Yellow weather warnings for snow and ice continue to batter parts of the UK, following a weekend of wintry chaos. Disruption began yesterday after the freezing conditions resulted in major road closures and a number of cancelled or delayed trains.
On Tuesday, a huge list of schools announced they would be closing their doors this morning, giving students a one-off snow day, while more than 190 locations across England are subject to urgent flood warnings. Bristol airport suspended all of its flights earlier this week, but has now resumed operations, while a “danger to life” warning has been issued at caravan parks close to the River Soar in Leicestershire.
The disorder continues as the Met Office has issued more yellow weather alerts for tomorrow (Wednesday, January 8) across nine regions in Scotland, England, and Northern Island. Consequently, the weather forecasters have issued guidance around those needing to drive, including what essentials you should always pack.
Warning as ‘rare’ weather phenomenon to hit parts of UK – and it’s ‘extremely dangerous’
Weather conditions like this can make driving dangerous and scary, and delays are likely. Of course, it’s much safer to stay indoors and avoid getting in your car during this time, but if that’s not possible, The Met Office recommends following the below advice:
- Using dipped headlights
- Accelerate gently, use low revs and change to higher gears as quickly as possible
- Starting in second gear will help with wheel slip
- Maintain a safe and steady speed. Keep your distance from other vehicles
- Keep a constant speed up hills. Leave plenty of room between cars
- Use a low gear to go down hill and try to avoid braking unless necessary
- Steer into skids. Do not take your hands of the wheel or slam on the brakes
But before you set off, you should plan your route, check for any delays and road closures and leave more time to prepare and check your car before driving off. Packing a bag of essentials including a ice-scraper and de-icer, in-car phone charger, warm clothes and blankets, and high-visibility clothing is also recommended. The Met Office also advises bringing:
- Food and drink
- Shovel
- Warning triangles
- Sunglasses
- A fully charged mobile phone
“You could be without food, heat or light if you are cut off by snow and can’t access services and amenities for a number of days,” the organisation added. In case of an emergency like this, it’s also worth bringing torches and batteries, candles and matches or lighters with you.
Want big news with big heart? Get the top headlines sent straight to your inbox with our Daily Newsletter
Snow and ice weather warning
Grampian
- Aberdeen
- Aberdeenshire
- Moray
Highlands & Eilean Siar
- Na h-Eileanan Siar
- Highland
Orkney & Shetland
- Orkney Islands
- Shetland Islands
SW Scotland, Lothian Borders
- Dumfries and Galloway
Strathclyde
- Argyll and Bute
- East Ayrshire
- North Ayrshire
Northern Ireland
- County Antrim
- County Armagh
- County Down
- County Fermanagh
- County Londonderry
- County Tyrone
- South Ayrshire
Snow weather warning
East of England
- Thurrock
London & South East England
- Bracknell Forest
- Brighton and Hove
- East Sussex
- Greater London
- Hampshire
- Isle of Wight
- Kent
- Medway
- Portsmouth
- Reading
- Southampton
- Surrey
- West Berkshire
- West Sussex
- Windsor and Maidenhead
- Wokingham
South West England
- Bath and North East Somerset
- Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole
- Cornwall
- Devon
- Dorset
- Plymouth
- Somerset
- Torbay
- Wiltshire
Do you have a story to share? Email us at yourmirror@mirror.co.uk for a chance to be featured