As many as 25 major areas in the UK have been warned to prepare for a 15-hour snowstorm.
As many as 25 UK areas could face power cuts due to a 15-hour snowstorm on Tuesday.
Households are being told that an Arctic blast will bring potential disruption across various areas of Scotland, with travel affected and power supplies at risk too, while a separate warning for ice has been issued for the north of England.
The Met Office has issued a 15-hour yellow weather warning for snow, starting at 3am on Tuesday, November 18 and continuing through to 6pm affecting 7 areas in Scotland.
And in England, a yellow weather warning for ice could also bring snow and ‘subzero’ temperatures to parts of England including Durham, Cumbria and Northumblerland as well as Yokshire, the forecaster has warned, starting at 5am on Tuesday and lasting until midday affecting another 18 areas.
The Met Office is warning of potential disruption to power supplies due to snow, with households in affected areas being urged to prepare.
For its snow warning in Scotland, it said: “A period of snow on Tuesday could bring some disruption to transport and infrastructure across higher parts of Scotland.
“An area of rain will reach the west of Scotland early on Tuesday, before pushing erratically south and east through the morning, easing and clearing into the afternoon. Whilst there is some uncertainty as to the exact track and extent, a period of snow is likely over high ground, with accumulations of 2-5 cm possible above about 150 m elevation, and as much as 5-10 cm above 400 m.”
In its ice warning for England and Scotland, it added: “Outbreaks of rain and hill snow, falling on subzero surfaces, could lead to some icy conditions on Tuesday morning.
“Outbreaks of rain spreading southeastwards on Tuesday, initially falling on subzero surfaces, and with snow on high ground, could lead to some icy stretches in places during the morning. Snow accumulations of 1-3 cm will be possible on some hills above about 300 m elevation.”
The Met Office warned those in the affected areas: “Keep yourself and your family safe when it is icy. Plan to leave the house at least five minutes earlier than normal. Not needing to rush, reduces your risk of accidents, slips, and falls.
“If you need to make a journey on foot, try to use pavements along main roads which are likely to be less slippery. Similarly, if cycling, try and stick to main roads which are more likely to have been treated.”
Snow could bring power cuts this week (Image: Getty)
Those bracing for power cuts have been told to buy torches and candles, as well as batteries, and to charge their phones as well as any phone charging power banks, to ensure you’re well prepared.
You should also put insulation on pipes to stop them freezing, and seal up any draughts inside the house. Open your curtains during the day, when it’s light, and close them again when darkness falls.
The Met Office list of areas in the snow warning is:
Central, Tayside & Fife
- Angus
- Perth and Kinross
- Stirling
Grampian
- Aberdeenshire
- Moray
Highlands & Eilean Siar
- Highland
Strathclyde
- Argyll and Bute
And its 20 areas affected by the ice warning are:
Central, Tayside & Fife
- Clackmannanshire
- Falkirk
- Fife
- Perth and Kinross
- Stirling
North East England
- Durham
- Northumberland
North West England
- Cumbria
SW Scotland, Lothian Borders
- Dumfries and Galloway
- East Lothian
- Edinburgh
- Midlothian Council
- Scottish Borders
- West Lothian
Strathclyde
- East Ayrshire
- East Dunbartonshire
- North Lanarkshire
- South Ayrshire
- South Lanarkshire
Yorkshire & Humber
- North Yorkshire
