Yorkshire snow: Met Office issues Amber warnings across UK as snow and ice blankets Whitby
An amber warning has been issued by the Met Office as snow and ice blankets parts of Yorkshire, with severe winter conditions forecast across parts of the UK.
Six yellow weather warnings for snow and ice are in place, with the latest warnings reaching into Monday, while several amber snow warnings are in place throughout Saturday (Jan 3).
The Met Office said areas covered by the amber alerts could see 10-20cm of snow at lower altitudes and 30-40cm of snow on higher ground, while winds could cause blizzards.
Chief Forecaster, Neil Armstrong, said “With Arctic air now covering most of the UK very cold weather will continue through the weekend, with minus double figures overnight in places and daytime temperatures struggling to rise above 0°C for some.
“It looks like this cold spell could last well into next week and wintry hazards will continue with more weather warnings likely. It is therefore important people keep up to date with the latest forecast and warnings and plan ahead.”
For Yorkshire the Met Office has said around 1-3 cm of snow is likely to accumulate quite widely, with 5-8 cm possible in places, this most likely across the North York Moors.
The snow showers will gradually become lighter and less frequent during Saturday (Jan 3) evening, and move offshore overnight.
Icy patches will also form, particularly during Saturday evening where roads have potentially been left wet from partially thawed snow during the daytime.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued amber cold health alerts for England until Tuesday (Jan 6).
Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, said: “As the colder weather sets in it is vital to check in on friends, family and neighbours that are most vulnerable.
“The forecast temperatures can have a serious impact on the health of some people, leading to increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections, particularly for individuals over the age of 65 and those with pre-existing health conditions.”