UK weather – latest: Snow and ice warnings as Brits warned conditions ‘worse rather than better’

The current heavy snow across the UK means drivers are facing icy roads and treacherous conditions.

The gritters are out but motorists are still being advised against making unnecessary journeys and to proceed with extreme caution when setting out proves unavoidable.

As you drive home today, Joe Sommerlad reports on how to drive in snow and ice.

The Met Office has issued an amber warning for “significant disruption” as parts of the UK could be covered in up to 40cm of snow.

After temperatures dropped to -15.4C at Kinbrace in Scotland overnight, the Arctic blast will continue through the week with the Midlands and north of England facing heavy snow.

The warning is in place from 3pm on Thursday to midday on Friday. 10 to 20cm of snow is likely to fall across much of the area, with 30 to 40cm in some places, and will be accompanied by strong winds.

A number of National Severe Weather Warnings are in place across the UK as snow continues to cause disruption through the week.

Thomas Kingsley reports:

Temperatures in Scotland could get down to -15C tonight as colder air moves north overnight, a Met Office chief has said.

Met Office chief meteorologist, Matthew Lehnert, said: “The boundary between milder and colder air will slowly move north through Wednesday and overnight, moving the chances of snow further north with it.

“Snow will have settled quite widely in central parts of the UK as we move into Thursday morning leaving tricky conditions for the morning travel period. It will be another very cold night, especially under clear skies in Scotland where temperatures could get down to -15C again tonight.

“An amber warning for snow has been issued for the high ground running north in the centre of northern England as snow redevelops through the course of Thursday and persist until early Friday.

“Here we could see up to 40cm of snow accompanied by strong winds causing blizzard conditions.”

Snow storms are expected to hit large swathes of central and northern England on Thursday, forecasters have warned.

The Met Office has issued an amber warning for “strong winds bringing blizzard conditions” and up to 40cm of snow to the area stretching from Stoke-on-Trent to Durham.

The warning lasts for 21 hours from 3pm on Thursday – and “significant disruption” to transport, power lines and phone network coverage is likely.

Several milder yellow weather warnings for snow have also been issued, covering much of the nation from Wednesday to Friday.

Tuesday marked the coldest night of the year so far, and more sub-zero overnight temperatures are expected in all four UK nations in the coming days.

Temperatures at Kinbrace in the Highlands dropped to this year’s low of minus 15.4C overnight.

Met Office spokesperson Nicola Maxey said this was the coldest March temperature recorded since 2010, but that it is “not that unusual to see snow in March”.

Emergency vets have issued a hazard warning to pet owners after the Met Office issued an amber snow weather warning for central and northern England.

Vets Now, an emergency vet service, has urged pet owners to avoid using anti-freeze in their cars because it is extremely toxic to pets.

Dave Leicester of Vets Now said: “Anti-freeze is extremely harmful to animals, even a very small amount of it is very toxic to the kidneys and unfortunately is quite often fatal. Just one 5ml teaspoon could be enough to kill a cat and a tablespoon could be fatal for dogs.

One of the main ingredients in anti-freeze is ethylene glycol, which is extremely toxic. With a very sweet taste, it makes it very palatable to animals, so it’s really important when using it to minimise spillages as much as possible. Even small amounts in a contaminated puddle of water could be enough to poison a cat.

“Leaks from screen wash containers or car radiators should be quickly cleaned up and thoroughly washed away with a hose or buckets of water. It’s also worth informing your neighbours as many people won’t be aware it is so toxic.

“There is some hope as there is a safer alternative to anti-freeze with Ethylene glycol - Propylene glycol anti-freeze. It is more expensive, but safe for pets and other wildlife, so could be worth the extra investment to avoid anti-freeze poisoning.”

Symptoms of anti-freeze poisoning include wobbliness or falling over, vomiting, dehydration, and lack of appetite, as well as diarrhoea, drooling, halitosis, seizures and collapse.

If you are worried your pet has swallowed anti-freeze, contact your vet as soon as possible.

Snow storms with “blizzard conditions” are set to hit parts of the UK as temperatures plunge to -15C again overnight.

Yellow weather alerts for snow and ice are currently in place across large parts of the UK, with Wales, the Midlands and East Anglia among the areas being warned of snowfall on Wednesday evening.

One yellow alert, which warns snow showers and travel disruption are likely, covers northern parts of Scotland, where the Met Office says temperatures could drop to -15C overnight. The warning is in place from 6pm on Wednesday until 10am on Thursday.

Mustafa Javid Qadri reports:

A Met Office weather map shows a snow and ice warning was issued for almost all of Scotland and the Highlands, in addition to parts of northeast and east England, as well as all of Northern Ireland.

Much of southern England and Wales also experienced snow.

Experts believe the sudden drop in temperature is being caused by sudden stratospheric warming and could bring about similar freezing conditions to the Beast from the East in 2018.

Warnings for snow and ice have been issued across northeastern parts of the UK as well as some Northern Ireland and southern and central areas of England and Wales.

Further warnings are likely to be issued throughout the week.

Mustafa Javid Qadri reports: