Prepare for a severe cold snap of -12°C: The Met Office is extending its snow and ice warnings

Britain is bracing for another cold blast with temperatures dropping to -12°C and parts of the country exposed to snow and ice.

The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for snow and ice for much of the country that will continue through tomorrow morning. Warnings remain in effect until Wednesday for Shetlands.

Today the UK will be battling rain, sleet and snow followed by sleet, which is likely to cause travel disruptions.

Meteorologists warn of possible delays in road, rail, air and ferry transport, along with possible damage to trees.

Winter weather will hit the UK overnight, with temperatures expected to drop to -11°C in the sheltered valleys of Scotland today, and dip to -12°C on Wednesday morning.

The Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge said the cold air expected today in Scotland will push across the whole of the UK by noon tomorrow.

Parts of southern England will be spared the worst of the cold early in the week, but on Wednesday temperatures will drop across the country.

Mr Partridge added: “Wednesday night is going to be very cold for almost the whole of the UK so if you have plants out early get them out tomorrow because the frost will be rife in the morning.”

But he said the week would be “unsettled”, with the weather turning rainy and windy amid mild temperatures from Thursday onwards.

‘There will be some clouds and rain on Wednesday onward receding from the west, so comes fairer air – there will be some snow on the front of this rain but it won’t last long. The main concern on Thursday is the amount of rain that will be there.

By yesterday morning’s rush hour, there were more than 60 flood warnings in addition to five forecast flood warnings.

The possibility of winter rain and partially melted snow that freezes on untreated surfaces and turns into icy stretches has also been raised for people in Scotland, Northern Ireland, northern England and north Wales, where a yellow warning for snow and ice is set to last until Tuesday. morning.

The Met Office said: ‘The cold air circulating south across the UK, after a spell of rain, sleet and snow, will bring frequent snow showers to the north, west and east of Scotland, as well as parts of Northern Ireland.

Overnight, these will accumulate on some roads and sidewalks, with possibly anywhere between light dust and several centimeters of snow.

Between showers, partially melted snow is likely to freeze on untreated surfaces creating icy stretches.

“The winter rain will continue into Tuesday, although by mid-morning the temperature on most roads is likely to have warmed enough to reduce the risk of snow or ice build-up.”

Meanwhile, Britons were told to keep homes warm to 18C to stay warm after a level three cold weather emergency in northern England was postponed until Thursday morning.

Areas including the North East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber are all under a Level 3 Severe Alert. A Level 2 Alert is imposed in the West Midlands, East Midlands and East of England over the same time period.

Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said: ‘With cold weather continuing throughout the rest of the week, it is important to check the health of those most at risk of catching a cold. .

Cold weather can have a serious impact on health, particularly the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions, as it increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and chest infections.

“If you have a pre-existing medical condition or are over the age of 65, it is important that you try to heat your home to at least 18°C ​​if you can.”