Met Office issues barrage of snow and ice warnings in West Country and UK

The UK has been issued a series of severe weather warnings running from today (Wednesday, November 20) until Sunday, with only Friday being free of any national alerts. Gloucestershire manages to escape any warnings for snow, ice or rain - but a warning for rain comes right up to its western border from 6am on Saturday to 6am on Sunday.

A number of warnings for snow and ice cover parts of the North East of England and northern Scotland today and Thursday. Ice warnings cover parts of Northern Ireland and Scotland today and tomorrow as well.

While in the West Country, a snow warning runs from 5am to 3pm on Thursday. The warning zone covers parts of Devon, Cornwall and Somerset.

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While there are no weather warnings at this time for Gloucestershire, the county is set to see overnight temperatures falling below zero up to and including Friday. But Saturday will see heavy rain hit the county with temperatures ranging from lows of around 11C up to 14C highs with the milder and wetter weather continuing.

A Met Office spokesperson said: “Rain, snow and ice continue to be potential hazards through this week as an Arctic airmass continues to influence the UK’s weather, bringing potential ongoing disruption for some. A number of weather warnings for snow and ice are currently in place, and more are expected today.

“We are keeping an eye on a more organised band of rain and hill snow affecting the south-west through tomorrow as a larger system runs into the continent."

They added: “It will be feeling very cold for most, with daytime temperatures in the low single figures, with a wind chill meaning it will be feeling even cooler. Despite the below average temperatures, there will be a good deal of sunshine away from the wintry showers near the coasts.”

The weather will be milder, windier and wetter over the weekend as a deep area of low pressure is expected to move in, the Met Office said, with further snowfall likely in the north as it warms.

A sharp rise in vehicle breakdowns has been reported as yellow snow and ice warnings continue in parts of the UK. Many drivers’ batteries failed on Wednesday morning due to cold weather, the RAC said.

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