Several weather warnings were issued by the Met Office earlier this week, and a number of warnings have been issued for Saturday. A widespread yellow ice warning has been issued for much of England. Southern parts of England and eastern areas of Scotland have also been placed under a yellow rain warning.
Key points:
- Met Office weather warnings issued on Saturday for ice and rain
- Saturday will be cold and cloudy with rain in most areas at times
- Met Office predicts there is still some chance some might see a little snow on hill tops
In their warning for rain in parts of southern England, which includes Winchester, Southampton and Salisbury, the Met Office warns of “persistent heavy rain”, which may fall as sleet and snow early on Saturday morning.
The warning is active until 11am on Saturday morning, and reads: “Persistent heavy rain is expected for a time this morning with 20-40 mm rain falling in some places in just a few hours.
“Rain may also turn to sleet or snow at times in a few places first thing this morning, most likely over hills where small, slushy accumulations are possible.
“Rain is then expected to start to become more intermittent later this morning.”
The yellow rain warning in Scotland is active until 12pm on Saturday, and affects regions within Central, Tayside & Fife, Grampian and Highlands & Eilean Siar.
Within the warning zone, especially in northern areas, 15 to 25mm of further rainfall is expected.
The Met Office yellow ice warning is active until 10am on Saturday morning, and includes swathes of the South East, London, the east of England, the East and West Midlands and Yorkshire and The Humber.
The warning states: “Cloud is expected to clear this evening and overnight allowing temperatures to fall close to freezing which may lead to icy patches on untreated surfaces.
“A few showers are also expected across Kent and the far east of Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk which may lead to more widespread ice in these areas.”
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9.20am update: What is thundersnow?
Parts of Scotland have been awoken by loud thunder in recent days associated with a phenomenon called thundersnow.
Police Scotland reassured residents in Edinburgh the sound of explosions was due to the phenomenon.
Thundersnow occurs when thunder and lightning mix with a heavy snowstorm rather than rain.
8.20am update: Met Office forecast for Saturday
The Met Office is predicting a cold day for the UK this Saturday, with snow and rain forecast for some areas.
The Met Office forecast for today states: “Early rain and hill snow over parts of Wales, the Midland and southern England fading leaving sunny spells.
“Some heavy showers for coastal counties in eastern UK and parts of the far west and southwest. Mostly dry elsewhere. Feeling cold.”
8am update: Friday’s extreme weather statistics
The Met Office tweeted late on Friday evening some of the extreme weather statistics recorded on the day.
Yesterday Altanaharra in Scotland saw temperatures plunge as low as -9.6C, while Magilligan in Northern Ireland saw maximum temperatures reach 9C.
Chillingham Barns in England saw 42.8mm, or 1.7 inches, of rainfall on Friday.
— to www.express.co.uk
