By Laurence Dollimore For Mailonline
|
249
View
comments
‘Icy stretches’ and snow could hit parts of the UK as heavy downpours sweep across the country from the west over the weekend, forecasters have said.
Western Scotland, Northern Ireland, north-west England and North Wales could face frosty conditions, caused by showers expected to last until Sunday morning, according to the Met Office.
Forecasters also warned of wet and windy conditions across other parts of England and Wales on Saturday with parts of the country set for ‘very unsettled weather’.
On Saturday night, temperatures could plummet as low as -4C in higher areas of Scotland but averages of 2C are expected for most of the rest of the UK.
Blustery showers are expected to continue in England today, mainly in the north and west (Pictured: People under umbrellas whilst out punting on the River Cam in Cambridge during wet and windy conditions on Saturday morning)
Huge waves crash into the Plymouth seafront in Devon on Saturday, as strong winds and rain hit the south west of England
Meteorologists predict ice and frost across west Central Scotland and the South with temperatures getting slighter milder this morning
Western Scotland, Northern Ireland, north-west England and North Wales could face frosty conditions, caused by showers expected to last until Sunday morning, according to the Met Office.
The Met Office reports there are currently 10 flood alerts in place, including in areas of Barnstaple, Leicestershire, Bristol and Somerset (Pictured: Rain falls on people punting in the River Cam in Cambridge on Saturday)
A person carries an umbrella as they walk across a bridge over the river Thames in Reading, Berkshire, amid a weekend washout for much of the country
People make their way along the tow path alongside the river Thames in Reading, Berkshire, with showers predicted for much of the country on Saturday
Rowers braved the miserable conditions on Saturday morning to get the training in along the river Thames in Reading
Maxwell juror discusses questions posed to possible jury members
Man covered in sanitizer is set ablaze by police taser
BBC reporter covered in snow as she tries to do a piece to camera
House slides down Seattle hillside in heavy rain
Governor Kathy Hochul talks about COVID-19 hospitalizations
Sajid Javid is challenged on mandatory jabs by unvaccinated doctor
Demi Lovato’s sister posts Tik Tok about getting to finally see Demi
All three of Ahmaud Arbery’s murderers receive life sentences
Parents in Chicago ‘livid’ after schools close over Covid protocols
Russian troops arrive in Kazakhstan to quell the countrywide uprising
A look inside Djokovic’s quarantine hotel: Maggots and mouldy food
Security ramped up in Kazakh capital as cars pass police checkpoints
Met Office meteorologist Jonathan Vautrey said: ‘There are no official ice warnings out at the moment that we have issued but we are sending out a message in general that there is an isolated risk that any wet surfaces along with these showers could lead to icy stretches.
‘This is mainly due to the showers that will be feeding in to the west.’
A pulse of heavier rain across the Greater Manchester area and parts of Cornwall will continue on Saturday afternoon and clear before nightfall, he said.
Higher areas in Scotland, the Pennines and Snowdonia are also likely to see some snow before the weekend is over.
Mr Vautrey said any ice would be likely to have melted away by Sunday morning, when the showers are expected to ease. Most of the ice risk will have abated before people are getting out and about,’ he said.
However, commuters are set to endure a ‘cloudy, drizzly’ start to the week, with another band of rain forecast across most of the UK on Monday, he said.
High pressure coming from the south on Wednesday is set to bring more settled weather in general from midweek onwards, with dry conditions expected for most of the country.
Drivers were told to stay alert on icy roads amid a yellow weather warning early on Saturday.
There was heavy frost across Scotland in the early hours while the rest of the UK is forecast to see low temperatures for a wet and windy weekend.
Friday night saw a Yellow Weather Warning for ice put in place for Scotland and parts of Southern England and Wales – with some areas seeing as much as 11cm (4.3in) of snow.
The Met Office reported 10 flood alerts were in place, including in areas of Barnstaple, Leicestershire, Bristol and Somerset.
BBC forecaster Christopher Blanchett said: ‘Through the course of this evening and overnight, our concern is with ice and there is a Met Office yellow warning in force through west central Scotland and the south.’There is a chance of icy patches almost anywhere and under clear skies temperatures are readily falling away to sub-zero and in rural parts of the north east perhaps minus 6C.’
A person holds an umbrella as they stand on a bridge over the river Thames in Reading on Saturday
Swimmers brave the cold weather as big waves crash into the Plymouth seafront in Devon on Saturday
Several flood alerts have been issued as the UK faces a wet and wintry weekend (Pictured: Swimmer in the sea by the Plymouth seafront)
Rowers make their way along the river Thames in Reading as seagulls take off in the foreground
And NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) has issued advice to ‘walk like penguins’ in the icy conditions to avoid getting injured.
It is urging people to bend their knees loosely, point out their feet slightly, extend their arms at the sides, walk flat-footed- taking short steps, and to keep their centre of gravity over the feet in order to avoid falling.
Linda de Caestecker, Director for Public Health at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: ‘While it might seem silly to walk or waddle like a penguin, in the context of the wintery conditions we’re seeing today, penguins know best.
‘If you find yourself out and about in icy conditions, adopting the penguin stance is a really effective way to move without falling.’
Mr Blanchett said the early hours of Saturday morning would see a new weather system arrive.
He added it would be bringing cloud, rain and further snow across the hills, rain for most and will mean something a touch less cold as the weekend begins.
He said: ‘Initially very wet on Saturday but that rain clears through apace and for most of the day it is a case of bright sunny spells and rain showers.
‘Those showers most frequent in the west, wintery on the hill tops, driest and brightest in the east.’
Temperatures in Scotland are expected to be between 6C and 8C and feeling cold in the brisk west wind .
Maximum temperatures in the South of the UK are forecast to reach around 10C or 11C. In the North of England around about 7C or 8C.
Maxwell juror discusses questions posed to possible jury members
Man covered in sanitizer is set ablaze by police taser
BBC reporter covered in snow as she tries to do a piece to camera
House slides down Seattle hillside in heavy rain
Governor Kathy Hochul talks about COVID-19 hospitalizations
Sajid Javid is challenged on mandatory jabs by unvaccinated doctor
Demi Lovato’s sister posts Tik Tok about getting to finally see Demi
All three of Ahmaud Arbery’s murderers receive life sentences
Parents in Chicago ‘livid’ after schools close over Covid protocols
Russian troops arrive in Kazakhstan to quell the countrywide uprising
A look inside Djokovic’s quarantine hotel: Maggots and mouldy food
Security ramped up in Kazakh capital as cars pass police checkpoints
Into Sunday afternoon Scotland will likely be dry and bright for most, 4C to 7C.
The forecast from Sunday in England is mainly dry and bright but with occasional showers in the west.
Outbreaks of rain are likely to spread east Monday, with the far southeast staying dry.
Mr Blanchett said of Scotland: ‘Looking ahead on Monday, showers and longer spells of rain. The thing you will notice is it will be a mild Monday with temperatures of 10C, 11C and maybe 12C.’
It follows an already chilly week, with temperatures plunging as low as -8C on Wednesday – making it the coldest night of winter.
The weekend weather is expected to remain unsettled, with milder spells, as a spiralling area of low pressure brings changeable weather conditions to the UK.
Following the cold blast from the snowstorms, an Atlantic weather front is then set to bring massive downpours.
Liverpool and Manchester could be soaked by up to 5mm of rain an hour on Saturday, before the initial band of rain heads further across the country.
And meteorologists say intermittent rainfall is expected on Sunday, before patches of rain and snow hit parts of Britain.
Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd
Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group