More snow and ice is expected to freeze the UK on Friday and Saturday – and households across the UK are now being urged to prepare for the ravages of Storm Bert, with blizzard conditions bringing up to 40cm of snowfall. snow in some areas.

THE Met Office issued a series of yellow weather warnings and another serious orange warning for snow, ice, rain and wind Friday and Saturday, starting Thursday evening and lasting until 9 a.m. Sunday in parts of the England, Scotland and Wales.

The first warnings are already in place today, with more from 3 p.m., until Friday morning, and even more from 5 p.m. Friday, until Saturday morning. Saturday is the worst affected day of all, with 7 warnings for snow, rain, ice and wind across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with some warnings remaining until Sunday morning.

This means that most of the UK will be hit with some sort of severe weather warning by Sunday, with much of the country facing the risk of more snow and some areas seeing very heavy snowfall.

The Met Office forecast for the UK for the worst-affected day, Saturday, says: “Heavy snow will spread north-eastwards on Saturday morning, giving rise to significant accumulations in many areas.

“Accumulations of 10 to 20 cm are likely on the ground, generally above 200 m, with potentially up to 20 to 40 cm on hills above 400 m. Snow will eventually change to rain on Saturday afternoon, but could be preceded by a short period of freezing rain in places, increasing the risk of icy conditions.

“Strengthening winds will cause shifting snow lying, with difficult travel conditions likely on high altitude roads, as well as the risk of interruption of power supply. Relatively rapid thawing of lying snow is then likely Saturday evening as the milder air moves in.”

In his advice on preparing for bad weather, including snow, Met Office urges households to ensure they are fully prepared, as adverse conditions can lead to travel disruptions and power outages.

First, make sure cell phones are charged and keep a fully charged spare battery on hand.

Indeed, heavy snow and rain as well as strong winds, all of which are in this set of warnings, can cause localized power outages. It is therefore best to prepare for a loss of connectivity. Landlines can also be cut during storms, so charging your mobile is the best way to be prepared.

THE Met Office said: “People respond better to power outages when they prepare for them in advance and it is easy to do. The essential items that could help you deal with a power outage are: battery-powered candles, flashlights and batteries, a cell phone power pack.

“In the event of a power outage, these simple steps can help you deal with the situation: Turn off all electrical appliances that should not be left unattended, while waiting for power to return.

“Leave a light on to know when the power outage has been repaired.

“Check to see if your neighbors are safe and if they also have a power outage. If they have power, your trip switch may have activated.”

If you experience a power cut you should not call your energy supplier or call 999, the number to call is 105.