UK weather – live: Yellow weather warning issued as Met Office forecast return of snow
Cold snap predicted for week ahead as February takes a chilly turn
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Your support makes all the difference.The Met Office has issued a fresh weather warning over the weekend as the UK braces for another spell of snow next week.
The yellow weather warning for rain is expected to affect areas in western Scotland from Sunday at 6pm until 9pm on Monday - bringing travel disruption, power cuts and flooding.
It comes as experts warned that snow will fall in Scotland and even potentially down south as cold air dubbed the “Troll from Trondheim” makes its way over the country from Norway.
Jim Dale, Senior Meteorological Consultant at British Weather Services told The Independent: “We haven’t got to end of winter yet and next week will be colder. There will be snow in Scotland and the north and potentially in the south.”
In its long-range forecast, the Met Office has also said there will be some hill snow over the weekend and that “there is a chance colder conditions could start to feature” in the second week of February.
UK weather forecast for Friday
The day is set to start on a mild but cloudy note with temperatures climbing higher than the previous days, the Met Office forecast shows. Residents in the west and northwest can expect intermittent rain throughout the day, while brighter intervals are expected in the east and the sheltered areas on the lee side of hills.
Despite the cloudy conditions, temperatures are forecast to remain “very mild”, adding a touch of warmth.
But some gales are expected in parts of Scotland over the higher grounds, the forecaster says.
Scotland could see 50-60 mph gales
As the weather takes on a milder tone across the country, relief from persistent rain is on the horizon for the Scottish Highlands.
However, higher grounds are bracing for strong gales ranging between 50-60 mph today, according to Met Office forecast.
“We could see gales for parts of Scotland, as well as some strong gusts of 50-60 mph across the Pennines,” the forecaster wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
UK prepares for stormiest winter on record
Weather experts have warned that the UK is likely facing its stormiest winter on record as the country has already faced ten named storms with over half of the season still to go.
The storm season begins each year in September and there are usually around six or seven storms in that year.
Since storm naming was introduced in 2015 the furthest through the list the group has got is to number 11, Storm Katie, which impacted the UK in March 2016.
This year’s storm naming season is now just one name away from matching 2015/16’s number of named storms, with over seven months still to go until the list is reset again.
Read more:
Experts explain extreme weather as UK prepares for stormiest winter on record
There have been ten named storms already this year with over half of the season left to go
'Month of contrasts'
January 2024 turned out to be near average in terms of temperature and rainfall for the UK, but it was a month of contrasts.
While there were long cold snaps, storms and heavy rain, the UK also recorded its highest January temperature.
The country had its sixth sunniest January on record, offering a welcome contrast to the previous month.
Storms, temperature extremes, and varied precipitation marked January's weather, showing how abrupt the UK weather can be.
“Of course, contrasting winter weather in the UK isn’t a new phenomenon," Met Office senior scientist Mike Kendon said. "What this January clearly demonstrates is just how abrupt these changes in weather type can be.”
Weekend weather forecast:
The weekend is going to be a mixed bag with scattered showers and breaks of sunshine, the Met Office forecast shows.
Southern regions can expect a blend of patchy rain followed by brighter intervals, while the northern areas will encounter blustery showers. The northwest might face prolonged and heavy rainfall,
Here's the full forecast:
Dangerous levels of bacteria found in flood water from UK rivers
High levels of dangerous bacteria have been found in flood water from UK rivers that could pose a risk to human health.
Water samples taken from a Surrey housing estate close to the River Mole, a street near the River Ouse in York and a Shrewsbury park near the River Severn, found E.coli, faecal matter and ammonia.
It comes after the UK was lashed by Storm Isha and Jocelyn, causing severe flooding in various parts of the country.
Dangerous levels of bacteria found in flood water from UK rivers
The UK was lashed by Storm Isha and Jocelyn recently that caused severe flooding
Met Office weather forecast for Saturday
Temperatures on Saturday look to be mild for most of the UK as the mercury hovers between 8C to 11C for most of England.
Further north, temperatures drop as low as 5C in parts of Scotland, with the higher temperatures reaching 7C.
Yellow weather warning issued across parts of Scotland
A yellow weather warning for rain has been issued across parts of Scotland from Sunday to Monday.
The warning is in place from 6pm on Sunday to 9pm on Monday.
Regions affected are Central, Tayside & Fife, Highlands & Eilean Siar, and Strathclyde.
Yellow weather warning for rain
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for rain on Sunday.
The warning is expected to affect areas in western Scotland from Sunday at 6pm until 9pm on Monday.
Deputy Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office, David Hayter said: “There’s likely to be some persistent rain for northern Scotland – perhaps wintry at times for Shetland - on Sunday. The rain will slowly push north through Sunday, before pivoting and then returning south later on Monday.”
The alert warns there is a chance of power cuts, transport delays, communities being cut off and that homes could flood.
What to expect as a yellow weather warning comes into place over the weekend
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for rain over western Scotland on Sunday.
It is set to come into place on Sunday at 6pm and remain until 9pm on Monday.
Here’s what to expect:
- There is a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded, causing damage to some buildings
- Where flooding occurs, there is a slight chance of delays or cancellations to train and bus services
- Spray and flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures
- There is a small chance that some communities will become cut off by flooded roads
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