Met Office snow warnings in place today as 40cm to hammer UK – full list of areas affected

has issued for much of the UK as the country prepares to be blanketed in as much as 40cm of snow this weekend.

The amber warnings, the second most severe warning the agency issues, , with warning of the potential for disruption across the weekend.

statement said: “Snow will accumulate through the evening and into Sunday before turning to rain in central and southern areas of England.

“It will continue to fall as snow in , where some significant accumulations could develop through Sunday.

“As the snow turns to rain further south, and especially over , there is a risk of freezing rain, a dangerous weather phenomenon which sees rain freezing instantly when it reaches the surface causing dangerous icy conditions.”

Chief Forecaster Jason Kelly said: “This weekend will bring a range of weather hazards to the UK, notable snow accumulations, freezing rain, ice and heavy rain as well as some gusty conditions.

“We have issued a number of severe weather warnings, including Amber warnings for snow and ice in parts of England and Wales. Some significant accumulations of snow are possible across parts of Wales, the Midlands and northern England in particular, where 5cm or more could accumulate fairly widely, with as much as 20-30 cm over high ground of mid and north Wales and potentially 30-40cm over parts of the Pennines.

“This, accompanied by strengthening winds, may lead to drifting of lying snow.”

The amber warnings come into force from 6pm today (Saturday), lasting through until 12pm on Sunday.

The risk of snow and ice, as well as the potential for freezing rain, looks set to bring travel misery to millions of Brits over the next few days.

Jason continued: “There is a risk of freezing rain across parts of the Midlands and , but especially Wales, adding to the risk of ice and leading to some treacherous conditions in places. As the supercooled rain droplets hit the surface they instantly freeze, covering everything in a layer of ice, making it extremely dangerous.”

Severe Weather Resilience Manager Darren Clark, said: “If you are travelling this weekend, keep your distance and reduce your speed. Gritters will be out treating our roads around the clock when ice or snow is forecast, but it is still important to drive to the conditions.

“Even in conditions that seem normal and where the snow is not settling you could always experience slippery conditions.

“Drivers should plan their journeys, check their vehicles, monitor weather reports and pack a snow kit of blankets, food, water and a shovel.”

Full list of affected areas

Amber warning Snow – Jan 4 21:00 – Jan 5 23:59

East Midlands

• Derbyshire
• Lincolnshire
• Nottinghamshire

North East England

• Darlington
• Durham
• Gateshead
• Newcastle upon Tyne
• Northumberland
• Stockton-on-Tees

North West England

• Blackburn with Darwen
• Cumbria
• Greater Manchester
• Lancashire
• Merseyside

West Midlands

• Staffordshire

Yorkshire & Humber

• East Riding of Yorkshire
• North Lincolnshire
• North Yorkshire
• South Yorkshire
• West Yorkshire
• York

Amber warning Snow and Ice – Jan 4 18:00 Jan 5 12:00

East Midlands

• Derby
• Derbyshire
• Leicester
• Leicestershire
• Lincolnshire
• Northamptonshire
• Nottingham
• Nottinghamshire
• Rutland

London & South East England

• Buckinghamshire
• Oxfordshire

North West England

• Cheshire East
• Cheshire West and Chester
• Greater Manchester
• Halton
• Lancashire
• Merseyside
• Warrington

South West England

• Gloucestershire
• South Gloucestershire
• Wiltshire

Wales

• Blaenau Gwent
• Bridgend
• Caerphilly
• Cardiff
• Carmarthenshire
• Ceredigion
• Conwy
• Denbighshire
• Flintshire
• Gwynedd
• Merthyr Tydfil
• Monmouthshire
• Neath Port Talbot
• Newport
• Pembrokeshire
• Powys
• Rhondda Cynon Taf
• Swansea
• Torfaen
• Vale of Glamorgan
• Wrexham

West Midlands

• Herefordshire
• Shropshire
• Staffordshire
• Stoke-on-Trent
• Telford and Wrekin
• Warwickshire
• West Midlands Conurbation
• Worcestershire

Yorkshire & Humber

• East Riding of Yorkshire
• North Lincolnshire

Yellow warning Snow and Ice – Jan 4 12:00 – Jan 5 23:59

East Midlands

• Derby
• Derbyshire
• Leicester
• Leicestershire
• Lincolnshire
• Northamptonshire
• Nottingham
• Nottinghamshire
• Rutland

East of England

• Bedford
• Cambridgeshire
• Central Bedfordshire
• Essex
• Hertfordshire
• Luton
• Norfolk
• Peterborough
• Southend-on-Sea
• Suffolk
• Thurrock

London & South East England

• Bracknell Forest
• Buckinghamshire
• East Sussex
• Greater London
• Hampshire
• Kent
• Medway
• Milton Keynes
• Oxfordshire
• Reading
• Slough
• Surrey
• West Berkshire
• West Sussex
• Windsor and Maidenhead
• Wokingham

North East England

• Darlington
• Durham
• Gateshead
• Hartlepool
• Middlesbrough
• Newcastle upon Tyne
• North Tyneside
• Northumberland
• Redcar and Cleveland
• South Tyneside
• Stockton-on-Tees
• Sunderland

North West England

• Blackburn with Darwen
• Blackpool
• Cheshire East
• Cheshire West and Chester
• Cumbria
• Greater Manchester
• Halton
• Lancashire
• Merseyside
• Warrington

South West England

• Bath and North East Somerset
• Bristol
• Devon
• Dorset
• Gloucestershire
• North Somerset
• Somerset
• South Gloucestershire
• Swindon
• Wiltshire

Wales

• Blaenau Gwent
• Bridgend
• Caerphilly
• Cardiff
• Carmarthenshire
• Ceredigion
• Conwy
• Denbighshire
• Flintshire
• Gwynedd
• Isle of Anglesey
• Merthyr Tydfil
• Monmouthshire
• Neath Port Talbot
• Newport
• Pembrokeshire
• Powys
• Rhondda Cynon Taf
• Swansea
• Torfaen
• Vale of Glamorgan
• Wrexham

West Midlands

• Herefordshire
• Shropshire
• Staffordshire
• Stoke-on-Trent
• Telford and Wrekin
• Warwickshire
• West Midlands Conurbation
• Worcestershire

Yorkshire & Humber

• East Riding of Yorkshire
• Kingston upon Hull
• North East Lincolnshire
• North Lincolnshire
• North Yorkshire
• South Yorkshire
• West Yorkshire
• York