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What do the warning colours mean?

Red warning

  • Dangerous weather is expected and, if you have not done so already, you should take action now to keep yourself and others safe from the impact of the severe weather.
  • It is very likely that there will be a risk to life, with substantial disruption to travel, energy supplies and possibly widespread damage to property and infrastructure.

Amber warning

  • There is an increased likelihood of impacts from severe weather, which could potentially disrupt your plans.
  • This means there is the possibility of travel delays, road and rail closures, power cuts and the potential risk to life and property.

Yellow warning

  • Yellow warnings can be issued for a range of weather situations.
  • It is important to read the content of yellow warnings to determine which weather situation is being covered by the warning.

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UK weather warnings

Yellow warning
Snow & ice
16:00
Sun 17
UTC
11:00
Mon 18

Ice and some snow leading to slippery surfaces and difficult travel conditions.

What should I expect?

  • Probably some icy patches on some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths
  • Some roads and railways may be affected with longer journey times by road, bus and train services
  • Some injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces

What should I do?

Further detail

During Sunday, showers will turn increasingly wintry through the day with hail, sleet and some snow. Little snow is likely to settle at low levels by day, but through the evening and overnight, 1 to 3 cm may accumulate in some places, whilst 5 to 10 cm is possible on high ground above 300 metres by Monday morning.

Meanwhile, as temperatures fall overnight, ice is likely to form on untreated surfaces.

What should I do?

Keep yourself and your family safe when it is icy. Plan to leave the house at least five minutes earlier
than normal. Not needing to rush, reduces your risk of accidents, slips, and falls.

If you need to make a journey on foot, try to use pavements along main roads which are likely to be
less slippery. Similarly, if cycling, try and stick to main roads which are more likely to have been
treated.

Give yourself the best chance of avoiding delays by checking road conditions if driving, or bus and
train timetables, amending your travel plans if necessary.

If driving, make sure you have some essentials in your car in the event of any delays (e.g., warm
clothing, food, water, a blanket, a torch, ice scraper/de icer, a warning triangle, high visibility vest
and an in-car phone charger)

Be prepared for weather warnings to change: when a weather warning is issued, the Met Office
recommends staying up to date with the weather forecast in your area.

Why is the warning yellow?

This warning has a medium likelihood and a low impact.

Very
likely
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
to
Unlikely
Very low
impact
to High
impact

Issued

Regions and local authorities affected:

Grampian

  • Aberdeenshire
  • Moray

Highlands & Eilean Siar

  • Na h-Eileanan Siar
  • Highland

Orkney & Shetland

  • Orkney Islands
  • Shetland Islands
Yellow warning
Snow & ice
10:00
Mon 18
UTC
10:00
Tue 19

A small chance of disruption from snow and ice.

What should I expect?

  • There is a small chance that power cuts will occur and other services, such as mobile phone coverage, may be affected
  • A small chance that untreated pavements and cycle paths become impassable
  • There is a slight chance that some rural communities could become cut off
  • There is a slight chance that bus and train services may be delayed or cancelled, with some road closures and longer journey times
  • A small chance of injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces
  • There is a small chance of travel delays on roads with some stranded vehicles and passengers, along with delayed or cancelled rail and air travel

What should I do?

Further detail

Spells of rain, sleet and snow are likely during Monday and overnight into Tuesday morning. The most likely scenario is for most of the snow to fall on high ground, with 5 to 10 cm possible above 300 metres and perhaps as much as 15 to 20 cm above 400 metres. There is a small chance of snow settling at lower levels, where 5 to 10 cm would prove much more disruptive, but this is very uncertain.

As rain, sleet and snow clear on Tuesday morning, ice may form on untreated surfaces.

What should I do?

Snowy, wintry weather can cause delays and make driving conditions dangerous, so to keep yourself
and others safe: plan your route, checking for delays and road closures, amending your travel plans if
necessary; if driving, leave more time to prepare and check your car before setting off; make sure
you have essentials packed in your car in the event of any delays (warm clothing, food, water, a
blanket, a torch, ice scraper/de-icer, a warning triangle, high visibility vest and an in-car phone
charger).

People cope better when they have prepared in advance for the risk of power cuts or
being cut off from services and amenities due to the snow. It’s easy to do; consider gathering torches
and batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items.
Be prepared for weather warnings to change quickly: when a weather warning is issued, the Met
Office recommends staying up to date with the weather forecast in your area.

Why is the warning yellow?

This warning has a very low likelihood and a medium impact.

Very
likely
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
to
Unlikely
Very low
impact
to High
impact

Issued

Regions and local authorities affected:

Central, Tayside & Fife

  • Clackmannanshire
  • Falkirk
  • Fife
  • Stirling

North East England

  • Darlington
  • Durham
  • Gateshead
  • Hartlepool
  • Middlesbrough
  • Newcastle upon Tyne
  • North Tyneside
  • Northumberland
  • Redcar and Cleveland
  • South Tyneside
  • Stockton-on-Tees
  • Sunderland

North West England

  • Cumbria
  • Lancashire

SW Scotland, Lothian Borders

  • Dumfries and Galloway
  • East Lothian
  • Edinburgh
  • Midlothian Council
  • Scottish Borders
  • West Lothian

Strathclyde

  • Argyll and Bute
  • East Ayrshire
  • East Dunbartonshire
  • East Renfrewshire
  • Glasgow
  • Inverclyde
  • North Ayrshire
  • North Lanarkshire
  • Renfrewshire
  • South Ayrshire
  • South Lanarkshire
  • West Dunbartonshire

Yorkshire & Humber

  • North Yorkshire
  • West Yorkshire
  • York
Warnings are in force for:

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