UK’s Cold Snap Could Last All Month, Met Office Warns

UK’s Cold Snap Could Last All Month, Met Office Warns
Motorists travel through a heavy snow shower on the M8 on Jan. 16, 2018, in Harthill, Scotland. (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
Jane Werrell
2/8/2018
Updated:
2/8/2018

More snow and ice warnings have been issued for the UK, as forecasters warn the country’s chilly weather could last all month.

It comes after snowy conditions triggered collisions on the M20 on Monday, with the Met Office predicting it to be one of the coldest weeks of the winter so far.

Forecasters have warned that the wintry conditions could continue for the rest of the month.

“There are indications of quite a prolonged cold period. Really much of February and perhaps even into March it is going to stay on the cold side, so temperatures generally below average, with further frosts and also the risk of rain, sleet and snow as well,” forecaster Alex Burkill said to the Times.

A yellow warning for snow and ice is in force from Thursday midnight until 12 noon in Northern Ireland, western Scotland, northwest England, Wales, and the north and West Midlands.

Forecasters say “heavy sleet, hail, and snow showers” will follow a spell of rain and hill snow. The mercury is set to plummet, allowing ice to form on untreated roads.

The Met Office said, “Rain and hill snow is expected to clear northwestern Scotland late on Thursday evening, and these clearer conditions will spread to all parts by early Friday morning.

“Ice is expected to form as skies clear. Heavy sleet, hail and snow showers will follow, and these will be most frequent across Northern Ireland, western Scotland, northwest England and by morning across Wales and the north and West Midlands.  2-5 cm of snow may accumulate above 100 m with some snow to low levels too.”

Roxy, a Japanese Akita plays in the snow on Jan. 17, 2018, in Belfast, Northern Ireland. (Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)
Roxy, a Japanese Akita plays in the snow on Jan. 17, 2018, in Belfast, Northern Ireland. (Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

A further weather warning for ice kicks in early on Friday morning, affecting the East Midlands, London and South East England, South West England, Wales, and the West Midlands.

Travel disruptions are expected, including delays in bus and train services and road closures.

Wintry conditions are expected to last for the rest of the week, with some warnings that the unusually cold weather could linger for the rest of the month.

Vehicles at the base of Pont ar Daf in the Brecon Beacons as snow begins to fall on Jan. 12, 2017, at Pen Y Fan, Wales. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
Vehicles at the base of Pont ar Daf in the Brecon Beacons as snow begins to fall on Jan. 12, 2017, at Pen Y Fan, Wales. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
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