The Met Office has predicted 15cm of snow could fall as it issued a major weather warning and people across Britain prepare to take to the roads in a bid to travel home for Christmas.
Forecasters are predicting as much as 15cm to fall in some parts of the UK, with warning of ice and chilly weather in rural parts of the UK.
It comes as Storm Pia, which was named by the Danish Met Institute, caused disruption on Britain’s transport network yesterday.
The Met Office predicts it will remain windy for many throughout today, Friday, with further periods of rain likely to sweep in from the west, and some snow across the Northern Isles of Scotland.
The latest forecast from Netweather
Netweather
The Met Office forecasts: “Snow is expected to develop across north and northeast Scotland during Friday night before gradually turning to rain during Saturday.
“Initially, snow will be reserved for hills above around 200 metres, but through the night snow is likely to fall to lower levels for a time.
“With cold air slowly being replaced by milder air from the southwest, there is some uncertainty in accumulations across the warning area.
“However, some low-level locations may see 2-5 cm, whilst accumulations of 10-15 cm are likely to be reserved for higher ground above around 200 metres.
“An additional albeit temporary hazard will be the chance of ice mainly over higher ground as snow turns to rain.”
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There could be snow over higher ground in the UK
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For Christmas, the Met Office is predicting a more unsettled period of weather, with some places feeling more mild with some festive showers.
Deputy chief meteorologist Dave Hayter said: “It’ll be a particularly wet weekend in the north and west, with breezy conditions for many. While those further south will generally be drier, some sporadic showers could spread into the southwest at times, as well as some more persistent rain for Wales on Sunday.
“Christmas Day will likely see a continuation of unsettled, mainly showery, weather in the northwest, including Northern Ireland.
“While the day may start damp in southern and central areas, that rain should clear into the English Channel through the evening.”
Going into the New Year, the weather is set to remain unsettled with low pressure bringing breezy and wet conditions for many.
However, there will be some drier and brighter interludes.
