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What is a yellow weather warning and when does the Met Office issue one?

Tom Herbert
·2-min read
A yellow weather warning may be given when there is a danger of severe weather but the likelihood of it is lower (PA)
A yellow weather warning may be given when there is a danger of severe weather but the likelihood of it is lower (PA)

A yellow weather warning has been issued as snow and ice are expected in parts of the UK.

The Met Office said some roads and railways might be affected by the cold weather, and icy surfaces posed a risk of slips and falls. Icy patches can form on untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths.

The yellow weather warning is in place until Friday March 10 but is expected to end in London on Tuesday March 7.

But what is a yellow weather warning? And how does it differ from amber and red?

Weather Photographer of the Year 2019 - In pictures

Winner: Above my Expectation (Gareth Mon Jones)
Winner: Above my Expectation (Gareth Mon Jones)
Runner-up: The Power of Lightning (Elena Salvai )
Runner-up: The Power of Lightning (Elena Salvai )
Young Winner: Spectacular lightning show over Trial Bay (Hugo Begg)
Young Winner: Spectacular lightning show over Trial Bay (Hugo Begg)
Third Prize: Snow Rollers in Wiltshire (Brian Bayliss)
Third Prize: Snow Rollers in Wiltshire (Brian Bayliss)
Explode WAVE (Owen Humphreys)
Explode WAVE (Owen Humphreys)
Barrier Rainstom (Brian Denton)
Barrier Rainstom (Brian Denton)
Scotney Castle Morning Shadows (Chris Brown)
Scotney Castle Morning Shadows (Chris Brown)
Mountain Cloud (Iain Afshar)
Mountain Cloud (Iain Afshar)
The Supercell (Dennis Oswald)
The Supercell (Dennis Oswald)
Third Prize: The Ship of the Stranded (Peng-Gang Fang)
Third Prize: The Ship of the Stranded (Peng-Gang Fang)
Trophies (Lee Acaster )
Trophies (Lee Acaster )

What is a yellow weather warning?

According to the Met Office, yellow warnings are issued when incoming weather is expected to cause “low level impacts” but not to the same extent as amber or red warnings.

Issued for a range of different weather situations, some travel disruption is expected and some people will be directly affected by it. However, the Met Office said most people “may be able to continue with their daily routine” so it's important to assess if the weather will affect you.

Sometimes, yellow warnings are issued when the weather is expected to bring more severe impacts to most people but the likelihood of those impacts actually happening is much lower.

The Met Office added: “It is important to read the content of yellow warnings to determine which weather situation is being covered by the yellow warning.”

How does a yellow weather warning differ from amber and red?

UK weather - In pictures

Ice covers a pond on a green in Kew, west London, after overnight temperatures in the capital dipped below freezing (PA)
Ice covers a pond on a green in Kew, west London, after overnight temperatures in the capital dipped below freezing (PA)
A person looks out as waves crash against rocks at Portland Bill in Dorset (PA)
A person looks out as waves crash against rocks at Portland Bill in Dorset (PA)
People look out to sea as waves crash against Chesil beach in Dorset (PA)
People look out to sea as waves crash against Chesil beach in Dorset (PA)
Waves crash against Chesil beach in Dorset (PA)
Waves crash against Chesil beach in Dorset (PA)
Flooding between Carlisle and Lockerbie from water running off a field onto the rail tracks (PA/Network Rail Scotland)
Flooding between Carlisle and Lockerbie from water running off a field onto the rail tracks (PA/Network Rail Scotland)
Waves crash against rocks at Portland Bill in Dorset (PA)
Waves crash against rocks at Portland Bill in Dorset (PA)
Tourists battle against wind and rain at Pier Head in Liverpoo (PA)
Tourists battle against wind and rain at Pier Head in Liverpoo (PA)

Weather warnings are issued when bad weather is expected in the UK. The Met Office said the warnings are given a colour, whether yellow, amber or red, which depends on a combination of the severity of the weather and the likelihood of it happening.

An amber warning is more serious than a yellow one and means the likelihood that more severe weather is expected is higher. During an amber warning, people are advised to change their plans and take steps to protect themselves and their property.

The weather could cause travel delays, road and rail closures and power cuts. According to the Met Office, the public is advised to “consider the impact of the weather on your family and your community and whether there is anything you need to do ahead of the severe weather to minimise the impact".

A red warning is the most severe and means potentially dangerous weather is expected. The Met Office said: “You should take action now to keep yourself and others safe from the impact of severe weather.”

People are advised to avoid travelling at all as there is a risk to life during this kind of weather. Travel and energy supplies will face widespread disruption and there is the possibility of widespread damage to property and infrastructure.

It is recommended the public follows the advice of emergency services and local authorities.

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