Weekend snow and ice warning as cold snap from the East set to return
Freezing weather is set to return to much of the UK, as a cold front comes in from Poland bringing snow, ice and high winds.
Many in the UK have just recovered from the Beast from the East, which littered roads with potholes, stranded commuters in Scotland and left thousands without water for up to a week.
Forecasters have warned that snow, ice, rain and high winds will hit parts of the country after many enjoyed a relatively balmy week.
A Met Office spokesperson told The Telegraph disruption is likely to be caused over the weekend, with two to five centimetres of snow expected in some parts.
Yellow warnings have been issued for snow from Friday onwards, especially on the East Coast, but it is predicted the cold front could spread right across the country.
The RAC has warned motorists to prepare themselves for dangerous conditions on the roads, after many vehicles were stranded by the Beast from the East.
RAC spokesman Simon Williams told The Telegraph: “With the Beast from the East forecast to take another bite at Britain, motorists who have to be on the road at the weekend need to prepare themselves properly. With so many cases of vehicles being stranded on major routes in the last cold snap we are urging everyone to make sure they have a winter emergency breakdown kit in their cars so they aren’t caught out should the worst happen.
“This should include a fully charged mobile phone and back-up portable power bank, boots, a warm waterproof coat, a blanket or sleeping bag, some food and drink and an ice scraper. It would also be advisable to carry a shovel and some old carpet as it gives drivers a chance of being able to get their vehicles going again if they get stuck in snow.
“If the snow risk is high by far the best advice is not to drive unless it is absolutely essential. As this bad weather is due to hit at the weekend it should affect fewer motorists as the need to drive is not as great as it is in the working week.
“Motorists planning to drive should also ensure their vehicles are fully prepared to reduce the chance of breaking down in the first place. Good tyre tread is essential in snowy and icy conditions to give the maximum possible grip, and leaving up to 10 times the gap between you and the car in front is essential to give sufficient stopping time.
“It is also vital that motorists top up with a good quality screenwash which protects down to around at least -15C. In the late February freeze we dealt with thousands of drivers who had fallen foul of using poor quality, ready-made screenwash which froze giving them no way of keeping their windscreens clear.”
The cold front from Poland is due to hit North East Scotland on Friday evening, and will rapidly spread further south, bringing snow and cold weather down the East Coast by the early hours of Saturday morning.
After this, the whole of the UK will expect cold weather on Saturday with highs of two to three degrees and a very strong easterly wind, which will make it feel like a bitingly cold minus three degrees.
The worst of the weather is expected on Sunday, when we we are expecting more precipitation in the South of england, which is likely to be snow. This will spread from Dorset across to Sussex, mainly in the far south, and is also expected to spread to London.
Monday is expected to be unseasonably cold, but during the week temperatures will rise back up.
The Met Office spokesperson said: “It's very cold for this time of year. There was a spell in March 2013 that was similar. We get more snow in the UK in March than we do in December. It;s unusual to have two bursts.”