Met Office EXTENDS amber weather warnings as forecast predicts DAYS of snow and ice
HUGE swathes of Britain are being warned to brace for days more of sub-zero temperatures, snow and ice as bitterly cold winds from Siberia cause a second big freeze in a phenomenon dubbed the ‘Beast from the East 2.0’.
UK weather: Chart shows winds BATTERING Britain
Snow fell across large parts of the UK last night (Friday) as freeing winds from the east drove icy-cold winds drove the mercury down towards zero.
The Met Office has issued amber alerts for large parts of Britain tonight (Saturday) and tomorrow (Sunday) as forecasters expect the cold snap will bring yet more snow and ice to affect much of the country.
Commuters are being warned to expect disruptions and more than 120 flights in and out of London have already cancelled because of the severe weather.
Forecasters warn the icy conditions will continue tomorrow (Sunday) and into next week, causing treacherous travelling conditions, public transport delays and the possibility rural communities could be cut off.
UK snow: Chilling winds of -40 degrees are blasting in from the East
Snow will turn heavy in places on Sunday, and may last for much of the day across parts of southwest England.
Tonight (Saturday), amber alerts are in place until 9am tomorrow for the East Midlands, North West England, West Midlands and Yorkshire and Humber.
The Met Office predicts some areas on higher ground could experience up to 15cm of snow, while other places will see relatively little.
In London and the South East, an amber warning is also in place with areas such as the North Downs are expected to see up to 15cm of the white stuff.
Yellow warnings for ice and snow are in place in for the entire east coast of England, large parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland and the South West.
UK snow: Weather alerts for Saturday, March 17
UK snow: Latest forecasts from WX charts show -40 degree winds (in purple) blasting in from the east
Snow UK: Met Office weather warnings for Sunday, March 18
For all of the regions affected by the yellow alerts, residents are being warned to expect icy patches on pavements and roads and delayed or cancelled public transport services.
As the weather system moves across Britain on Sunday, the Met Office has issued continued alerts for those in the East Midlands, North West England, West Midlands and Yorkshire and Humber as well as those living in the South East and London.
However the amber warning for the South West has been expanded to include Bristol, Dorset, Devon, Somerset and all of Cornwall, with the Met Office warning: A spell of snow will move west across many parts of southwest Britain on Saturday night and Sunday.
Snow will turn heavy in places on Sunday, and may last for much of the day across parts of southwest England.