UK braces for first major winter blast: Met Office warns about snow chaos ahead
Arctic weather system brings snow and ice warnings across northern UK regions with up to 20cm expected on high ground. Health officials warn about risks for vulnerable populations during sudden temperature drop
The Met Office has set-up yellow alerts for snow and ice affecting Scotland northern England and parts of the Midlands - lasting from today till tuesday morning. High-ground areas in South Pennines might see up to 20cm snowfall while lower regions expect around 10cm (which is quite unusual for mid-november)
Andy Page from Met Office points out potential issues ahead:
There is potential for snow to lead to disruption to some transport routes across a central swathe of the UK on Tuesday morning
The cold-snap brings temperatures way below normal; London expects temps near zero by mid-week - about 8 degrees colder than same time last year. This marks first significant november snowfall since 2010 (which led to record-breaking december cold)
The UK Health Security Agency issued its yellow-level warning thats valid through thursday; focusing on healthcare system readiness. A concerning issue arose when 74‚400 elderly people faced delays with winter fuel payments due to recent policy changes; making situation more difficult for many
Dr Siama Latif and Katherine Crawford highlight risks for vulnerable groups: elderly young children and those with health issues need extra attention. They suggest checking on at-risk neighbors making sure theyʼve got enough food‚ medicine and proper heating during this cold-spell. Theres special worry about older folks struggling with high energy costs and those who cant move around easily in icy conditions
