UK snow and ice weather warning issued by Met Office in first cold snap of the season

The first cold snap of the season could bring snow and ice disruption across northern parts of the UK next week. The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for parts of northern England and southern Scotland on Monday and Tuesday, with up to 20cm (around 8in) of snow possible on higher ground.

There is a small chance of up to 10cm (4in) of snow settling at lower levels, which could prove disruptive, forecasters said. The warning covers much of southern Scotland and north-east England, parts of Yorkshire, and parts of the north-west of England, including Lancashire and Cumbria, and is in force from 10am on Monday until 10am on Tuesday.

A separate warning for snow and ice is in place in northern Scotland from 4pm on Sunday until 11am on Monday. The cold front comes after weeks of mild, above-average temperatures and is likely to reach all parts of the UK by the middle of next week.

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Met Office spokesperson Grahame Madge said: "It’s going to get colder over the coming days – it’s still pretty mild in the south but there is a cold front that will be sinking south across northern parts of the UK.

"There’s going to be some wintriness in the hills, for example, tonight and into tomorrow. That’s all at quite high levels – Scottish mountains, Lake District maybe. Then we get into our warning period for snow and ice."

The weather could cause issues on the roads and railways, with longer journey times by road, bus and train services.

The Met Office has issued a warning about potential icy patches on some untreated roads, pavements, and cycle paths. Mr Madge commented that despite the cold snap, we can expect "largely sunny" weather with "clear sunny spells."

He also pointed out that "Technically and meteorologically, we are not in winter yet," adding, "It’s still late autumn as for meteorologists winter begins in December – but this is the first really cold spell of the season so far."

The shift to colder conditions, forecasters explain, is due to low pressure moving in.

Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Rebekah Hicks said: “Temperatures will drop as a northerly airflow develops, bringing in colder Arctic air. This introduces the possibility of snow, initially over high ground in the north from Sunday, with gusty winds also a potential hazard.”