The Met Office has escalated weather alerts across the United Kingdom, issuing a significant yellow warning for ice that encompasses a staggering 103 local authority areas. This alert is scheduled to remain active from midnight until 10am on Wednesday, January 27, as the nation braces for a complex and hazardous spell of wintry conditions.
Widespread Hazard as Temperatures Plummet
Forecasters are predicting that patchy ice will likely form on untreated surfaces as temperatures drop sharply overnight. This follows the disruptive passage of Storm Chandra, which has already delivered heavy downpours and powerful winds to several regions, further saturating the ground and creating treacherous travel conditions.
Snow Accumulation Expected on Higher Ground
While the immediate warning focuses on ice, Met Office experts are not ruling out the potential for significant snowfall. As Storm Chandra interacts with colder air masses moving southwards, snow is anticipated to become a prominent hazard, particularly in northern regions.
Chief forecaster Paul Gundersen provided a detailed assessment: "Storm Chandra will bring a range of hazards to the UK through Monday night and Tuesday. Initially, strong winds will impact the Isles of Scilly, western Cornwall and southwest Wales—areas still vulnerable after the recent Storm Goretti—where gusts of 70 to 80mph are possible."
He further explained the compounding risks: "Heavy rain is an additional hazard as it falls on saturated ground in Dorset and southern parts of Devon, Somerset and Cornwall. As Chandra interacts with colder air further north, snow becomes a hazard, with 10-20cm of snow possibly accumulating over higher ground in the Pennines, southern Scotland and the Highlands."
Full List of Affected Regions and Authorities
The extensive weather warning covers a vast geographical spread. Residents and travellers in the following areas are urged to exercise extreme caution and stay updated with the latest forecasts:
Scotland
- Central, Tayside & Fife: Clackmannanshire, Falkirk, Fife, Perth and Kinross, Stirling.
- SW Scotland, Lothian Borders: Dumfries and Galloway, East Lothian, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scottish Borders, West Lothian.
- Strathclyde: Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire.
England
- East Midlands: Derby, Derbyshire, Leicester, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, Rutland.
- East of England: Bedford, Cambridgeshire, Central Bedfordshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Luton, Norfolk, Peterborough, Southend-on-Sea, Suffolk, Thurrock.
- London & South East England: Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Greater London, Kent, Medway, Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire.
- North East England: Darlington, Durham, Gateshead, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, Redcar and Cleveland, Stockton-on-Tees.
- North West England: Blackburn with Darwen, Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Halton, Lancashire, Merseyside, Warrington.
- West Midlands: Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Telford and Wrekin, Warwickshire, West Midlands Conurbation, Worcestershire.
- Yorkshire & Humber: East Riding of Yorkshire, Kingston upon Hull, North East Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, York.
Wales
- Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Carmarthenshire, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Merthyr Tydfil, Neath Port Talbot, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wrexham.
Public Urged to Stay Informed
Given the multifaceted nature of this weather event, combining ice, rain, wind, and potential snow, the Met Office is strongly advising the public to remain vigilant. "With a complex spell of weather, it's important people stay up to date with the forecast and any warnings in your area," emphasised Paul Gundersen. Commuters are advised to allow extra time for journeys, check road conditions, and be prepared for possible disruptions to public transport services, especially during the Wednesday morning rush hour.
