Brits brace for thundersnow and flooding as drivers told to stay alert

Drivers have been told to stay alert on icy roads amid a yellow weather warning as temperatures plummet to -4C ahead of ‘thundersnow’ that could wreak havoc over a freezing weekend.

Thundersnow is similar to a thunderstorm but instead of heavy rain snow falls on the ground.

There was heavy frost across Scotland in the early hours of Saturday and the rest of the UK is forecast to see low temperatures for a wet and windy weekend.  

Friday night saw a Yellow Weather Warning for ice put in place for Scotland and parts of Southern England and Wales – with some areas seeing as much as 11cm (4.3in) of snow.   

The threat is set to continue in Scotland where there remains a high chance of ice patches throughout the country.  

Blustery showers are expected to continue in England today, mainly in the north and west. 

Showers will be heavy at times with some areas seeing hail. It will also be wintry over hills and windy, especially in the southwest. 

The Met Office reports there are currently 10 flood alerts in place, including in areas of Barnstaple, Leicestershire, Bristol and Somerset. 

BBC forecaster Christopher Blanchett said: ‘Through the course of this evening and overnight, our concern is with ice and there is a Met Office yellow warning in force through west central Scotland and the south.

‘There is a chance of icy patches almost anywhere and under clear skies temperatures are readily falling away to sub-zero and in rural parts of the north east perhaps minus 6C.’

And NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) has issued advice to ‘walk like penguins’ in the icy conditions to avoid getting injured.   

It is urging people to bend their knees loosely, point out their feet slightly, extend their arms at the sides, walk flat-footed- taking short steps, and to keep their centre of gravity over the feet in order to avoid falling.  

Linda de Caestecker, Director for Public Health at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: ‘While it might seem silly to walk or waddle like a penguin, in the context of the wintery conditions we’re seeing today, penguins know best.

‘If you find yourself out and about in icy conditions, adopting the penguin stance is a really effective way to move without falling.’

Mr Blanchett said the early hours of Saturday morning would see a new weather system arrive.

He added it would be bringing cloud, rain and further snow across the hills, rain for most and will mean something a touch less cold as the weekend begins.

He said: ‘Initially very wet on Saturday but that rain clears through apace and for most of the day it is a case of bright sunny spells and rain showers.

‘Those showers most frequent in the west, wintery on the hill tops, driest and brightest in the east.’

Temperatures in Scotland are expected to be between 6C and 8C and feeling cold in the brisk west wind .

Maximum temperatures in the South of the UK are forecast to reach around 10C or 11C. In the North of England around about 7C or 8C.

Into Sunday afternoon Scotland will likely be dry and bright for most, 4C to 7C.

The forecast from Sunday in England is mainly dry and bright but with occasional showers in the west.

Outbreaks of rain are likely to spread east Monday, with the far southeast staying dry.

Mr Blanchett said of Scotland: ‘Looking ahead on Monday, showers and longer spells of rain. The thing you will notice is it will be a mild Monday with temperatures of 10C, 11C and maybe 12C.’

It follows an already chilly week, with temperatures plunging as low as -8C on Wednesday – making it the coldest night of winter.

The weekend weather is expected to remain unsettled, with milder spells, as a spiralling area of low pressure brings changeable weather conditions to the UK.

Following the cold blast from the snowstorms, an Atlantic weather front is then set to bring massive downpours.

Liverpool and Manchester could be soaked by up to 5mm of rain an hour on Saturday, before the initial band of rain heads further across the country.

And meteorologists say intermittent rainfall is expected on Sunday, before patches of rain and snow hit parts of Britain. 

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