Heavy snow and gale-force winds that hit south-east England and East Anglia on Sunday are forecast to continue into Monday as Storm Darcy brings icy conditions to much of the country.
Amber and yellow weather warnings for snow issued by the Met Office were expected to cause widespread travel problems and possible power cuts to parts of London, the east and south-east of England.
Forecasters are warning of a strong chance of roads becoming blocked by deep snow, “with many stranded vehicles and passengers likely”. Snow accumulations of 5-10cm (2-4ins) will be widespread in the affected area, and reaching up to 30cm (12ins) in places.
Yellow warnings for snow and ice will also remain in place for the entire country until Wednesday evening. The Met Office said the snow was forecast to turn more intermittent on Monday morning before easing gradually by the afternoon.
The AA said “treacherous” driving conditions had led to numerous accidents on UK roads on Monday.
Spokesman Ben Sheridan said: “Roads will be lethal where snow and ice has hit the UK. If you must travel, reduce your speed to account for the conditions and leave plenty of space behind other vehicles.”
Meanwhile, National Rail has told train passengers that services across the country are likely to be affected. It said some routes might need to be closed, and urged customers to travel “later in the morning”.
Southern Rail announced service cancellations in south-east London, while networks in Kent and Essex have closed train lines.
Several Covid vaccination centres remain closed, including Clacton hospital, Colchester United’s stadium, Gainsborough sports centre in Ipswich and Chevington Close in Bury St Edmunds.
The easternmost part of the UK was worst affected by Sunday afternoon’s heavy snow, with the Met Office reporting disruptive conditions in Ipswich and the wider Suffolk area, Kent and parts of Essex.
Regions affected by the amber warning included Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Kent, which experienced “widespread, persistent and occasionally heavy snow”, as well as 40-50mph gusts that could cause snowdrifts until midday on Monday.
The Met Office said the cold snap was the result of “bitterly cold” strong easterly winds from Ukraine and the Black Sea spilling across the UK on Sunday, but added that the chill was not expected to be as bitingly sharp as with the “beast from the east” in 2018.
Forecasters predicted up to 30cm of snow in the Kent Downs and the North Downs, while many parts of Scotland and north-east England could be hit by 2-5cm of snow, with 10-15cm possible in higher regions above 200 metres. Roads may become blocked by deep snow, with the possibility of stranded vehicles and passengers.
Daytime temperatures were forecast to stay in low single figures on Monday for much of the country, with some places staying below freezing but strong winds could make it feel even colder.
Sarah Kent, a Met Office meteorologist, said: “There will be significant disruptive snowfall across the south-east. Within this area, there is a small chance particularly over the downs of Kent and the North Downs that you could see 25-30cm of snow. It is a small chance but the threat is there, up to a foot of snow potentially combined with extremely strong easterly winds. Even inland in that area, gusting could be 45mph and higher than that on the coasts.
“This could lead to significant drifting of any lying snow and obviously blizzards for the snow coming past you for anyone who is attempting to travel.”
Public Health England has issued a cold weather alert for the whole of England from Saturday through to Wednesday. Dr Owen Landeg, of PHE, said: “Cold weather isn’t just uncomfortable, it can have a serious impact on health.
“For older people and those with heart and lung problems, it can increase the risks of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections. So it’s really crucial at this time, especially ahead of a potentially very cold snap, to remember to check on frail or older neighbours or relatives, especially those living alone or who have serious illnesses.”
