UK weather - live: Yellow snow alert in force as Arctic blast sends temperatures plummeting

A yellow alert for snow and ice is now in force across many parts of the UK as an Arctic chill continues to blast the country.

After snow fell across areas of Yorkshire and Scotland this morning, the Met Office issued weather warnings for large swathes of the country amid plummeting temperatures.

It comes as the UK is being hit by a blast of cold air from Scandinavia, causing a cold snap for many in the North.

The first warning is in place overnight until 11am on Thursday and covers Tayside and Fife, Grampian, Highlands and Eilean Siar, North East England, SW Scotland, Lothian Borders, and Yorkshire and Humber.

The Met Office is warning of icy patches on roads and pavements, as upto 10cm of snow is expected in hilly areas.

The forecaster said: “Showers, wintry in places, will continue to affect northern and eastern Scotland and eastern England through Thursday evening and overnight into Friday morning.

“These are likely to fall onto frozen surfaces allowing icy patches to form.”

Key Points

  • ‘Up to 10cm of snow’ - weather warning extended

  • Yellow weather warnings for snow and ice in force now

  • Temperatures across the UK today

  • UKHSA issues yellow cold-health alert for this week

Mayor of London launches emergency plan

12:40 , Lydia Patrick

Sadiq Khan has launched the Severe Emergency Weather Protocol (SWEP) as the capital is set to freeze for the next few days.

Rough sleepers will be able to access emergency accommodation wherever they are, announced the Mayor of London.

Schools closed and crashes reported as snow sweeps across parts of UK

12:20 , Lydia Patrick

Parts of the UK could see up to 10cm of snow on Thursday, with temperatures expected to drop “well below freezing” overnight, forecasters have said.

Snow has swept across the south-west of England, parts of Yorkshire, the north-east and Scotland, with more expected throughout the day.

More than 30 schools in Cornwall are either closed for the day or opening late due to hazardous conditions.

The Met Office has issued snow and ice alerts for large areas of Scotland, England and Northern Ireland amid plummeting temperatures.

The national weather service has advised of the likelihood of people suffering slips and fall injuries in one of the first icy periods of the winter.

Read the full story here

Schools closed and crashes reported as snow sweeps across parts of UK

Where is it going to snow?

11:50 , Lydia Patrick

Temperatures have plunged to a low of minus 7.2C in England as snow fell in Scotland, Northumberland and Yorkshire, but the Met Office has said it is too early to predict a white Christmas.

Swathes of Scotland, England and Ireland were warned to brace themselves for snow and ice, with weather warnings issued amid plummeting temperatures.

The forecaster said the three lowest temperatures recorded at its observation sites overnight were all in Cumbria on Wednesday, with a low of minus 7.2C in Bridgefoot, minus 6.5C in Shap and minus 6.1C in Keswick.

Read the full story here

Where is it going to snow? Warning amid plunging temperatures as minus 7.2C recorded

New weather warning issued

11:27 , Lydia Patrick

A new yellow weather warning is in place as icy patches are expected across the North East of Northern Ireland.

The warning is in place from 5pm today until 10am tomorrow and the Met Office say sleet and snow could fall.

How to stay safe on the road this winter

10:52 , Lydia Patrick

Weather warnings mean motorists should take extra care on the roads.

Check your car is prepared

You may need to invest in a new car battery if it struggling to turn the car on, since they’re far more likely to fail as colder temperatures can lead to a strain.

To clear windows you should purchase a dedicated solution with antifreeze, rather than relying on water on its own.

Remember to turn your lights on

Remember to put your lights on at the start of every journey if it’s going to get darker. Even if your car has automatic lights fitted, don’t presume they’ve turned on.

Make sure your lights are clean too – it’s worth wiping them every now and again to maximise vision – and never set off if your windows are fogged up or still covered in ice or snow.

Keep your distance on the road

Winter brings much less grip on the road – especially when it might be icy. One of the best things you can do is to keep your distance on the road.

Slow down when temperatures drops

As soon as the temperature drops to anywhere close to zero, you need to change your driving behaviour. Avoid any harsh braking or turns of the wheel, as this could cause you to skid and lose control, and make sure you keep your speed down.

Stock up on supplies

Have food supplies, a shovel and an ice scraper in case of an emergency.

Allow plenty of time for your journey and consider alternative routes

In icy and cold weather, the last thing you want is to be in a hurry on the road, as that’s far more likely to lead to a collision – so leave plenty of time for every journey. This will also help if you end up in heavy traffic. You might want to reconsider your route too, particularly if there’s snow or widespread ice.

Watch - This morning’s forecast

10:39 , Lydia Patrick

‘'Winter Wonderland’ in Scotland

10:30 , Lydia Patrick

The Scottish capital looks magical as snow blankets Edinburgh.

Social media users have documented their ‘winter wonderland’ as snow falls around the city.

Areas impacted by weather warning until tomorrow

10:17 , Lydia Patrick

A snow and ice warning has been issued for large swathes of the country.

The Met Office predicts ‘hazardous’ conditions which could lead to injuries and travel disruption.

Some areas are impacted until 4pm today, whereas in the East of England, the warning will remain active until 11am tomorrow.

Where is affected until 11am tomorrow?

Central, Tayside & Fife

  • Angus, DundeeFife

East Midlands

  • Lincolnshire

East of England

  • Cambridgeshire, Essex. Norfolk, Peterborough and Suffolk

Grampian

  • Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray

Highlands & Eilean Siar

  • Eilean Siar and Highland

North East England

  • Darlington. Durham, Gateshead, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, Northumberland, Redcar and Cleveland, South Tyneside, Stockton-on-Tees and Sunderland

Orkney & Shetland

  • Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands

SW Scotland, Lothian Borders

  • East Lothian and Scottish Borders

Yorkshire & Humber

  • East Riding of Yorkshire, Kingston upon Hull, North East Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and North Yorkshire

Where will today’s snow warning affect?

10:08 , Lydia Patrick

A snow and ice warning has been issued for large swathes of the country.

The Met Office predicts ‘hazardous’ conditions which could lead to injuries and travel disruption.

Some areas are impacted until 4pm today, whereas in the East of England, the warning will remain active until 11am tomorrow.

Where is affected until 4pm today?

South West England

  • Cornwall

  • Devon

  • Dorset

  • Somerset

See our next post for all the areas impacted until tomorrow

A yellow warning is impacting large areas across the UK (The Met Office)
A yellow warning is impacting large areas across the UK (The Met Office)

‘Beautiful’ snowy scene in Yorkshire seaside town

09:50 , Lydia Patrick

Snow has blanketed the coastal town of Whitby leaving social media users ‘blown away’ by the stunning scene.

Bagdale Hall Hotel shared the idyllic scene yesterday on their Facebook page.

Elsa Wightman said: “Very festive.”

Dorothy Firth added: “Looks like a Christmas card. So beautiful.”

Mayor of London helps the homeless as temperatures plummet

09:30 , Lydia Patrick

Sadiq Khan has launched the Severe Emergency Weather Protocol (SWEP) as the capital is set to freeze for the next few days.

Rough sleepers will be able to access emergency accommodation wherever they are, announced the Mayor of London.

Listed - School closures announced

09:19 , Lydia Patrick

Several schools in Cornwall have closed as snow sweeps across the county.

Atleast ten schools in the southwestern county have closed, according to Cornwall Council.

  • Halwin School - CLOSED

  • Looe Community Academy - CLOSED

  • Luxulyan School - CLOSED

  • Nine Maidens Alternative Provision Academy - CLOSED

  • Pencoys Primary School - CLOSED

  • Penryn Primary Academy - Opening Late (10am)

  • Stithians School - CLOSED

  • The Roseland Academy - CLOSED

  • Treverbyn Academy - CLOSED

  • Trewirgie Infant School - CLOSED

  • Veryan School - CLOSED

Snow arrives in Cornwall

09:15 , Lydia Patrick

Cornwall residents are waking up to scences that could appear on the front of postcards as snow falls on the South West coastal county.

Jo Shreeve from Redruth warns: “Roads are treacherous so be careful.”

Watch - Met Office gives early verdict on white Christmas

09:00 , Lydia Patrick

Snow falls in parts of UK as Met Office gives early verdict on white Christmas

Watch - Snow sweeps across Bournemouth

08:46 , Lydia Patrick

People in Bournemouth are waking up to light snow flurries, but will it settle?

Yorkshire wakes up to snow

08:35 , Lydia Patrick

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

People in Yorkshire have woken up to a ‘light covering’ of snow this morning and social media users are documenting their delight.

Watch- Channel 4 weather goes off air as meteorologist interrupted

08:05 , Lydia Patrick

Channel 4 weather goes off air as meteorologist interrupted

An icy start to the day

07:37 , Lydia Patrick

Most of the UK have woken up feeling a noticable chill with a sudden drop in temperatures.

Up in Scotland temperatures have plummeted to 0C with Glasgow reaching -2

The Met Office predict cloudy conditions in the South of England, with further patchy rain at times, and the southwest might see snowfall.

Elsewhere, they predict sunshine with wintry showers towards coasts in the east.

Most places will remain dry with sunny spells, predict meterologists.

Yellow warning continues to Friday for parts of UK

07:04 , Vishwam Sankaran

The snowfall yellow warning issued by the Met Office is expected to continue into Friday for eastern parts of the UK.

The weather service warned that icy patches are likely to develop in the eastern and northeastern parts of the country with further showers in the coastal regions.

It warned that some roads and railways could be affected with journey times likely getting longer by road, bus, and train services.

There are also risks of injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces with the likelihood of icy patches forming on some untreated roads, pavements, and cycle paths, according to the Met Office.

Snow 'already settling' in parts of Scotland, England, Met Office says

06:57 , Vishwam Sankaran

The RAC is warning road users of icy conditions this morning as the Met Office said snow has already settled in parts of Scotland and northern England.

“We’ve already seen snow settling in parts of eastern Scotland and north-eastern England,” Met Office chief meteorologist Neil Armstrong said.

The weather service expects to see more snow over high ground in parts of south-west England through Thursday.

“Snow showers will continue along the North Sea coast with a north-easterly air flow, leading to further accumulations over higher ground. Where the showers fall as rain, there is a risk of icy patches forming overnight with temperatures widely dipping below freezing,” Mr Armstrong said.

Night time temperatures to stay below freezing

06:46 , Vishwam Sankaran

The nighttime temperatures are expected to stay below freezing for large parts of England and Scotland, the Met Office said.

Temperatures during the day could drop to single-digit figures while it may stay below freezing this week as the UK is being hit by a blast of cold air from Scandinavia that is causing a cold snap in the North.

The weather on Friday is expected to remain cold with sunny spells and wintry showers towards coastal areas, the Met Office added.

Met Office issues yellow alert due to icy conditions

06:41 , Vishwam Sankaran

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning due to icy conditions in large parts of Scotland, England, and Northern Ireland.

The weather service has warned of the likelihood of people suffering slips and fall injuries due to snow and ice with chance of disruption to road, bus, and rail networks.

“As the cold air continues to spread across the UK, we also expect to see some snow over the high ground of south-west England overnight and through tomorrow,” Met Office chief meteorologist Neil Armstrong said.

Thursday morning outlook

03:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Where is it going to snow? Warning amid plunging temperatures as minus 7.2C recorded

02:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Temperatures have plunged to a low of minus 7.2C in England as snow fell in Scotland, Northumberland and Yorkshire, but the Met Office has said it is too early to predict a white Christmas.

Swathes of Scotland, England and Ireland were warned to brace themselves for snow and ice, with weather warnings issued amid plummeting temperatures.

The forecaster said the three lowest temperatures recorded at its observation sites overnight were all in Cumbria on Wednesday, with a low of minus 7.2C in Bridgefoot, minus 6.5C in Shap and minus 6.1C in Keswick.

Where is it going to snow? Warning amid plunging temperatures as minus 7.2C recorded

Freezing temperatures tonight

01:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

RAC urges drivers to get their car batteries checked

00:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

RAC Breakdown spokesman Rod Dennis said: “We expect to see a sharp rise in breakdowns this week as cold weather is the nemesis of older car batteries. It exposes any weaknesses in battery health and leads to a huge jump in the number of cars that won’t start.

“We urge every driver who has noticed their car is sluggish to start to get it checked by a reputable mobile mechanic or garage as soon as possible. Anyone who doesn’t, risks their car letting them down just at the very moment they need it, whether they’re heading to work or on the way to an important appointment.

“We also strongly recommend drivers pack some winter gear should their cars let them down and they find themselves stuck in sub-zero temperatures. Extra warm clothes, food and drink, plus a fully charged phone powerbank are all a must.”

When should I turn my heating on? And other cold weather questions answered

Wednesday 29 November 2023 23:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Knowing when your heating should go on is tricky. You feel freezing, but you know it’s only going to get colder. Do you want to spend that money now?

“There’s no exact time of year when you should turn your heating on,” explains Joanna O’Loan, knowledge manager at the Energy Saving Trust.

“Variations in how well insulated and draught-proof your home is, as well as how the cold affects you and your household, mean it’s a very personal choice. If the cold you’re feeling is becoming uncomfortable, it’s a good time to turn your heating on.”

Read more:

When should I turn my heating on? And other cold weather questions answered

What does the Met Office say about snowfall in the UK?

Wednesday 29 November 2023 22:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Neil Armstrong, said: “We’ve already seen snow settling in parts of eastern Scotland and northeastern England. As the cold air continues to spread across the UK we also expect to see some snow over the high ground of southwest England overnight tonight and through tomorrow.

“Snow showers will continue along the North Sea coast with a northeasterly air flow, leading to further accumulations over higher ground. Where the showers fall as rain there is a risk of icy patches forming overnight with temperatures widely dipping below freezing.

“A number of National Severe Weather Warnings have been issued and these are likely to be updated through the week so stay up to date with the forecast for your area.”

 (PA)
(PA)

Will there be a white Christmas?

Wednesday 29 November 2023 21:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Ladbrokes’ latest betting odds for snow to fall anywhere in the UK on Christmas Day are 1/2, and it says Edinburgh and Newcastle are the “most likely destinations to see snow”.

But the Met Office urged people to take a prediction this far in advance with a “pinch of salt”.

Met Office spokesperson Nicola Maxey said: “Christmas is still a month away, so it is impossible with this lead time to have any confidence in a detailed forecast.

“There is often a fine line between who sees snow and who sees rain. Sometimes just a fraction of a degree Celsius change in temperature can make the difference between rain or snow falling, making forecasting snow weeks in advance extremely difficult.

“The definition of a white Christmas most widely used is for a single snowflake to be observed falling in the 24 hours of December 25.

“Therefore, snow falls ‘somewhere’ in the UK for more Christmas days than not. But widespread snow falling and lying on the ground is rather more infrequent.”

 (Getty Images/iStockphoto)
(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

What are the weather warnings in place this week?

Wednesday 29 November 2023 20:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Wednesday:

Yellow - Ice - Northern Ireland

Yellow - Snow & ice - Central, Tayside & Fife, Grampian, Highlands & Eilean Siar, North East England, SW Scotland, Lothian Borders, Yorkshire & Humber

Thursday:

Yellow - Snow & ice - South West England

Yellow - Snow & ice - Central, Tayside & Fife, East Midlands, East of England, Grampian, Highlands & Eilean Siar, North East England, Orkney & Shetland, SW Scotland, Lothian Borders, Yorkshire & Humber

‘Up to 10cm of snow’

Wednesday 29 November 2023 19:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The Met Office has issued fresh weather warnings for snow and ice for areas including the North East and South West of England.

One yellow warning, covering areas in North East England, East Midlands, the East of England, Yorkshire and Humber and parts of Scotland, will be active from 5pm on Thursday until 11am on Friday.

Another yellow warning, affecting areas such as Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset, will be in place from 3am to 4pm on Thursday.

The forecaster said: “Showers, wintry in places, will continue to affect northern and eastern Scotland and eastern England through Thursday evening and overnight into Friday morning.

“These are likely to fall onto frozen surfaces allowing icy patches to form.

“From approximately the Humber northwards, showers will often fall as snow inland, with up to 2cm possible in places, and perhaps as much as 5cm over high ground. Further south, any snow accumulations are more likely to be restricted to higher ground.”

The Met Office added: “Spells of snow may develop over hills, especially parts of Bodmin Moor, Dartmoor, Blackdown Hills and Exmoor during the early hours of Thursday before petering out later in the day.

“The highest parts of Dartmoor and perhaps Bodmin Moor may see 5-10cm of snow with some drifting in strong easterly winds.

“Elsewhere, accumulations are likely to be relatively small, perhaps 1-3cm at most, and mainly in areas inland and above 100-200m. In addition to this, icy patches may also develop on untreated surfaces.”

Yellow weather warnings for snow and ice in force now

Wednesday 29 November 2023 18:24 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Yellow weather warnings are now in place for snow and ice across large swathes of the UK, including Northern Ireland, Central, Tayside & Fife, Grampian, Highlands & Eilean Siar, north east England, SW Scotland, Lothian Borders, and Yorkshire & Humber.

In pictures: Blankets of snow cover parts of the UK

Wednesday 29 November 2023 18:02 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

 (PA)
(PA)
 (PA)
(PA)
 (PA)
(PA)

Temperatures plunged to -7C overnight in England

Wednesday 29 November 2023 17:22 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Temperatures have plunged to a low of minus 7.2C in England as snow fell in Scotland, Northumberland and Yorkshire, but the Met Office has said it is too early to predict a white Christmas.

Swathes of Scotland, England and Ireland were warned to brace themselves for snow and ice, with weather warnings issued amid plummeting temperatures.

The forecaster said the three lowest temperatures recorded at its observation sites overnight were all in Cumbria on Wednesday, with a low of minus 7.2C in Bridgefoot, minus 6.5C in Shap and minus 6.1C in Keswick.

The BBC reported that parts of the UK had their coldest November night since 2010, and that it was minus 8C at Aonach Mor in the Scottish Highlands.

Met Office spokeswoman Nicola Maxey said it has recorded snow in eastern Scotland, Northumberland and Yorkshire, with about 2cm of snow in some eastern coast areas and 5cm at Fylingdales on the North York Moors.

 (PA)
(PA)

Wednesday 29 November 2023 16:33 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Wet and windy weather continues on Wednesday evening in northeast England, Scotland and parts of Northern Ireland.

Snowy scenes

Wednesday 29 November 2023 15:40 , Alex Ross

With snow on the road, the A939 between Corgarff and the Lecht in the Scottish Highlands is closed (Getty Images)
With snow on the road, the A939 between Corgarff and the Lecht in the Scottish Highlands is closed (Getty Images)
Suffield Ings Farm in Hackness, Scarborough, saw snow as the sun rose up this morning (PA)
Suffield Ings Farm in Hackness, Scarborough, saw snow as the sun rose up this morning (PA)
Gorgeous winter scene at Fenton Hill Farm Cottages in Wooler, Northumberland (PA)
Gorgeous winter scene at Fenton Hill Farm Cottages in Wooler, Northumberland (PA)

Cold Weather Payments

Wednesday 29 November 2023 15:14 , Alex Ross

As we’re explained previously, households can get £25 each time the average temperature in their area is 0C or below for seven consecutive days, between November 1 and March 31.

The government’s Cold Winter Payment scheme applys to people who are getting Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit, or Support for Mortgage Interest.

It doesn’t apply to peopel in Scotland.

With the weather forecast seeing temperatures drop to freezing for many areas this week, it means thousands look set to benefit from the payment.

The winter allowances and support can you claim in cold weather

Chances of a white Christmas this year

Wednesday 29 November 2023 14:40 , Alex Ross

As the weather gets colder and snow can be seen in some parts of the country, it’s the question many of us will now be thinking.... any chance of a white Christmas this year?

Well, a Met Office spokesperson said it’ll be difficult to predict with a degree celsius change making all the difference, but she did not rule it out.

Speaking to Sky, she said: “There is often a fine line between who sees snow and who sees rain. Sometimes just a fraction of a degree celsius change in temperature can make the difference between rain or snow falling, making forecasting snow weeks in advance extremely difficult.

“The definition of a white Christmas most widely used is for a single snowflake to be observed falling in the 24 hours of 25 December.

“Therefore, snow falls somewhere in the UK for more Christmas days than not. But widespread snow falling and lying on the ground is rather more infrequent.”

More information from the Met Office for the South West

Wednesday 29 November 2023 14:20 , Alex Ross

As we can see in the post on X from the Met Office, there is now snow forecast for east in Somerset and Devon with the white stuff expected over Exeter, Yeovil and Taunton at around 7am tomorrow.

Not that social media users believe it. One person responds: “Doubt it very much”, while another states: “Lovely cold rain.”

‘Cold air from northern Scandinavia'

Wednesday 29 November 2023 13:25 , Alex Ross

The Met Office states the wintery conditions being faced in many parts of the country is due to “the UK sitting in cold air from northern Scandinavia”, as it warned of the weather turning much colder for the rest of this week and the start of the next.

Day temperatures will struggle to get above single figures, with overnight temperatures staying below freezing for most.

Met Office chief meteorologist, Neil Armstrong, said: “There has been some uncertainty in the atmospheric weather patterns for the coming days, however, confidence in the forecast is improving and there is a reducing chance of snow for southern areas of the UK, although there is still a chance we may see some sleety wintry showers over higher ground in areas such as Dartmoor or Exmoor.

“Northern and northeastern areas of the UK in the moist north / northeasterly airflow continue to see a chance of snow or sleet and yellow snow and ice severe weather warnings have been issued.”

‘Sharp rise’ in breakdowns

Wednesday 29 November 2023 13:05 , Alex Ross

As the weather gets colder, emergency breakdown companies are reporting a rise in call-outs.

Rod Dennis, a spokesperson for RAC Breakdown, said the service was expecting to see a sharp rise in the number of breakdowns this week as and car batteries falter.

The RAC is asking people to check their vehicles and to bring winter clothing on their journeys in case they get stuck in cold conditions.

Snow on the hills near Alnwick, Northumberland (@PhilWillChil/X) (PA Wire)
Snow on the hills near Alnwick, Northumberland (@PhilWillChil/X) (PA Wire)

London Mayor Sadiq Khan issues emergency rules

Wednesday 29 November 2023 12:41 , Alex Ross

Mayor Sadiq Kahn has issued emergency rules for London today as the Met Office forecasts freezing temperatures this weekend.

Mr Kahn has activated the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol, which will see emergency accommodation opened for people sleeping rough.

More information on the scheme can be found by clicking here.

Big freeze

Wednesday 29 November 2023 12:18 , Alex Ross

Temperatures are to plummet this weekend with many areas seeing the mercury fall below 0C on Saturday evening.

The Met Office’s UK outlook for Friday to Sunday reads: “Staying cold throughout this period, with sunny spells and some wintry showers, mainly towards coastal areas. Widespread overnight frosts and some freezing fog patches.”

Temperatures forecast by Met Office for Saturday, 6pm (Met Office)
Temperatures forecast by Met Office for Saturday, 6pm (Met Office)

Warnings of snow and ice

Wednesday 29 November 2023 12:10 , Alex Ross

The map published by the Met Office shows the first weather warning covering North East England, East Midlands, the East of England, Yorkshire and Humber and parts of Scotland, which will be active from 5pm on Thursday until 11am on Friday.

The second yellow warning, affecting areas such as Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset, will be in place from 3am to 4pm on Thursday.

Yellow weather warnings in place for the UK for 30 November (Met Office)
Yellow weather warnings in place for the UK for 30 November (Met Office)

It’s beginning to look alot like..... pictures from Ballater in Scotland

Wednesday 29 November 2023 11:35 , Alex Ross

 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

National Grid paying customers to switch off power tonight

Wednesday 29 November 2023 11:28 , Alex Ross

Yes, it’s going to be cold tonight, but the National Grid is offering discounts for customers who reduce their electricity usage between 5pm and 6.30pm.

It is part of its Demand Flexibility Service, which 1.4 million businesses and households have so far signed up to.

A National Grid spokesperson said: “Our forecasts show electricity supply margins are expected to be tighter than normal on Wednesday evening. We are activating a Live Demand Flexibility Service event between 17:00-18.30 today.

“It does not mean electricity supplies are at risk and people should not be worried. These are precautionary measures to maintain the buffer of spare capacity we need.”

For more on the scheme, and how to take part, click on story link below

National Grid to pay energy customers to switch off power tonight. How to take part

Cold weather alert from the UK Health Security Agency

Wednesday 29 November 2023 09:47 , Alex Ross

It’s not just warnings from the Met Office which are being issued, the government’s UK Health Security Agency has also put in place “cold health alerts” for the central and northern parts of England, running from yesterday at 6pm to 5 December.

For the Midlands, a yellow alert is in place warning of minor impacts to the health and social care sectors, with an increased risk of death amongst vulnerable people.

For the northern parts of England, an amber alert is in place predicting significant impacts to the sectors with an increased risk to people aged 65 and over and with underlying health conditions.

On the UK, it states: “Conditions across the UK are forecast to turn increasinly cold through the week with overnight frosts becoming sharp and widespread with only limited recovery of temperatures by day.”

Northern parts of England have been issued with an amber alert by the UK Health Security Agency (UK Health Security Agency)
Northern parts of England have been issued with an amber alert by the UK Health Security Agency (UK Health Security Agency)

Hazardous driving conditions

Wednesday 29 November 2023 09:29 , Alex Ross

This dash camera footage from a motorist driving on the A9 north of Inverness in northern Scotland shows the difficult driving conditions last night.

Temperatures are set to drop to freezing tonight in the region with a yellow warning in place for ice and snow from the Met Office

Temperatures across the UK today

Wednesday 29 November 2023 09:10 , Alex Ross

While northern parts of England and Scotland may have seen snow this morning, that’s certainly not the picture for all the UK with southern regions not seeing the freezing temperatures at 9am.

And this will remain the situation throughout the day, with southern parts of the UK feeling slightly colder.

Temperatures across the UK on Wednesday at 9am (Met Office)
Temperatures across the UK on Wednesday at 9am (Met Office)
Temperatures across the UK on Wednesday at 3pm (Met Office)
Temperatures across the UK on Wednesday at 3pm (Met Office)
Temperatures across the UK on Wednesday at midnight (Met Office)
Temperatures across the UK on Wednesday at midnight (Met Office)

More pictures of snow on the roads this morning

Wednesday 29 November 2023 08:49 , Alex Ross

The yellow weather warning in place from the Met Office alerts drivers to icy patches on roads in north eastern parts of England.

North Yorkshire Council has provided these images showing the conditions of roads across the region.

A165 near Reighton (North Yorkshire Council)
A165 near Reighton (North Yorkshire Council)
Blakey Ridge near Castleton (North Yorkshire Council)
Blakey Ridge near Castleton (North Yorkshire Council)
A169 Blue Bank near Eskdaleside (North Yorkshire Council)
A169 Blue Bank near Eskdaleside (North Yorkshire Council)

Weather warnings in place

Wednesday 29 November 2023 08:33 , Alex Ross

Here’s the picture for the northern parts of England and Scotland with a Met Office weather warning covering large parts of the map.

The “snow and ice” alert warns people of showers, falling as snow inland, which will lead to icy patches and hazardous conditions.

 (Met Office)
(Met Office)

Snow in North East

Wednesday 29 November 2023 07:34 , Alex Ross

We’re seeing pictures of snow on high ground in areas of the North East, including Whitby and Scarborough.

The conditions have led to the closure of the A169 between Whitby and Pickering, while the A171 in Scarborough is closed.

Temperatures hover around 2C in southern England

Wednesday 29 November 2023 06:00 , Matt Mathers

Temperatures are hovering around 2C across southern England overnight.

Colder temperatures are expected across the north and Scotland, where snow is forecast.

Watch the Met Office graphic below to see what temperature is forecast in your area.

Chance of snow in Exmoor and Dartmoor

Wednesday 29 November 2023 04:00 , Matt Mathers

There is a chance of snow in parts of Exmoor and Dartmoor despite the two areas not being covered by the yellow weather warning, a forecaster has said.

Met Office chief meteorologist Neil Armstrong said: “There has been some uncertainty in the atmospheric weather patterns for the coming days, however, confidence in the forecast is improving and there is a reducing chance of snow for southern areas of the UK, although there is still a chance we may see some sleety wintry showers over higher ground in areas such as Dartmoor or Exmoor.

“Northern and north-eastern areas of the UK in the moist north / north-easterly airflow continue to see a chance of snow or sleet.”

More details below:

Overnight frosts to hit much of the UK, Met Office says

Met Office map reveals where snow is expected as weather warning issued

Wednesday 29 November 2023 02:00 , Matt Mathers

Snow has been forecast for parts of northern Scotland and North East England.

But where is it likely to fall, and what areas are affected by a weather warning issued by the Met Office on Tuesday?

Holly Evans reports.

Met Office map reveals where snow is expected as weather warning issued

Yellow warning for snow and ice across parts of the country

Wednesday 29 November 2023 00:05 , Matt Mathers

Britons are being told to brace for potentially “hazardous conditions” as snow and ice are set for parts of the country.

The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for snow and ice from 5pm on Tuesday until 11am on Wednesday for parts of northern and eastern Scotland, north-east England and Yorkshire.

Helen William reports:

Yellow warning for snow and ice across parts of the country

Tuesday 28 November 2023 21:00 , Matt Mathers

The UK is not the only country that might be hit by snow this week.

Bulgaria has already issued a red weather warning for snow while Ukraine has experienced blizzards and freezing temperatures.

Oliver Browning reports:

Bulgaria issues red weather warning as heavy snow covers country

How long are weather warnings in place and what are the risks?

Tuesday 28 November 2023 20:00 , Matt Mathers

Yellow weather warnings for snow and ice are in place for parts of the UK on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Wintry showers could lead to ice forming on some roads in the affected areas and the Met says there is a small risk of injury from slips and falls.

“Some roads and railways likely to be affected with longer journey times by road, bus and train services,” the Met says.

What is the record low temp for November?

Tuesday 28 November 2023 18:00 , Matt Mathers

Temperatures could dip as low as -8C this week as snow is forecast for parts of the northeast and northern Scotland.

Minus 8 would certainly feel cold but might be deemed little more than a chill when compared with the record November low of -23.C , logged in Braemar , Aberdeenshire in 1919.

Minus 18 was recorded in Llysdinam, Powys, Wales back in 2010.

 (PA Wire)
(PA Wire)

Mapped- Met Office map reveals where snow is expected as weather warning issued

Tuesday 28 November 2023 17:00 , Lydia Patrick

The UK has been warned to brace for potentially “hazardous conditions” as snow and ice are set to hit parts of the country.

The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for snow and ice that are set to last from Tuesday at 5pm to Thursday at 11am.

Central, Tayside and Fife, Grampian, Highlands and Eilean Siar, north-east England, Orkney and Shetland, south-west Scotland, Lothian Borders and Yorkshire and Humber are some of the affected regions.

Met Office map reveals where snow is expected as weather warning issued

Where will be affected by snow and ice?

Tuesday 28 November 2023 16:00 , Lydia Patrick

Here is a list of all the areas affected by the snow warning, according to the Met Office.

Central, Tayside & Fife

  • Angus

Grampian

  • Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray

Highlands & Eilean Siar

  • Na h-Eileanan Siar, Highland

North East England

  • Darlington, Durham, Gateshead, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, Northumberland, Redcar and Cleveland, South Tyneside, Stockton-on-Tees and Sunderland

Orkney & Shetland

  • Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands

SW Scotland, Lothian Borders

  • East Lothian and Scottish Borders

Yorkshire & Humber

  • East Riding of Yorkshire and North Yorkshire

The latest weather forecast

Tuesday 28 November 2023 14:31 , Lydia Patrick