Snow in some parts of UK as gales expected to batter country

Snow in some parts of UK as gales expected to batter country

Parts of Britain are waking up to snow on Sunday as gales are set to batter the country through the day.

Weather warnings for snow and ice are in place across western Scotland and Northern Ireland until 11am, while the wintry weather is also set to cause disruption across parts of the Midlands.

Snowy conditions in Carlecotes, South Yorkshire
Weather warnings for snow and ice are in place (Danny Lawson/PA)

Met Office forecaster Greg Dewhurst said: “It’s very windy out there at the moment.

“We’ve got bands of sleet and snow pushing eastwards through the morning, and this will clear to heavy showers through the day.

“There’s a cold north-westerly wind with gales around the coast.”

Temperatures are not likely to get much above 10 or 11C – but with the wind chill, this could feel more like 6 to 8C.

Police forces reported closed roads due to snow on Sunday morning, while others said they had been called to a number of fallen trees.

The Queen Elizabeth II bridge across the Thames at the Dartford crossing was closed due to strong winds on Sunday morning.

Highways England said drivers on the M25 should expect delays as traffic was filtered into Kent using one of the tunnels which is usually used for Essex-bound traffic.

Devon and Cornwall Police tweeted: “Police receiving exceptional number of calls from right across Devon and Cornwall re fallen trees across roads this morning due to the high winds. Please reduce speed and be vigilant when driving.”

The Woodhead Pass in the Pennines was closed because of snow and a collision, South Yorkshire Police said, while Leicestershire Police said the fast lane of the M1 between junctions 22 and 23 was “unsafe” due to snowfall.

After a slight reprieve in conditions expected on Monday, the wild weather is expected to make a return towards the middle of the week.

The Met Office has issued two further yellow weather warnings for wind – the first of which covers much of Northern Ireland, and will begin at 3pm on Tuesday and last until midnight.

Another is in place for much of England from around midnight on Wednesday until 3pm.

During the warning periods, across Northern Ireland there could be gusts of 60mph-70mph, with 50mph-55mph seen quite widely across England and 60mph-65mph in coastal areas.

A band of heavy rain will also push south-eastwards, and will be followed by some heavy showers during Tuesday and Wednesday.

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