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THE Met Office has warned heavy snow will fall today as travellers face transport disruption.
The forecaster had issued a yellow snow and ice warning from 3pm on Tuesday until midday on Wednesday.
A snow plough near Fordoun in Aberdeenshire[/caption]
The forecaster has issued a yellow snow and ice warning today[/caption]
The warning covered the Highlands, Western Isles, Orkney, Shetland and parts of Argyll and Bute and central Scotland.
On Tuesday evening, the Met Office extended the warning further east and south to include Glasgow and Aberdeen.
It warned that accumulations of up to 3cm of snow are likely quite widely across the warning area, with perhaps another 5-8cm over the north-west Highlands, while icy surfaces will be an additional hazard.
The Met Office has also issued a yellow warning of snow covering Northern Ireland, north Wales and northern England from 6am on Thursday to 6am on Friday.
It forecast that up to two centimetres of snow is possible at lower levels, 2-5cm on ground above 200 metres and as much as 15-25cm above 400m.
With the snow there is a chance that you could see some rail and air travel cancellations.
Liam Eslick
There is a risk of power cuts, travel delays and a “slight chance that some rural communities could become cut off”, the Met Office warned.
It added that the snow will ease later in the day on Thursday and may turn back to rain or drizzle, especially in the south and east of the warning area.
Met Office meteorologist Liam Eslick said most disruption this week was likely to occur on Thursday.
He said: “With the snow there is a chance that you could see some rail and air travel cancellations.
“If the snow does reach lower levels then we could also see some local impacts with travel disruption.”
He added that an easterly wind meant the highest accumulations of snow were likely on the “eastern upslopes running across the Pennines and the northern Welsh mountains”.
The forecaster added that it looked like a “cold spell” was on its way as an area of high pressure moves in over the UK towards next week.
Mr Eslick said: “It looks like we could see some cooler conditions starting to come back towards next week and it does look like it’s going to stick around towards the back end of February.”
Advice for driving in snowy conditions
Things you should always do when driving in snow and ice:
- Before even jumping in the car, you can improve your chances of safely getting to your destination with some basic preparation. Checking the air pressure and tread on your tyres is something most drivers often forget to do, but the mistake can prove fatal during slippery conditions. The legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm, but experts recommend it should be at least 3mm to be as safe as possible.
- If you know you’re going to need to drive in the morning, soak a few towels in salt water and place them on your windscreen the night before to prevent frost building up.
- You should also remove any ice on your mirrors, number plates and windows before driving off. And remember, snow and ice sitting on the roof can fall and block your windscreen, so clear as much as possible before driving.
- It might seem over the top, but packing a bag of emergency supplies will be handy if your car breaks down or if you’re stuck in a blizzard. A warm blanket, snacks, water and a torch can make a long wait on the roadside bearable.
- Always allow greater stopping distances in icy conditions, and stay alert for pedestrians who are braving the cold.
- Driving in a higher gear wherever possible can help you to retain control where road surfaces are treacherous.
- Having an old cloth nearby can also come in handy to remove any mist from your windscreen before it turns into ice.
And those you should avoid:
- If you come across black ice, many drivers will hit the brakes and steer into a skid as they start to lose control – but that can be a dangerous move for inexperienced drivers. Instead, slowly take your foot off the accelerator and straighten up as your vehicle rides it out.
- Accelerating and braking too quickly is a recipe for disaster in icy conditions. Be sure to take it slow when turning and avoid any overtaking.
- It might seem urgent at the time, but it’s important not to take unnecessary journeys when it’s icy.
- If you do need to go somewhere, don’t take an unfamiliar route as road signs are likely to be covered in snow and phone reception could be limited.
- Some drivers rely on pouring boiling water over a frozen windscreen to remove ice, but it’s more than likely to crack the glass. Investing in a decent ice scrapper or de-ice spray can work just as well and will protect your windscreen.
- Don’t take any shortcuts and stay off rural roads as these might not have been cleared, and are often challenging even in warm weather. Stick to main roads as much as possible.
- Finally, don’t forget to top up your oil, fuel and screen-wash before every winter trip.
