The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for snow from 6pm on Thursday 8th January until 12pm on Friday 9th January, as a deep area of low pressure moves across the south of the UK.
The system will bring a mixture of rain, snow and strong winds through Thursday and into Friday.
A spell of heavy snow is expected to develop over higher ground in south Wales later on Thursday, before rain turns to snow more widely over parts of England and Wales during Thursday night.
In some areas, 5–10cm of snow may settle, with the potential for up to 20cm in places, especially over higher ground.
Strong winds may lead to drifting snow. Rain and snow are then expected to clear eastwards during Friday.
The weather system has been named by Meteo France as Storm Goretti, as the strongest winds associated with it are most likely over northern France.
The Met Office is warning that snowy, wintry weather can cause delays and make driving conditions dangerous. People are being advised to:
- Plan their route, checking for delays and road closures and amending travel plans if necessary
- If driving, leave more time to prepare and check their car before setting off
- Carry essentials in the car in case of delays – such as warm clothing, food, water, a blanket, a torch, ice scraper or de-icer, a warning triangle, a high-visibility vest and an in-car phone charger
People are also encouraged to prepare in advance for the risk of power cuts or being cut off from services and amenities due to snow, by gathering items such as torches and batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essentials.
