Snow and ice warnings issued ahead of Monday return to work

Snow and ice warnings issued ahead of Monday return to work

Matt Taylor, Lead Weather Presenter, reports that the Met Office has issued warnings of travel disruptions on Monday morning as many people return to work and school after the Christmas holiday. In northern Scotland, amber alerts are in place due to ongoing heavy snow, which follows several days of substantial snowfall. While temperatures are expected to rise slightly over the coming week, new snow showers may still occur across England and Wales. Later in the week, the UK faces additional challenges as a deep low-pressure system moves across the region, bringing heavy rain and strong winds.

Snow-related amber weather warnings currently cover Shetland, Orkney, and parts of northern mainland Scotland, effective from Sunday evening until Monday morning. Some areas, such as Moray, have already recorded snowfall depths exceeding 40cm. Strong winds have contributed to snow drifting, with reports from Network Rail Scotland indicating drifts as high as 1.2 meters between Aberdeen and Dundee. The Met Office cautions that another 20 to 30cm of snow might fall overnight Sunday into Monday, raising the possibility of further road and rail closures as well as power outages in affected regions.

Across the UK, numerous yellow warnings for snow and ice are active, indicating the potential for longer travel times and increased hazards such as slips and falls. Although most of the country will experience fairly sunny conditions during the day, some light snow flurries are expected in northern Scotland, west Wales, and parts of eastern England. The cold spell deepened over the weekend, with clear skies causing temperatures to drop sharply on Saturday night. Benson in Oxfordshire recorded minus 9.3°C, while Sennybridge in Powys fell to minus 7.3°C. Forecasts suggest that Sunday night into Monday morning could be even colder in rural areas of Scotland and Wales, reaching lows around minus 10 to minus 11°C.

Despite a gradual warming trend through the week, cold weather health alerts remain in effect across England, with the UK Health Security Agency warning about an increased risk of mortality, particularly among elderly people and those with existing health conditions. The forecast points to weather fronts from the Atlantic continuing to bring snow through the week, though exact precipitation types will depend on delicate temperature thresholds. The northern half of the UK is likely to remain coldest, with snow bands potentially causing further disruption. Toward the end of the week, an intense low-pressure system driven by an active jet stream will influence conditions. Its path will determine where heavy snow is likely to fall in the north and heavy rain to the south, accompanied by strong winds that may cause additional issues. For ongoing updates, viewers are encouraged to consult the latest BBC Weather forecasts online and via the app

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