Bristol is set to see snow and ice this weekend as temperatures plummet to freezing, with the white stuff forecast to fall from tomorrow. Forecasters at the Met Office have warned that heavy snow, ice and freezing rain may cause some widespread disruption.
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for Bristol and much of the UK. The warning is in place from midday tomorrow (January 4) until 11.59pm on Sunday (January 5).
Temperatures are expected to plummet to just 2°C tonight from 7pm and will drop to 1°C from 10pm until 10am tomorrow. It will stay bitterly cold for much of Saturday, with highs of just 4°C between 1pm and 4pm.
Tomorrow, snow is expected to fall across the city from 5pm until 10pm. The snow will likely come with freezing rain showers, increasing the risk of ice.
Temperatures tomorrow evening will remain between 2-3°C, but the ‘feels like temperature’ will be closer to -3°C. Rain will continue to fall through Saturday night and into Sunday.
Sunday is forecast to be the warmest day of the weekend, with temperatures beginning to climb up to 10°C at midday. Rain will continue to fall on Sunday and into Monday morning, but temperatures will remain low with the risk of ice forming on roads.
Forecasters at the Met Office have warned that there is a chance of travel disruption due to icy roads and delays in air and rail travel. There is also a chance of power cuts and other services like phone coverage being affected by the cold weather.
The snow and ice may also pose a risk of physical injury from slips and falls. UKHSA has also issued an amber cold-health alert, which is in place until Wednesday, January 8. The UKHSA has warned:
- a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. We may also see impacts on younger age groups
- a likely increase in demand for health services
- temperatures inside places like hospitals, care homes, and clinics dropping below the levels recommended for assessing health risks
- challenges keeping indoor temperatures at the recommended 18°C leading to more risk to vulnerable people
- staffing issues due to external factors (such as travel delays)
- other sectors starting to observe impacts (such as transport and energy)
National charity St Mungo’s is working with Bristol City Council to provide safe and warm spaces for those most vulnerable sleeping rough in the city during the cold snap. A Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) has been activated to help keep people off the street while temperatures plummet.
South West weather forecast:
Today: A cold, crisp and frosty start to the day with plenty of sunshine. Patchy cloud developing but staying dry with lengthy sunny periods. Winds staying light but remaining cold. Maximum temperature 6 °C.
Tonight: Dry this evening and overnight with clear spells. Temperatures quickly falling to give a widespread frost and isolated freezing fog patches under the light winds. Minimum temperature -2 °C.
Saturday: A dry and cold start but turning increasingly unsettled with rain, sleet and snow pushing in from the southwest through the afternoon accompanied by stronger winds. Maximum temperature 9 °C.
Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday: Turning milder but often cloudy on Sunday with outbreaks of rain at times. Becoming drier and colder on Monday and Tuesday with sunny spells and scattered wintry showers.