UK weather: Met Office issues urgent warning for SNOW as white stuff expected to spark travel chaos
THE Met Office has issued an urgent alert for snow – warning it could spark travel chaos.
Forecasters had warned the white stuff would blanket parts of the UK today, with heavy rain and winds likely to lash the country.
And some Brits had a very chilly start this morning.
Heavy snow fell in parts of Cumbria, with many waking to a total whiteout.
Photos showed snow-covered paddocks, while cars navigated icy roads in Nenthead.
And now a yellow weather alert is now in place for a four-hour period.
The warning covers parts of Gloucester, Worcester and parts of Wiltshire and is in place until 10am.
Forecasters warned the wintry conditions could cause chaos for motorists.
The Met Office said: “A brief spell of snow leading to tricky driving conditions in a few places.
“Some roads and railways likely to be affected with longer journey times by road, bus and train services.”
It comes as temperatures plummeted to a chilly -6.4C in Braemar overnight.
Meanwhile, other parts of the country will wake to a frosty morning.
The Met said the day will be unsettled with showers, and possible snow this morning.
Forecasters said: “Some brighter interludes away from showers, though cloudy in the north of Scotland with rain. Windy around coasts. Feeling chilly.”
Looking into tomorrow and early next week, they said there was a chance of sunnier, drier, weather.
The Met Office said of tomorrow: “A cold start with fog clearing.
“Rain becoming confined to the northeast of Scotland, with a chance of some rain in the far east. Otherwise mostly dry with sunny spells.
“Generally unsettled with rain and showers, and often breezy. Heavy rain possible in the southwest on Monday.
“Turning drier and more settled towards the weekend and temperatures staying around average.”
Driving safely in snow
By Jacob Jaffa
A DRIVING instructor has shared three tips for driving in snow, including a vital but easily forgotten check.
One of the specialists from The Complete Theory Test Kit took to TikTok to share the urgent advice as the weather turns colder.
Driving in wintry conditions presents a range of usually unseen dangers and demands plenty of caution from motorists.
First of all, the expert urged viewers to remember that visibility is often lower in cold weather, especially when snow or rain falls.
The heavier it is, the short the distance you are able to see ahead, which can obviously increase the risk of an accident.
They advised driving more slowly and leaving extra space between yourself and the vehicle in front.
This gives you more time to spot potential hazards and react to the behaviour of other road users.
Secondly, frozen brake lines can reduce the efficacy of the braking system, leading to increased stopping distances.
Likewise, Auto Trader estimates that icy roads can increase the distance required to come to a halt by up to ten times.
According to the RAC, it takes the average family car 75 feet to stop from 30mph, which could increase to 750 feet, or about the length of two football pitches, depending on road conditions.
This is why it is vital to check your brakes are in good working order before setting off, especially on chilly days.
Ahead of your journey, take a look at your brakes and look for any visible signs of damage or freezing.
Alternatively, on a quiet road accelerate gently to a low speed, around 10mph, before braking in order to make sure that everything is working without risking a collision.
Furthermore, the RAC advises driving in a higher gear than usual and avoiding sudden changes in speed or direction.
The best choice, though, is to avoid all journeys when roads are icy unless absolutely necessary.
Finally, the TikTok expert revealed what to do if a sharp turn does put you into a skid.
They said: “Turning in the snow may cause skidding.
“If this occurs, steer gently into it to avoid spinning the car.”