The UK continues to struggle through some of the worst weather it has seen in several years.
Government forecasters have today issued the first red snow warning for five years as the UK braces for potentially the worst blizzards since 1962.
Heavy snow has hit swathes of the country through the past 24 hours including London sparking road closures, chaos on transport networks and disruption to airports.
Britons have been warned to avoid all but essential travel as vulnerable and elderly people are told to stay indoors.
Southern England including the capital usually avoids the worst of the snowfall with Scotland and the North bearing the brunt of it.
However Storm Emma threatens to unleash torrents of heavy snow across the region from tomorrow afternoon and into the weekend.
Met Office warnings predict up to 2 foot [50cm] of snow will fall across the southeast by Friday with Scotland facing similar amounts.
Strong winds will whip up snowdrifts several feet deep which threaten to leave swathes of the country buried until mid-March.
Met Office records show between 20 and 40 centimetres fell in February 1991 which according to government forecasters was the heaviest in parts of Britain since 1962.
Tomorrow’s deluge threatens to match, if not beat, that amount meaning it will be the snowiest period of weather for 56 years.
Met Office chief forecaster Andy Page said further widespread snow is forecast as Emma roars in from the Atlantic tomorrow afternoon.
He warned of significant upheaval from extreme Arctic conditions including deep snow drifts, loss of power supplies and disruption to services.
He said: “Widespread snow is expected to develop through Thursday afternoon and evening, accompanied by strong easterly winds, leading to drifting of lying snow in places.
“Around 10 to 20 centimetres is likely to fall quite widely, with the potential for up to 50 centimetres [20 inches, 1.7 feet] over parts of Dartmoor and Exmoor.
“Long delays and cancellations to public transport is expected, whilst some roads may become blocked by deep snow, stranding vehicles and passengers. Long interruptions to power supplies and other utilities are likely to occur.
“The warning has been updated to reflect the growing confidence of a severe spell of weather and to remove parts of North Wales and Southeast England.”
Good morning everyone, Fleur here. Many of you will be waking up to snow and gales or they will arrive later! Keep an eye on the weather warnings in your area here: https://t.co/z684SAh3iI or via our Met Office weather app. More info: https://t.co/OdBNNEiEQi Take care out there! pic.twitter.com/dOWCLflDKg
— Met Office (@metoffice) March 1, 2018
