UK weather: February freeze as 70mph snow blizzards to hit Britain

Motorists and commuters are being warned that freezing snow blizzards of up to 70mph will bring further travel chaos to Britain.

An 'Arctic airmass' will make next week possibly the coldest part of winter so far.

The Met Office has issued yellow warnings for ice across the whole of the UK, and snow across the Midlands, northern England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The news comes after 'thundersnow' hit the north of England on Thursday, causing travel chaos and the temporary closure of Manchester airport.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Met Office chief forecaster Eddie Carroll said: "A very cold airmass will spread southwards across Scotland and Northern Ireland accompanied by strong winds, spreading southwards into northern England and north Wales later in the day.

"Frequent showers are likely to form in this airmass, and with the cold air snow is likely to accumulate, even to low levels in places.

"Periods of enhanced snowfall are possible within this general flow, perhaps more especially across the high ground of Scotland and north-east England, but these details are more uncertain.

"There is the potential for disruption throughout this period due to the accumulating snow and ice but also with temporary blizzard conditions leading to very difficult driving conditions."

According to the Daily Telegraph, the Arctic blast is set to last at least a week.

Speaking to the paper, Mr Carroll added: "Road surface temperatures will fall widely below freezing, leading to a risk of ice on untreated surfaces.

"This will be exacerbated by showers in places, more especially across Scotland, where 2-5cm of fresh snowfall may accumulate above 150m, with up to 10cm settling above 300m.

"Further south, a mixture of rain, sleet and wet snow is likely, with most of any settling snow taking place above about 200m. However, wet roads at low levels will contribute to the risk of ice formation."

And Leon Brown, meteorologist at The Weather Channel, told Aol Travel next week would see a Big Freeze, saying: "Temperatures will be below normal until next Friday, and looks like it will be the coldest period of the winter so far from this Sunday to next Friday with temperatures around 4C to 5C below normal next week. Some widespread and hard frosts next week too, and severe frosts where there is snow on the ground.

"Sunday will feel bitter in a fresh north wind, but much of the country clear and sunny in the Arctic flow. There's still some sleet/snow showers over the north east of Scotland and some over West Wales with a few sleet and hail showers over South West England."

He continued: "Next week, Monday morning will start very cold and frosty, but clear and sunny over much of the UK. Temperatures as low as -8C to 10C over northern Britain where there is snow on the ground, and widely -3C to -6C in rural areas over the south. Be prepared with ice scrapers for the before the commute to work.

"There is a risk of some snow moving southwards in a disturbance in the Arctic flow late Monday to Tuesday, the risk greatest over Scotland, Ireland and western England and Wales.

"There's a similar snow risk for the west on Wednesday. The week then ending clearer and frosty, but some rain and snow may reach the far north later on the Friday.

"Look out for hard frosts every night next week, with temperatures dipping close to -10C where there is snow on the ground in the north.

"The cold spell will gradually ease from next weekend, but with high pressure likely we can expect further night frosts."

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