Britons are braced for Storm Bert to strike from tonight with more than a foot of snow, five inches of rain and 70mph winds on the way this weekend.
The Met Office has issued snow, ice, wind and rain warnings across the UK and said the low pressure system would be a ‘multi-hazard event’ following a cold snap.
Devon and Cornwall faced disruption on Friday with 71 schools were closed or opening late, roads blocked and train services cancelled due to the heavy snowfall.
The storm is expected to reach the UK early tomorrow morning and will bring severe conditions through the weekend, potentially causing travel disruption and flooding.
British Gas has urged homeowners in affected areas to stockpile key items such as medicines, non-perishable food, torches, chargers, water, snacks and batteries.
An amber alert for heavy snow and ice will be in force tomorrow from 7am until 5pm in an area north of Scotland’s central belt, where up to 8in (20cm) is likely on ground above 650ft (200m) and potentially even 1ft 4in (40cm) above 1,300ft (400m).
The ten-hour warning covers parts of Angus, Perth and Kinross, Stirlingshire, Aberdeenshire and some of the Highlands and Argyll and Bute.
Meanwhile, yellow wind, rain and snow warnings cover much of the rest of the UK. Wind warnings cover Scotland from 5am until 7pm tomorrow.
Rain and snow warnings cover northern England from 4am to 9am and Northern Ireland from midnight tonight until 11am tomorrow.
Network Rail Western tweeted this image of snow on a train in Devon today, saying: ‘Heavy snow means that no trains are able to run to Barnstaple until noon, or Okehampton until 4pm’
Kingsley Howe, 15, and his sister Cicely, five, enjoy the snow in Buxton, Derbyshire, today
A walker enjoys the spectacle of the partly frozen waterfall of Summerhill Force as temperatures remain well below freezing
Rain warnings cover much of Wales from 6am tomorrow until 6am on Sunday, and south-west England from 6am tomorrow until 11.45pm.
A wind warning also covers coastal areas of southern England from 3pm until 9pm tomorrow.
Bert is expected to sweep in from the Atlantic after undergoing explosive cyclogenesis – a term more commonly known as a ‘weather bomb’ when the central pressure of a low pressure system falls by more than 24 millibars in 24 hours.
Met Office spokesman Oli Claydon said Storm Bert was a ‘multi-hazard event’.
‘We’re looking at strong winds, some high snowfall accumulation, heavy rain, all in various different parts of the UK,’ he said.
‘So it’s quite a complex weather set-up for the weekend. Generally speaking, it’s a very unsettled weekend of weather ahead.’
He advised the public to keep an eye on the weather in their areas.
‘Because of the different nature of the weather across the UK, people really need to have an idea of what the forecast is for them specifically.
‘Further south it’s wind and rain, further north it’s snow then rain and wind. So it really depends on where you are in the UK. Keep on top of the forecast for your area, and prepare as necessary.
‘Obviously, with snow and ice there could be some pretty tricky conditions, especially in the morning (on Saturday), so if you are going to leave the house pay attention to what’s going on in your area with the local authorities.’
It follows a cold snap which has caused over 100 schools to close throughout the UK.
Scotland remained the worst affected, with more than 54 schools shut in the Highland Council today because of snow.
At least 27 schools in Aberdeenshire were also shut while many others had delayed openings.
South of the border, at least 71 schools were shut across Devon and Dorset.
Temperatures have plummeted this week with the coldest reading this early in the season since 1998 recorded on Tuesday as Braemar in Aberdeenshire fell to -11.2C (12.2F).
A car in a ditch down a winding country lane during an icy spell in Dunsden, Oxfordshire, today
Rough seas near the Tynemouth Pier lighthouse on the River Tyne this morning
RAC Breakdown spokeswoman Alice Simpson warned drivers to be aware of ‘rapidly changing conditions’ on the roads because of Storm Bert.
‘Persistent downpours will lead to areas of standing water, so it’s important to keep speeds down as the risk of losing control through aquaplaning on a thin layer of water is far greater,’ she said.
‘Drivers should also be very wary of puddles as they can sometimes hide dangerous potholes beneath that can cause expensive damage to vehicles.
‘Strong winds increase the risk of debris falling into the road which makes journeys more challenging, particularly in exposed coastal areas where drivers might be at risk of being buffeted off course.
‘Routes in Scotland, especially rural ones, look likely to face disruption from fresh snow that is forecast on Friday and Saturday. We encourage motorists to stick to major roads where possible and take extra care in the worst-affected areas.
‘Those who have to drive should stay tuned to weather forecasts and allow plenty of time to de-ice and de-mist your vehicle, as it’s dangerous and illegal to drive looking out of a small gap in a frozen windscreen.’
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