Blizzard conditions expected to disrupt travel across UK

Blizzard conditions that could cause havoc on the roads have been forecast by the Met Office for Saturday night and Sunday morning. Yellow and amber ice and snow warnings are in effect for many parts of the UK as the “mini-beast from the east” brings more snow showers and freezing temperatures.

“Travel delays on roads are likely, stranding some vehicles and passengers. Some delays and cancellations to rail and air travel are likely,” the Met Office said.

Traffic on the M25 was disrupted after a serious accident on Saturday afternoon between junctions 17 and 18 anticlockwise in Hertfordshire. Police stopped clockwise traffic to allow the air ambulance to land and take off. A crash also closed the westbound junction of the M4 in Wiltshire between junctions 14 and 15, Highways England said.

Snow covered large parts of eastern England and Scotland overnight, and temperatures dipped as low as -5C.

“It will be bitterly cold with some snow for many places over the weekend,” said Alex Burkhill, a Met Office meteorologist. “There are some very strong winds, meaning it could feel as low as -7C or -8C for some people.”