UK weather live: Storm Bert to bring 70mph winds and batter Britain with heavy snow, Met Office warns
Parts of the country are bracing for power cuts as charities and energy companies warn homeowners to stay warm as temperatures drop to freezing
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Snow, heavy rain and strong winds are set to batter large parts of the UK over the next few days, stranding some communities as temperatures plummet ahead of severe weather the Met Office has named Storm Bert.
Amber and yellow warnings have been issued for dangerous weather, bringing risks of road closures, and rail and flight delays, with charities and energy companies telling households to prepare.
Met Office chief meteorologist Matthew Lehnert said Scotland should expect to see snow showers over the next few days, “with this reaching lower levels at times and bringing the potential for some travel disruption.”
“Overnight temperatures will drop below zero fairly widely over the next few days, which has resulted in some ice warnings, with further warnings likely through this week,” he said.
Commuters can expect more travel chaos with National Rail warning of four days of disruption as heavy snow is expected to continue falling over the weekend.
Met Office warn rainfall in excess of 100mm is possible
Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Dan Holley said: “Storm Bert marks a shift to much milder air and wintry hazards will gradually diminish through the weekend, but heavy snowfall is expected across parts of northern England and Scotland for a time on Saturday, especially over higher ground, and warnings are in place.
“Heavy rain through Saturday and Sunday, especially in southern and western parts of the UK, will also bring impacts for some with a number of warnings in place.
“We expect 50-75mm of rainfall quite widely within the warning areas, but in excess of 100mm is possible over high ground in parts of Wales and south-west England.
“In addition, rapid melting of lying snow over the weekend and periods of strong winds are likely to exacerbate impacts and bring the potential for travel disruption, as well as flooding for some.”
Can and should you walk your dogs in the snow?
Temperatures are dropping across the UK with snow weather warnings in place for parts of the country.
Temperatures dropped to minus 7.8C in Tulloch Bridge, Scotland, in the early hours of Monday, which is the lowest temperature the UK has seen since last winter.
Cold temperatures, ice and further snow feature on the forecast for the coming days in what the Met Office deemed is the country’s “first taste of winter”. With this news, many will be thinking about how this chilly weather may affect our pets.
It’s important to prepare our dogs, as well as ourselves, for this forecast.
Can and should you walk your dogs in the snow?
Tips for how to look after your pets during the cold weather
Met Office’s five day weather forecast
This Evening and Tonight:
A cold evening and night to come for much of the UK. A widespread frost developing, along with icy stretches. Sleet and snow showers will continue to move southwards, leading to further snow accumulations in places, mainly in the north.
Friday:
Another frosty and in places icy start on Friday with sunshine and wintry showers continuing in exposed areas. Showers and winds gradually easing through the afternoon.
Outlook for Saturday to Monday:
Turning wet and windy for all on Saturday, with some hill snow initially, and blustery showers on Sunday and Monday. Milder on Saturday and Sunday but cooler again into Monday.
Mapped: When and where Storm Bert will hit as Met Office issues weather warnings
The Met Office has warned Brits to prepare for a weekend of rain, wind and snow as Storm Bert sweeps the country.
Weather warnings are in place every day until Sunday – including seven on Saturday – as the country braces for more wintry weather after temperatures plummeted earlier in the week.
The majority of the UK will be facing at least one weather warning in the days to come, with Scotland and northern England expected to be the worst affected.
See when and where Storm Bert will hit the UK below:
Mapped: When and where Storm Bert will hit as Met Office issues weather warnings
The majority of the UK will be facing at least one weather warning in the days to come
In Pictures: Snow continues to blanket parts of the UK
In Pictures: Snow continues to blanket parts of the UK
Temperatures dropped below zero in some parts of the country on Wednesday morning.
Amber snow warning issued ahead of Storm Bert
Hundreds of schools are closed amid snowy conditions and an amber weather alert has been issued for the weekend when Storm Bert is set to sweep in.
The Met Office said Storm Bert is expected to bring “heavy rain, strong winds and disruptive snow to parts of the UK through the weekend” and warned of travel disruption and potential flooding.
An amber alert for heavy snow and ice will be in force between 7am and 5pm on Saturday in an area north of Scotland’s central belt, where 10-20cm is likely on ground above 200 metres and potentially as much as 20-40cm on hills above 400 metres.
Read the full article here:
Amber snow warning issued ahead of Storm Bert
It comes as hundreds of schools were closed on Thursday due to the wintry weather.
Devon Police warn of collisions due to weather
Devon Police have said they have received “numerous calls” from drivers due to collisions occurring in Thursday’s bad weather.
“We are receiving numerous calls from motorists who have been involved in collisions due to adverse weather conditions this morning,” they wrote on X.
Transport Scotland warn of potential delays and travel cancellations
Scotland’s transport agency, Transport Scotland, said the amber warning means roads could be affected by deep snow and “some rural communities might be cut off”.
It also warned of potential delays and cancellations to trains and buses and of power cuts and phone outages.
Scottish Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “The conditions will likely cause difficult driving conditions and disruption to the wider transport network, so it’s important that anyone that has to travel during the warning period plans their journey ahead of time.”
How is climate change affecting snow in the UK?
In recent decades, the intensity and frequency of heavy snowfall in the UK has reduced, and is expected to further reduce in recent years.
Between 1961 to 1990, it snowed for an average of 36.3 days each year in the UK, which has since reduced to 23.7 leading up to 2010.
Cold weather payments triggered in UK snow – check if you’re eligible and when to expect money
The first cold weather payments of 2024 have been triggered as snow blankets neighbourhoods across the UK and temperatures plunge.
Up to 15cm of snow is expected to fall in some parts of the country as the Met Office issues several yellow weather alerts for snow and ice.
To help support people during cold snaps like these, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) runs the cold weather payment scheme for qualifying households.
Read the full article here:
Cold Weather Payments triggered in UK snow – check if you’re eligible
Snow has begun to fall across the UK
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments