 homes.
An amber health alert for cold weather, issued by the UK Health Security Agency, is in place until Tuesday for five central and northern regions in England.
The agency warned: “Cold weather impacts are likely to be felt across the whole health service for an extended period of time, with potential for the whole population to be at risk.”
A yellow warning is in place for four other regions, including London and southern and eastern England.
Heavy snow has also been causing disruption across Europe this weekend.
Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic have been hit by train and flight cancellations.
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
