Overview
- An amber snow warning covers parts of northern and eastern Scotland from noon Friday to noon Saturday, with forecasts of up to 40cm on higher ground, drifting, temporary blizzards and a risk of power cuts and isolated communities.
- Yellow warnings for snow and ice span large areas of the UK on Friday, with further alerts now running into Monday for parts of Northern Ireland, Wales, the South West and northwest England, as London and other areas saw early snowfall.
- The UK Health Security Agency has amber cold‑health alerts across England that several outlets report are now in force until 10am on 9 January, warning of significant pressure on services and higher mortality among older and vulnerable people.
- Police Scotland urges people to reconsider non‑essential travel as the AA expects about 20.7 million car journeys on Friday, with forecasters warning of longer journey times, possible rail and air disruption and hazards from ice and falls.
- Temperatures are set to stay well below average with sub‑zero readings recorded in places such as Hurn, Dorset at −6.2C, and Met Office chiefs say very cold conditions with wintry showers are likely to persist with more warnings possible.