Forecasters issue weather warning from midday on Tuesday, as snowfall could be up to 6in deep

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

Winter is set to sweep into Britain early on Tuesday, with widespread snowfall up to 6ins deep threatening to bring travel disruption.

Temperatures fell as far as -5C (23F) in central England overnight on Monday, bringing frost to most parts before the arrival of sleet and snow from the west later.

Forecasters have issued a weather warning for much of Scotland and northern England, which will come into effect from midday. Inclement conditions are expected to continue until rush-hour on Wednesday morning as wintry weather moves slowly east.

Drivers are being urged to take care as snow falls on lower levels overnight, with 1.5ins to 3ins (4cm to 8cm) across hilly areas above 200-300 metres, with as much as 6in (15cm) possible above 300-400 metres.

Meanwhile, there is a risk of gales of up to 50mph developing in the south-west on Wednesday before moving along the Channel.

Met Office forecaster Emma Sillitoe said: “We have had a few wintry showers but this is the first event where more people are going to be affected. There is a frontal system moving in from the west meeting the quite cold weather we have been having over the last few days.

“A yellow weather warning will be in place from 12pm today until 9am tomorrow, covering high ground from Scotland down the east coast to the Midlands and we could see snow to lower levels below 200 metres of around 2cm (0.7ins).

“Obviously there will be a risk of difficult driving conditions on high routes over the Pennines and in Scotland and people will have to scrape the frost from their windscreens so it will be quite slow getting out and about on Wednesday.”

Pershore in the West Midlands saw temperatures fall to minus -5C (23F) overnight, while much of northern England saw the mercury hit freezing (32F) and 2C (37F) in the south.



On Tuesday, temperatures are expected to reach a maximum of 8C (46F) in Northern Ireland and Scotland, 5C (41F) in northern England, 7C (45F) in southern England and 11C (52F) in the south-west.



Freezing temperatures and frost are expected to return as the wintry weather clears to the east overnight before a return to similar daytime figures on Wednesday.