UK to be battered by ‘Baltic Beast’ with heavy snow and rain

Forecasters have warned that the UK is to be hit with bitterly cold winds, freezing temperatures, with dangerous blizzards.

The cold snap which has been dubbed the “Beast from the Baltic” will make its way from North east of England to London and will reach the coast on Sunday.

There are risks of heavy rainfall with flooding followed by ice and snow with “dangerous” blizzard conditions which will mainly fall in Scotland.

In the Scottish highlands vehicles were trapped overnight on the A835 with local officials warning “do not travel in this area” between Ullapool and Garve.

Met Office forecaster Steven Keates said this weekend will be very “unpleasant” outside and he added, “If you do have to go outside there are lots of layers required I think.”

He further said that some parts will see as much as 5 to 10cm of snow and there will be a “marked drop” in the temperatures for the weekend.

He added, “Enough snow is on the cards I think to cause potentially quite a bit of disruption in the south east of England through Sunday, and potentially very early next week as well.”

Sky’s weather producer Joanna Robinson said, “The cold air currently across Scotland will bring further snow there over the next few days. The Met Office has issued an amber snow warning for areas north of the Central Belt, where up to half a metre of snow is possible on the hills by Saturday.

“That’s on top of the snow seen in recent days, with depths reported to be around 40cm in Braemar and Crathie already.

“This is likely to be a significant and disruptive snow event for the Grampians, with blizzards and drifting snow.”

She went on: “Over the weekend, the cold air takes over the rest of the UK, with a raw easterly wind developing.

“Snow showers will move in off the North Sea to affect eastern parts, but more disruptive snow is possible for East Anglia and the South East on Saturday night and Sunday.

“There’s fairly high confidence that the cold conditions will continue early next week, with further snow showers in the east. It will feel bitterly cold in the wind.”