Snow and ice to cause further problems across Somerset
A yellow weather warning is in place
Last updated 21st Nov 2024
Snow and ice are set to cause further problems for commuters across the country on Thursday (21 November) as weather warnings remain in place.
Parts of south-west England have received a yellow warning for snow between 5am and 3pm on Thursday, with 5cm to 10cm predicted in higher parts of Dartmoor.
The yellow weather warning for snow in Somerset covers the western part of the county, including Minehead, Taunton, Ilminster, and Chard.
Somerset Council are urging drivers and commuters to be safe and take care whilst out.
Met Office chief meteorologist Matthew Lehnert said: "A northerly airflow will continue to feed snow showers into Scotland over the next few days, with this reaching lower levels at times and bringing the potential for some travel disruption.
"Overnight temperatures will drop below zero fairly widely over the next few days, which has resulted in some ice warnings, with further warnings likely through this week.
"On Thursday, a mixture of snow, sleet and rain is likely to affect the southwest which could potentially bring disruption. It's likely high ground in the area will see snow, with a mixture of conditions likely at lower levels. 2-5cm of snow is possible in places at lower levels, with around 10cm possible over higher parts of Dartmoor."
Met Office meteorologist Clare Nasir said there would be brighter skies outside the warnings areas across the country on Thursday morning and into the afternoon
But she added that a "severe frost" was also likely before more "bitterly cold" temperatures on Thursday evening.
It comes after new yellow warnings for rain were also published from Saturday to Sunday morning in south-west England and Wales.
There was already a yellow warning for heavy snow on Saturday followed by a "rapid thaw" and rain on Saturday night in north-east and north-west England, the West Midlands, Yorkshire, and much of Scotland.
Met Office spokesperson Andrea Bishop said: "A deep area of low pressure is expected to bring a spell of prolonged and, at times, heavy rainfall across a large part of the UK this weekend.
"Across south-west England, rain is expected to develop during Saturday morning with heavier rain likely later in the day and overnight into early Sunday morning.
"Fifty to 75mm of rain is expected to fall fairly widely during this time with a chance that some places over Dartmoor could see 100-125mm. Strong southerly winds will accompany the heavy rain and may locally exacerbate impacts."
More than 100 schools or nurseries were closed in Scotland on Wednesday because of the weather, with 52 shut in the Highland Council area, 51 in Aberdeenshire, 11 in Moray and two in Shetland.
Insurance and roadside assistance company RAC said on Wednesday that drivers were suddenly facing "some of the worst road conditions we've seen all year" and that a sharp rise in vehicle breakdowns was reported on Wednesday morning as drivers' batteries failed.
The AA predicted "a major increase in (its) workload" due to sub-zero temperatures, snow and ice, and urged drivers to check forecasts before travelling and to do so with "extreme caution" in the hardest-hit areas.