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Amber and yellow snow and ice warnings remain in force across the UK, with several areas already experiencing freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall.
Fresh alerts were issued on Wednesday for regions in East Anglia and the South West, as forecasters predicted wintry conditions would persist near coastal regions. Some areas have already seen up to 7cm (2.75in) of snow.
Snow has fallen across northern and central parts of the UK and even as far south as London. The Met Office confirmed 7cm of lying snow at Lake Vyrnwy in Powys, Wales, while other stations reported:
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5cm in Lerwick, Shetland
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4cm in Loch Glascarnoch, and 7cm in Altnaharra, Scottish Highlands
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2cm in Aviemore
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1cm in Dyce (Aberdeenshire), Drumalbin (Lanarkshire) and Redesdale Camp (Northumberland)
The Met Office warned of hazardous travel conditions, noting that wintry showers will persist along wind-facing coasts in north Scotland, as well as the east and west of the UK.
A yellow ice warning issued earlier was updated to include South Wales, parts of northern England, and northern and southeastern Scotland.
Most of northern Scotland remains under a yellow warning for snow and ice until 9pm Thursday.
Northern Ireland, East Anglia, Cornwall, Devon, west Wales, northern England, and southeastern Scotland are all covered by yellow warnings at various times between Wednesday and Thursday.
An amber snow warning has also been issued for parts of Yorkshire on Thursday (3am–9pm), where significant snowfall is expected. The North York Moors and Yorkshire Wolds could see 15–25cm of snow on higher ground, likely causing major travel disruption, power cuts, and stranded vehicles.
Temperatures may drop as low as -11°C in parts of Scotland on Thursday night.
Sky News weather presenter Jo Wheeler warned that plunging temperatures could turn untreated surfaces into "instant ice rinks", with rural areas expected to see severe frost.
Met Office chief forecaster Neil Armstrong said Arctic air is driving the UK’s first major cold spell of the season, bringing widespread winter hazards. While not all areas will see lying snow, frequent showers could bring 2–5cm in exposed regions.
Higher ground in Scotland may see 15–20cm, with up to 25cm possible in the most affected areas.
Ice will remain a risk over the next few days, though conditions are expected to become drier and milder by Friday, with rain arriving in western areas later.
National Highways warned motorists not to be complacent. Darren Clark urged drivers to prepare for winter conditions, noting that more than 530 gritters are on standby nationwide, with crews operating around the clock. Basic checks—fuel, screenwash, lights, tyres, and route planning—could be crucial as conditions worsen.
