Warning Of Snow And Ice For Large Parts Of UK

A blast of wintry conditions is expected for the UK this week - with the Met Office issuing severe weather warnings for snow and ice in large swathes of the country.

Drivers are being urged to take extra care during rush hour, with snowy showers expected at 200 metres above sea level in some areas.

The warnings are for Scotland, northern England and as far south as the Midlands and into eastern Wales.

A mixture of rain, hail, sleet and snow is expected on lower ground.

The Met Office said: "Accumulating snow may lead to travel disruption on routes over high ground, whilst icy stretches are also likely to form more generally on untreated surfaces."

Sky News weather presenter Isobel Lang said snow was likely to fall on Monday over the Cumbrian Fells, the Peaks, Pennines and Snowdonia, although it would be largely dry and sunny elsewhere.

She said: "On Monday night it will turn frosty, with temperatures falling to -3C. Some ice is possible in Norfolk."

According to the Met Office, "a bit of sleet" could even travel as far south as the Midlands in the coming days.

Its forecasters warn that conditions could be "pretty horrendous" in the Scottish mountains.

The Met Office's yellow warning for snow and ice remained in place until noon on Monday.

It is the lowest level of the warnings, meaning people are urged to be aware of the potentially serious conditions.

There is a separate yellow warning for Wednesday, when severe gales of between 60mph and 80mph are expected to hit much of north Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England.

Further disruption to travel and power supplies is possible.

Unfortunately, it is too early to accurately predict whether Britain will experience a White Christmas – even though the unsettled weather is set to continue for a while.