The Met Office has escalated weather alerts for Wednesday, naming twelve specific UK regions that could face significant snowfall alongside persistent rainfall. Forecasters have issued a yellow weather warning, anticipating up to 10 centimetres of snow accumulation in elevated areas and further rain likely to cause travel disruption and possible flooding.
Detailed Forecast and Expected Impacts
According to the latest meteorological updates, a band of heavy rain will persist across eastern Scotland throughout Wednesday. This precipitation, combined with recent rainfall, is expected to lead to localised disruption and potential flooding impacts. Forecasters indicate that an additional 15 to 25 millimetres of rain may fall quite widely, with the possibility of 30 to 40 millimetres accumulating over higher ground.
As freezing levels lower from the north, snow is likely to fall above 300 to 400 metres, particularly across Aberdeenshire, Angus, and Perthshire. In these areas, accumulations of 5 to 10 centimetres of snow are possible by the end of Wednesday.
Specific Disruptions Outlined by the Met Office
The Met Office has detailed several potential impacts that residents and travellers should prepare for:
- Flooding of a few homes and businesses is possible.
- Bus and train services may be affected, with journey times expected to take longer.
- Spray and flooding on roads will likely extend travel durations.
- There is a chance of some interruption to power supplies and other essential services.
Warning Area Updates and Expert Commentary
The impact level for the initial warning has decreased slightly as forecast rainfall is now expected to be lower than previously anticipated. However, in a significant update, a separate warning area has been added across southwest Scotland, expanding the zone of concern.
BBC forecaster Sarah Keith Lucas provided clarification on the updated alerts, stating: "The Met Office has just updated the yellow rain warnings issued for Scotland over the next two days. A yellow rain warning is in place for parts of eastern Scotland until 23:59 GMT on Wednesday. Now, in an update, part of the west coast of Scotland has also been added to Wednesday’s warning in the east of the country. This will take effect from midnight on Tuesday, and is in place until 23:59 on Wednesday."
Full List of Affected Areas
The Met Office has specifically named the following twelve UK areas under the weather warnings for Wednesday:
- Angus
- Dundee
- Fife
- Perth and Kinross
- Stirling
- Aberdeen
- Aberdeenshire
- Argyll and Bute
- Inverclyde
- North Ayrshire
- Renfrewshire
- West Dunbartonshire
Residents in these regions are advised to stay updated with the latest forecasts, plan journeys carefully, and take necessary precautions against potential flooding and travel delays.
