Met Office issues severe snow warnings as temperatures plunge
The Met Office has issued severe snow warnings as temperatures are set to plunge today.
Wintry showers are set to fall throughout the morning and will be heaviest across South West England, parts of the Midlands and parts of the Home Counties. Conditions on the roads are expected to be hazardous as a result today.
The Met Office says: "A brief spell of snow leading to tricky driving conditions in a few places. Rain will turn to snow at times this morning. Not everywhere will see snow, and it may not settle on roads in some places. However, a few spots could see 1 to 3 cm accumulate. From mid morning any snow should turn to rain or die out, with lying snow thawing rapidly."
Ice will become a hazard later today as temperatures are expected to remain bitter. Even by midday, the mercury will struggle to exceed 2C in Herefordshire and parts of rural Wales while it'll be around 3C across most of the South West of England. Overnight, it'll be freezing across parts of Dorset and Wiltshire.
The ice will slowly melt over the weekend but fears are growing for flooding across the UK as a result. There are currently more than 150 flood alerts and warnings in place across the country, with the majority in the South West of England - the area subject to the biggest weather warning for snow.
Gales, snow and rain to batter country today with 80mph wind gustsThere is particular concern for Wylye Valley at Warminster, Wiltshire, Curry Moor and Hay Moor in Somerset and the Hooke in rural Dorset. Environment Agency reminds Brits to monitor its website.
The full list of areas subject to The Met Office's warning for snow today reads;
London & South East England
Oxfordshire
South West England
Bath and North East Somerset
Bristol
Gloucestershire
North Somerset
Somerset
South Gloucestershire
Swindon
Weather maps forecast 750-mile blizzard dropping three inches of snow next weekWiltshire
Wales
Monmouthshire
West Midlands
Herefordshire
Shropshire
Warwickshire
Worcestershire
This is a breaking news story. Follow us on Google News, Flipboard, Apple News, Twitter, Facebook or visit The Mirror homepage.