Met Office urges households to get 7 items on Friday
Households are being urged to gather seven essential items for Friday as a snow and ice warning comes into force across the UK. The Met Office says families should have the items ready in case homes are cut off or electricity supplies fail.
A yellow weather warning covering 57 areas will be in place overnight Thursday into the early hours of Friday as a blast of colder air moves in. Forecasters warn snow showers will move from higher ground down to lower levels through Thursday evening, with rapidly falling temperatures leaving roads icy by the morning commute. The Met Office said: "Snow showers and icy roads could lead to some travel disruption." Untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths are expected to freeze, increasing the likelihood of accidents and injuries, with officials warning people could slip and fall on icy surfaces.
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Meteorologists say snowfall totals will vary due to the showery conditions. Lower-lying areas could see 1-2cm of snow, while hills above 300 metres may receive 2-5cm and locally up to 10cm.
Some roads and rail services may be affected and journeys could take significantly longer, particularly during the Friday rush hour.
Drivers are being urged to plan routes in advance, check for delays and allow extra time. Motorists should ensure tyres, wipers and screenwash are working and only travel if necessary during heavy snow and ice.
Communities could also become temporarily isolated if roads are blocked, while fallen trees and damaged overhead power lines may cause outages.
Guidance warns some households may be left without heat, light or access to services for a number of days during severe wintry weather.
Residents are advised to stay indoors where possible, wear layers to keep warm and never use ovens or hobs to heat homes due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
During a power cut people should wrap up, close internal doors to retain heat, check on vulnerable neighbours and call 105 for information.
Forecasters added weather warnings can change quickly and urged the public to keep checking local forecasts before travelling.
Families are advised to make sure they have the following essentials ready:
Torch
Spare batteries
Candles
Matches or a lighter
Blankets
Warm clothing
- Mobile phone power pack or in-car charger
Fires and electric heaters should be switched off before bed to reduce fire risk, and pets should be kept somewhere warm and comfortable.
In a power cut, residents should switch off unattended appliances, leave a light on to indicate when electricity returns and check on neighbours to see if they are affected. Households are urged to keep warm by closing internal doors and wrapping up, and to call 105 for power cut information or the British Red Cross support line if help is needed.