UK weather: snow and ice warning as commuters face widespread disruption | UK weather

Commuters are facing widespread travel disruption after heavy snow and ice affected parts of the UK.

Forecasters issued several warnings from Tuesday night into early Wednesday after an Arctic blast brought the “first taste of winter for many”, with further warnings expected.

A yellow ice warning for large parts of southern England, the Midlands and east Wales was put in place by the Met Office from Tuesday evening until 12pm. 10 Wednesday when it warned of developing snow showers.

Several other snow and ice warnings have been in place across the UK, with the Met Office warning of power cuts, vehicles being stranded and rural areas being cut off. More than 200 school closures were reported on Tuesday, along with travel disruption for many commuters in Aberdeenshire, after a Stagecoach bus overturned on its side in icy conditions.

“We’ve had a relatively mild November so far,” Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon told PA Media news agency earlier. “So it will feel like the first taste of winter for many with the risk of snow and ice added on top.”

The Met Office said cold northerly winds would continue through the week across much of the UK, with further warnings expected. It added that temperatures are likely to rise from the southwest this weekend and will be accompanied by strong winds and heavy rain.

The highest snow accumulations are likely to be in the Scottish mountains, Dixon said, where nearly 8 inches of ground snow had accumulated during the week. Snowfall was also reported at Watnall, Nottinghamshire, on Tuesday morning. The coldest temperature was recorded in the Aberdeenshire village of Braemar at -11.2C, according to the forecaster.

The UK Health Safety Agency also issued the season’s first amber health alert for cold weather, warning conditions could be dangerous for vulnerable people, including older people.

The amber alerts cover eastern and northern England, the Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber. Yellow alerts are in place for the south, south-west and London until 10am. 18.00 Saturday.

A yellow warning for ice and snow has also been issued for Northern Ireland from Tuesday evening until 10am. 10 on Wednesday, when the police urged people on the road to drive with extra caution. A separate warning is also in place across most of Wales and parts of the West Midlands until 10am. 10 Wednesday and there are snow warnings in northern and western Scotland.

“With cold arctic air firmly in place over the UK, continued winter hazards are likely through much of this week, with further updates to warnings likely in the coming days,” said the Met Office’s chief meteorologist, Neil Armstrong.