Overview
- Met Office amber snow warning labelled a risk to life is in force for parts of northern and eastern Scotland from midday Friday to midday Saturday, with forecasts of up to 40cm on higher ground, blizzard conditions and possible power cuts.
- Yellow snow and ice warnings cover wide areas from Northern Ireland and Wales to central and southern England, with snowfall already reported in London and forecasters warning of hazardous ice and travel disruption.
- Further alerts stretch into Monday in several regions, including a new yellow snow warning for Greater Manchester from Sunday afternoon to Monday midday, as additional bands of wintry showers push inland.
- Forecasters say Arctic air now covers most of the UK, with some daytime temperatures staying below 0C and overnight lows in minus double figures, and the cold spell likely to persist into next week.
- UKHSA has raised amber cold‑health alerts across England through 10am on 9 January, warning of increased risks to older and vulnerable people, while Police Scotland urges only essential travel and the AA expects 20.7 million car journeys on Friday.