The UK is facing a dual assault of snow and rain, as winter unleashes its fury on the country. The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for parts of England and Wales, where heavy snow is expected to cause travel disruption and power cuts.
Meanwhile, Scotland is dealing with torrential rain, which has triggered flood alerts and warnings.
Snow Forecast: Where and When to Expect the Icy Blast(Photo : Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
The UK is bracing for a significant snowfall in the coming days, as a blast of cold air from the Arctic sweeps across the country.
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for snow for parts of England and Wales, where up to 10 cm of snow could fall in some areas.
The snow warning covers parts of the Midlands, East Anglia, the South East and the South West, and is valid from 9pm on Thursday to 3pm on Friday. The Met Office warns that the snow could cause travel delays, power cuts and icy conditions.
It is expected to arrive from the east, as a low pressure system moves in from the North Sea. The system will bring a mix of rain, sleet and snow, which will turn increasingly to snow as it encounters the cold air over the UK.
The heaviest snow is likely to fall over the hills and mountains, especially in the Pennines, the Peak District and the Chilterns. However, some lower-lying areas could also see a few centimetres of snow, especially in the east of England.
According to the forecast, the snow will gradually ease and clear from the south on Friday, but some showers could linger in the north and east. The weekend will see a brief respite from the wintry weather, as milder air moves in from the west.
However, another cold spell could return next week, bringing more snow and frost to the UK.
Scotland is facing a different but equally challenging weather situation, asheavy and persistent rain continues to batter the country.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has issued 14 flood alerts and 32 flood warnings, covering most of the country. The rain could cause flooding of homes, businesses, roads and farmland, as well as landslides and disruption to transport and utilities.
Rainfall is predicted to range from 40 to 80 mm (1.6 to 2.4 in), with the wettest regions-which might include portions of Argyll, Lochaber, and Wester Ross-possibly seeing overnight totals of 120 to 170 mm (4.7-6.7 in). There will also be strong winds.
The Met Office cautioned that in areas where flooding happens, there may also be poor driving conditions and delays or cancellations of bus or train services.
The warning extends as far south as the outskirts of Glasgow, but it mostly covers the Scottish Highlands.
Scotland had six flood warnings and ten flood alerts as of Sunday night at 9:30 p.m.
Throughout the UK, there will be wintry weather and a lot of rain later in the week.
SEPA advises people to stay away from flood water, as it could be fast flowing, deep and contaminated. It also recommends people to prepare for flooding, by moving valuables and important documents to a safe place, and having a flood kit ready.