UK weather forecast: New ice warnings as snow blankets north and temperatures plummet

The Met Office has issued a series of yellow warnings for ice in the UK as snow blankets the north and temperatures plummet.

Warnings for Saturday have been issued for Yorkshire & Humber, North East England, South West England, London, the East Midlands and Wales.

Forecasters say icy stretches may lead to some difficult driving conditions with icy patches on some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths.

Bands of snow, sleet and rain will sweep southwards across England and Wales today.

Temperatures could plunge as low as -10C in Scotland, and be comfortably below freezing in most of the country.

And the wintry weather comes as forecasters fear another Beast from the East - when freezing air from Siberia changes direction and heads to the UK - is on the cards.

Sledgers have fun in the show surrounding the Angel of the North near Gateshead, Tyne and Wear (PA)

Meanwhile a weather event is taking place above the North Pole which could lead to another Beast from the East hitting the UK in the coming weeks.

The Met Office said there is no guarantee the UK will next week see disruptive conditions like those three years ago, but "there are similar ingredients to what we had then".

The 2018 "Beast from the East" brought 20cm of snow, a -15C freeze and ice, and caused disruption up and down the country.

The River Tyne in Northumberland last week (PA)

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Today

A band of rain, sleet and snow moving southwards across England and Wales. Brighter skies for Northern Ireland and Scotland with snow showers affecting the far northeast. Cold.

Tonight

Patchy rain, sleet and snow clearing southern parts. Clear skies for many with a widespread frost, severe in places. Turning windy in northwest Scotland with snow, followed by rain, later.

A salt spreader drives down the road in Midhopestones, Sheffield, on Friday (PA)

Saturday

Low cloud in the south at first else plenty of sunshine, but cold. Cloudier across Scotland and Northern Ireland with patchy rain, and some brief snow, before slowly turning milder.

Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday

Remaining mostly dry in the south and gradually becoming less cold. Increasingly unsettled in the north with rain and hill snow at times, heaviest in the northwest.

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