Brits brace for week-long Arctic blast with Met Office warning in full effect

As frosty Arctic air moves south across the UK many people across the country have been warned about increased snow fall and icy conditions that could trigger delays

Brits are bracing for an Arctic blast of snow and ice with the Met Office issuing sweeping weather warnings across much of the country.

The Met Office put out back-to-back yellow snow and ice weather warnings that will continue today and into tomorrow. Today Brits living the north of Scotland, the Northern Isles and Northern England could today face showers that will turn increasingly wintry with hail, sleet and some snow.

Forecasters at the Met Office said snowfall between 1cm to 3cm could accumulate in some places within the warning area, areas above 300 metres could see 5cm to 10cm by Monday morning.

Up to 20cm is possible in the high ground of the South Pennines and at lower levels there could be between 2cm to 10cm of settling snow and icy patches. According to the weather warnings, Brits should expect some delays to their journeys.

Met Office meteorologist Ellie Glaisyer urged travellers to be ready for the cold snap, especially "during Monday morning's rush hour". Northern Wales, the north of England and the border region of Scotland will be under a yellow weather warning from 7pm on Monday through to 10am on Tuesday morning.

temperatures were expected to drop to -5C and -8C in rural areas last night. Cold and frosty nights are expected to continue for much of this week.

Nightly temperatures may fall below zero as far south as Hampshire by Wednesday. Daytime temperatures will also plummet, with highs of just 89C in the West Country and 5C in Birmingham and Manchester.

The UK Health Security Agency has issued a cold health alert covering the Midlands and North of England for this week. It states that weather conditions are likely to have minor impacts on health and social care services, including increased use of healthcare services and a greater risk to life of vulnerable people.

The Met Office yellow warning is for northern England and southern Scotland, parts of Yorkshire, and parts of north-west England, including Lancashire and Cumbria. It is in force from 10am today until 10am tomorrow.

Further into this week, the Met Office warned cold or very cold conditoons are expected across much "if not all" parts of the UK. "Into the weekend likely turning to more wet and windy conditions with some snowfall on the leading edge of this," it said of the forecast.

"Into the following week possibly cooler again though wintry conditions mostly limited to northern hills with a potential for more organised areas of rain, snow and strong winds at times, this probably also associated with milder temperatures, at least in the south. Later in the period, conditions remain uncertain, but some indications for a further more settled spell around the turn of the month."