STORM Darcy is set to engulf parts of England and London with heavy snow and gale-force winds as cold air from the east blasts Britain.
Forecasters have issued yellow warnings for snow covering the length of Britain from Saturday, while a more serious amber warning is in place for the south east of England from early on Sunday morning.
There is a chance a few places could see as much as 30cm of snow, forecasters have warned.
The Met Office said the Dutch have named the low-pressure system that will bring strong winds and widespread snow to south east England on Sunday as Storm Darcy.
Places within the amber warning expected to be hit by Darcy include Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and Kent.
Roads may become blocked by deep snow, with the possibility of many stranded vehicles and passengers.
Follow our weather live blog below for the latest news and updates from around the country
- Patrick Knox
PICTURED: TASTE OF THINGS TO COME
A car drives along the A924 on a snow-covered Moulin Moor near Pitlochry, Scotland, as storm Darcy approaches the country,Credit: Reuters - Patrick Knox
ONE FOOT OF SNOW COULD FALL
Meteorologist Sarah Kent said: "There will be significant disruptive snowfall across the South East.
"Within this area, there is a small chance particularly over the Downs of Kent and the North Downs that you could see 25-30cm of snow.
"It is a small chance but the threat is there, up to a foot of snow potentially combined with extremely strong easterly winds. Even inland in that area, gusting could be 45mph and higher than that on the coasts.
"This could lead to significant drifting of any lying snow and obviously blizzards for the snow coming past you for anyone who is attempting to travel.
"Sadly there will be people who have to make journeys for the emergency services and there are still lorries that have to go to the ports. It is going to be really disruptive.
"With that sort of snowfall, you would expect some roads to be closed or blocked by the drifting snow, and long delays or some cancellations of public transport."
- Patrick Knox
MEANWHILE… IN THE SOUTH OF FRANCE
Sahara dust turned the sky orange in Lyon today as part of a meteorological phenomenon.
It was linked to a powerful southerly flow that brings spring temperatures which also brings up a large concentration of Saharan dust suspended in the atmosphere.
People looking at the panoramic view of Lyon with a yellowish-orange sky-1Credit: Rex Features
- Patrick Knox
MONDAY: AMBER SNOW ALERTS FOR SOUTH EAST
- Patrick Knox
MET OFFICE WARNINGS FOR SUNDAY
- Patrick Knox
TONIGHT’S FORECAST
It will be overcast and unsettled with outbreaks of snow which will soon become largely confined to northern and eastern areas during the morning.
Snow will be heavy at times with a threat of blizzards across eastern England.
Western areas will remain largely dry but dull with cloudy skies
- Patrick Knox
WHERE IS ALL THIS COLD WEATHER COMING FROM?
The UK usually has a relatively mild winter.
But within hours the country will be plunged into arctic conditions.
It's all because of cold air emanating from Russia and Eastern Europe, which will move across the UK over the coming days, bringing "significant" snow to parts of Eastern England and Scotland, forecasters said.
- Patrick Knox
SNOW FOR SOME, FLOOD FOR OTHERS
Warnings for rain and ice are also in place today as snow showers could affect many northern and eastern parts of the UK.
Humberside Police urged people to avoid areas that have been hit by substantial flooding, including Axholme Avenue in Crowle, which was closed today
- Patrick Knox
STORM DARCY TO PACK A PUNCH!
Episodes of "significant disruptive snowfall" are set to blanket the South East, with Storm Darcy also set to bring gale-force winds to parts of England, forecasters said.
Easterly winds from the Ukraine and Black Sea area tomorrow will bring an intense chill but the air will not be as bitingly cold as it was with the Beast from the East in 2018, the Met Office said.
Amber weather warnings of snow which suggest there could be widespread travel disruption in parts of London, the east and southeast of England have been issued by the Met Office for tomorrow and Monday morning.
- Patrick Knox
THERMAL TOPS AND BOTTOMS ADVISED!
Weekend weather forecast – Heavy snow to fall in London and south with severe weather warnings until next week
- Hana Carter
RUSSIAN AIR BLAST TO PLUNGE TEMPERATURES
An icy blast of Russian air is set to send the mercury plunging as low as -10C in parts of Northern Scotland as the country braces for a cold snap.
Forecasters have issued yellow warnings for snow covering the length of Britain from today, with a more serious amber warning in place for Scotland's central Highlands.
Met Office meteorologist Sarah Kent told The Sun Online that parts of Kent could see up to 30cm of snow tomorrow – with travel chaos expected.
AÂ 4WD vehicle negotiates a mountain road at Gospel Pass in a wintry landscape at Hay Bluff near Hay-on-Wye in Powys, Wales - Hana Carter
SUNDAY SET TO BE A CHILLY ONE
- Hana Carter
TONIGHT'S FORECAST
Sleet and snow clearing southwestwards across England and Wales before persistent snow arrives in the southeast, turning heavy later.
Clear spells and snow showers across Scotland and northern England. Cold.
- Hana Carter
STRONG WINDS AND HEAVY SNOW FOR SOUTHEAST
- Hana Carter
SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL IN SOUTH EAST
Heavy disruptive snow is expected in south-east England along with 40-50mph wind gusts that could cause snowdrifts from Sunday through to Monday morning, according to the Met Office.
Meteorologist Sarah Kent said: "There will be significant disruptive snowfall across the South East.
"Within this area, there is a small chance particularly over the Downs of Kent and the North Downs that you could see 25-30cm of snow.
"It is a small chance but the threat is there, up to a foot of snow potentially combined with extremely strong easterly winds. Even inland in that area, gusting could be 45mph and higher than that on the coasts.
- Hana Carter
RAIN TURNING TO SNOW ON THE SOUTH EAST
- Hana Carter
JANE AUSTIN LINK IN STORMS
Emergency services freed 22 vehicles trapped in snow drifts in Scotland yesterday.
Met Office forecaster Steven Keates noted a Jane Austin link to the wintry weather – with Storm Emma in 2018 and now Storm Darcy.
Met Office chief meteorlogist Paul Gundersen said: "The UK is in for a notably cold and snowy period over the next week, with very cold air in place over the whole of the UK by Sunday."
- Katie Davis
IN PICS: THICK FOG IN HAMPSHIRE
Dog walkers pictured walking through thick fog on Basingstoke CommonCredit: PA:Press Association It was a foggy morning for those in HampshireCredit: PA:Press Association - Katie Davis
AMBER WEATHER WARNING UPDATED
- Katie Davis
FORECAST FOR TONIGHT
Sleet and snow will begin to clear south-westwards across England and Wales.
Persistent snow will then arrive in the southeast, turning heavy later.
There will be clear spells and snow showers across Scotland and northern England.
Cold temperatures expected across the country.
- Hana Carter
‘MOST SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL IN THREE YEARS’
Meteorologist Steven Keates told The Sun: “This will be the most significant snowfall we have had all at once since the Beast from the East three years ago.
“The blizzards will cause some quite significant travel issues and it is the amount of snow which could easily cut off isolated communities in Scotland.
“Next week the snow risk will move southwards into northern England through Monday and Tuesday.
“There will be a good covering of snow, especially on high ground.
“Temperatures will drop all across the UK, not just in Scotland.”
- Hana Carter
TODAY'S FORECAST
According to the Met Office, further snow across eastern Scotland is on the way, falling to lower levels with time.
Elsewhere, some brightness in the south and west before bands of rain move westwards, turning to sleet and snow later as much colder air arrives.
- Hana Carter
YELLOW WARNINGS FOR TODAY
- Hana Carter
- Hana Carter
COLD AND SNOWY PERIOD NEXT WEEK
Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Andy Page, said: “The UK is in for a notably cold and snowy period over the next week, with very cold air in place over the whole of the UK by Sunday.
“Showers will see snow accumulating across eastern areas. Within the amber warning area, more widespread snow is expected and we could see 5-10 cm of snow quite widely, with a chance that a few places could see as much as 15-20 cm.
“With such severe weather around it’s important to keep up to date with the latest forecast.”
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