A rare amber snow warning has been issued across Devon and Cornwall with immediate effect this afternoon. Snow has fallen in the region, covering Dartmoor and beyond, forcing some schools to close and road restrictions on the A38.
A yellow Met Office warning has been in place across large parts of the South West since 9am today, and remains in place until 11.59pm tonight. However, at 2.27pm, a new more serious warning was activated across parts of mid-Devon, Somerset and Cornwall, until 9pm tonight.
The Met Office said: “Sleet and snow is expected to continue this afternoon and evening with accumulations of 2-5 cm on high ground above 150m, and up to 10cm above about 250m, leading to some travel disruption. The sleet and snow will ease from the west during the first part of Wednesday night.”
Almost all of Dartmoor is including in the warning, as is Exmoor, with Chudleigh, Cullompton and Honiton covered – but not Exeter. It extends northwards to Lynton but not Ilfracombe. Wellington and Taunton in Somerset are also affected, as is Launceston in Cornwall.
Check out the live blog on our website for more snowy weather updates this afternoon.
The Met Office warns locals can expect:
- Travel delays on roads are likely, stranding some vehicles and passengers
- Power cuts are likely and other services, such as mobile phone coverage, may be affected
- There is a chance that some rural communities could become cut off
- Some delays and cancellations to rail and air travel are likely
Elsewhere, the yellow weather warning is still active and forecasters warn of longer journey times, lower visibility and slippery driving conditions. The Exeter-based forecaster warns: “Outbreaks of sleet and snow are likely to push in from the southwest during Wednesday, affecting some places especially during the afternoon and evening.
“Many places will probably see relatively little or no snow settling, (especially on tarmac), but there could be 1-2 cm locally. Upland areas could see more, perhaps 5-10 cm on Dartmoor and Exmoor. As precipitation clears eastwards and skies clear during Wednesday night, ice is likely to form on untreated surfaces.”