Yellow weather warning for ice issued across region with risk of 'freezing rain'
Weather warnings of severe cold, ice and snowy conditions are in place for the weekend before blizzards are expected to sweep across the north of the country.
The Met Office has issued the yellow warnings of ice across Shropshire, Mid Wales, the Black Country and Staffordshire for Sunday.
Forecasters have warned of the risk of freezing rain as falling water hits the already frozen surfaces.
A level three cold weather alert was earlier issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for all of England until midnight on Sunday, which it warns could “increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services”.
Forecasters say temperatures could temporarily rise on Sunday but this will bring strong winds leading to snow, blizzards and ice and freezing rain, creating hazardous conditions on the roads.
Met Office deputy chief forecaster Helen Caughey said: “The northerly airflow and cold conditions which have dominated our weather patterns over the last 10 days will start to lose ground to a push of mild air from the south-west on Sunday.
“As the mild air meets the cold air currently in situ over the UK there will be a transient spell of snow, potentially to low levels, especially in the north.
“Add to this the risk of rain falling on to frozen surfaces, and strong winds over upland areas of northern Britain, bringing blizzard conditions, and this could be a day to avoid travelling in some areas, although the snow should turn to rain later.
“There is also a brief risk of a period of freezing rain most likely to impact areas from the Pennines northwards, which could result in some power interruptions.”
However, temperatures are expected to jump by 15 degrees or more across the UK after days of severely cold and icy weather early next week.
The recent cold snap will be replaced with warmer temperatures due to milder air coming in from the Atlantic.
Daytime maximum temperatures across the UK on Monday will range from 11C to 14C – in stark contrast to the chilly temperatures recorded over the last week.
Looking ahead to tonight and Sunday, it adds: "Skies clearing this evening allowing another widespread and fairly sharp frost to develop. Patchy freezing fog forming during the early hours, lifting later as skies cloud over and winds freshen.
"Minimum temperature -8 °C. After a mostly dry start, periods of rain moving northeast, preceded by some icy conditions and possible hill snow. Becoming much milder later in the day. Windy in places."
