Travel warnings have been issued as the UK prepares for snow, ice and plunging temperatures.
National Rail said cold weather over the next few days could affect trains across the country and urged anyone planning to travel to check their journey before heading off.
It comes after the Met Office issued yellow weather warnings for snow and ice in northern Scotland from 4pm on Sunday until 11am on Monday.
It has also issued a yellow warning for parts of northern England, Wales and southern Scotland on Monday and Tuesday, with up to 20cm (around 8in) of snow possible on higher ground.
There is a small chance of up to 10cm (4in) of snow settling at lower levels, which could prove disruptive, forecasters said.
National Rail said speed restrictions to allow trains to run safely could be in place, making journeys longer.
There are also risks of cancellations, if, for example, snow is built up on tracks or ice covers overhead cables.
Meanwhile, Traffic Scotland warned drivers to be careful. Posting on X it said: ‘Heading on the motorway in snowy conditions? Stay in the clearest lane where possible, away from snow and keep within clear tyre tracks if you can.’
National Highways North-East, meanwhile, posted: ‘Brrrrrrrrr…temperatures are expected to drop over the next few days. It maybe icy with snowfall. Take care and drive to the road conditions, especially near our gritters.’
Last night the lowest temperature was recorded at RNAS Yeovilton, in Somerset, which was -0.9C, while USK in Wales recorded the highest temperature of 14.1C.
Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern said: ‘You’ll notice a change in the temperature. It’s going to start to feel much colder as these winds arrive from the north-northwest.
‘They’ll also carry frequent showers, which will be falling as sleet and snow over northern Scotland, particularly for Shetland, where there could be some settling of the wet snow above a couple of hundred metres.
‘Meanwhile, it stays relatively mild further south, albeit very cloudy and some outbreaks of rain sinking into southern parts.’
The UK Health Security Agency issued a separate cold weather warning for low temperatures as they could be life-threatening for vulnerable people.
The plummeting temperatures could impact health and social care services as there could be more demand than usual.
When will snow fall?
The first of the yellow warnings is in place from 4pm on Sunday to 11am on Monday. It affects mostly the Scotland’s Highlands, Na h-Eileanan Siar, Orkeny and Shetland.
Road and rail journeys could take longer due to slipper surfaces and ice patches. These could also lead to slips and falls.
The Met Office said: ‘During Sunday, showers will turn increasingly wintry through the day with hail, sleet and some snow.
‘Little snow is likely to settle at low levels by day, but through the evening and overnight, 1 to 3 cm may accumulate in some places, whilst 5 to 10 cm is possible on high ground above 300 metres by Monday morning.’
A second yellow warning predicts a small chance of disruption from snow between 10am on Monday and 10am on Tuesday, as far south as Sheffield and Yorkshire.
The Met Office said: ‘Spells of rain, sleet and snow are likely during Monday and overnight into Tuesday morning.
‘The most likely scenario is for most of the snow to fall on high ground, with 5 to 10 cm possible above 300 metres and perhaps as much as 15 to 20 cm above 400 metres.
‘There is a small chance of snow settling at lower levels, where 5 to 10 cm would prove much more disruptive, but this is very uncertain.’
Where will snow fall?
This Met Office compiled a list of areas affected by the yellow warnings.
From Sunday to Monday this includes:
- Aberdeenshire
- Moray
- Na h-Eileanan Siar
- Highland
- Orkney Islands
- Shetland Islands
From Monday to Sunday, this includes:
- Clackmannanshire
- Falkirk
- Fife
- Stirling
- Darlington
- Durham
- Gateshead
- Hartlepool
- Middlesbrough
- Newcastle upon Tyne
- North Tyneside
- Northumberland
- Redcar and Cleveland
- South Tyneside
- Stockton-on-Tees
- Sunderland
- Cumbria
- Lancashire
- Dumfries and Galloway
- East Lothian
- Edinburgh
- Midlothian Council
- Scottish Borders
- West Lothian
- Argyll and Bute
- East Ayrshire
- East Dunbartonshire
- East Renfrewshire
- Glasgow
- Inverclyde
- North Ayrshire
- North Lanarkshire
- Renfrewshire
- South Ayrshire
- South Lanarkshire
- West Dunbartonshire
- North Yorkshire
- West Yorkshire
- York
.
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