Boxing Day snow and ice warning with people warned not to travel in Scotland

Boxing Day drinkers have been urged to put on an extra layer and pack up as parts of the country are on a snow and ice warning.

Temperatures fell to around freezing in northern parts of the UK last night, while temperatures in the south stayed at a balmy 10C overnight.

Snow and ice are expected in Scotland today, with the Met Office issuing a yellow weather warning from tomorrow night until 6pm.

It comes as forecasters warned of an Arctic blast later this month that could bring temperatures as low as -11C, similar to the ‘Beast From the East’ weather system that hit the country in 2018.

At least four inches of snow is expected to settle at higher elevations due to the stormy forecasts.

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The cold snap could add to travel chaos already caused by industrial action on the railways, with the Met Office warning the forecast weather could disrupt roads and operating trains.

It comes as Boxing Day already looks like a day of travel hell due to the ongoing strikes and heavy traffic.

In response to the recent RMT strike, rail bosses have decided to shut down the network entirely.

Hundreds of services usually run on the 26th, but tomorrow there are none, which puts additional strain on the roads.

The Border Force is also continuing industrial action, increasing wait times for everyone boarding a flight.

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The AA expects 15.2million cars on Britain’s roads on Boxing Day and said areas around shopping centers and football pitches will see heavy congestion.

They added: “There is scope for local traffic congestion and more short journeys, but traffic should be spread out throughout the day as people take their time after Christmas Day.”

Snow showers will continue into Monday morning, with blizzard and drift warnings remaining only at higher levels.

The Met Office warned: “Strengthening west-northwest winds will bring increasingly frequent wintry showers to parts of Scotland through Sunday night and into Monday morning.”

Northern Ireland has also seen a yellow ice warning introduced by the Met as colder air sweeps through the country and temperatures remain at 0C.

It said wintry showers will bring ice to some untreated areas, causing delays and disruptions on the road this Boxing Day with the risk of slips and falls.

Much milder weather conditions are expected elsewhere in the country, with temperatures not expected to fall below 9C throughout the evening in London.

Temperatures are expected to remain mild across the capital well into the New Year, with intermittent rain showers.

On Christmas Eve, the Met Office’s deputy chief meteorologist David Oliver said: “Many are headed for a choppy Christmas weekend, with those in the north and west seeing the most frequent and strongest showers.

“Strong winds will affect some coasts throughout the weekend with gales in some spots, particularly north and west.”

Earlier this month, temperatures were already plummeting to -17C, causing power cuts across the Shetland Islands in Scotland.

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