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UK weather: Met Office warns 8 inches of snow to hit parts of Britain as -4C Arctic freeze sparks travel chaos
The Met Office are predicting 10cm of snowfall in just a few hours
THE Met Office has warned eight inches of snow could hit parts of Britain in a -4C Arctic freeze.
Forecasters have warned the freezing weather is likely to spark travel chaos with "disruptive snow and ice" blasting the UK today and through the night.
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Flurries are expected to start falling today with commuters waking up on Monday to the ground having been blanketed, say the weather service.
The Met Office has warned snow and ice will blast Scotland, northern England, parts of Wales and the West Midlands from Tuesday, with 4 inches of snow likely.
However, forecasters warn "perhaps locally" in the areas up to 20cm - 8 inches - is likely to see snow this week.
Snow and ice warnings are in place for most of this week, with Brits also re warned to expect 75mph gale force winds as lows of -4C were recorded in Scotland overnight.
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Conditions were so cold wild swimmers were able to break the ice on a frozen Avon Lagoon, Linlithgow, West Lothian, on Sunday.
Today, wind alerts are in place for Scotland from 10am until 4pm - with a loss of power and transport delays on the road and on the water, say the Met Office.
Snow and ice warnings have also been issued for the majority of the country - lasting the whole day - with injuries expected.
As we head into Monday, things aren't looking to brighten up just yet.
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The same snow and ice alert remains in place until 11.59pm while Northern Ireland is also affected.
The warning states: “Showers, increasingly falling as snow, bringing some disruption to parts of Northern Ireland.
“Some roads and railways likely to be affected with longer journey times by road, bus and train services.
“Probably some icy patches on some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths. Some injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces.”
The UK Health Security Agency have also issued a warning and urged people to stay safe during the cold snap.
Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Chris Bulmer said: “Snow showers from Sunday onwards are most likely to move inland from coasts exposed to northerly winds.
"The focus of snow showers will be over northern Scotland, but parts of the North Sea and Irish Sea coasts may also see some snow at times.
“There are a couple of weather systems for Tuesday and Wednesday which we are keeping an eye on that bring the potential for disruptive snow for some regions.
"With cold air firmly in place, any weather systems that move across the country next week will bringing mainly snowfall inland.
"Models are currently showing us a variety of options for both systems and we’ll be able to add more details to in the coming days.”
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UK Health Security Agency warning - how to stay safe
According to the UKHSA, there is a possibility for a severe impact on the health and social care sector due to the freezing weather.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, said: “The temperatures we will see leading into the weekend can rapidly have a serious impact on the health of those over the age of 65 and those with pre-existing health conditions as it increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections.
"It is therefore vital to check in on friends, family and neighbours to ensure they are well prepared for the cold weather next week.”
Who is vulnerable?
- older people (aged 65 years and over)
- people with cardiovascular (heart and circulation) conditions
- people with respiratory conditions (in particular, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and childhood asthma)
- people with mental health conditions
- people with learning and/or physical disabilities
- young children (particularly those aged under 5 years)
- pregnant women
- people on a low income
How to stay safe:
- draught-proof windows, doors and other points of energy loss
- ensure heating systems are maintained and in good working order
- stay inside if temperatures drop
With a freezing snap just hours away, travel plans are set to be impacted.
Amy Fellows, National Network Manager at National Highways has issued advice on how to drive in the weather.
She said: “Freezing conditions bring so many hazards such as snow and ice, so take every possible step to understand your journey in advance and allow lots of extra time when travelling to prepare for the unexpected.
“National Highways also reminds motorists to keep TRIP in mind ahead of journeys – Top-up: oil, water, screen wash; Rest: rest every two hours; Inspect: Inspect tyres and lights and Prepare: check your route and the weather forecast.”
Southern regions were said to be at "low risk" of snow.
Met Office meteorologist Honor Criswick added: "It is going to be feeling pretty chilly in the north of Scotland.
"Throughout the week we are going to see more and more snow showers and warnings, towards the end of the week we will probably see an accumulation.
"Snow showers will be moving inland throughout the course of the day.
"It continues all day Sunday into Monday and we are likely to see an accumulation of snow and further warnings.
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"We are going to see showers feeding across Scotland, Northern Ireland, and mainly the east coast of England.
"On Tuesday, we are going to see more rain turning to snow moving east across the country, with more prolonged snow and more accumulations at low levels in the north of Scotland and northern England."
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