Rare freezing rain could hit parts of northern England along with snow and sleet this weekend, forecasters say.
A yellow snow and ice warning will be in place across the North East, Cumbria and Yorkshire between 6am and 2pm on Saturday, the Met Office said.
Up to two inches of snow could fall over higher ground and freezing rain is possible, with people told to expect some travel disruption.
Freezing rain is a rare occurrence in the UK. It happens when rain droplets that are supercooled freeze upon contact with cold surfaces, creating a layer of ice. This information comes from the Met Office.
The ice formed by freezing rain can be dangerous. It can become heavy enough to bring down trees or power cables. Additionally, it can turn roads and pathways into slippery ice rinks.
It can also be hazardous for aircraft, given thick layers of ice can be difficult to clear from planes on the ground.
The process that leads to freezing rain starts with precipitation falling from a cloud as snow. If the snow encounters warmer air before reaching the ground, it melts and becomes rain.
Then, if this falls through cold air again, the droplets can become ‘supercooled’ – meaning they are still in liquid form, despite their temperature being below zero.
When this ‘supercooled’ droplet hits the ground – which is also sub-zero – it spreads out slightly on landing and then freezes instantly, covering the surface in clear ice.
There is also the chance of snow over higher ground in Scotland and some heavy rain over parts of southern Wales and south-west England, the forecaster said.
Met Office meteorologist Matthew Lehnert said: ‘Through Saturday the rain will move further east and as it does it’ll bump into the colder air, meaning some snow is likely, mainly for parts of northern England, covered by the snow and ice warning.
‘Two to five centimetres is possible over the Cheviots and North Yorks Moors, and it’s possible we could see some localised accumulations to lower levels.
‘Some freezing rain could affect higher parts of the Pennines for a time too, leading to icy conditions.
‘Some snow is possible outside the warning area, although amounts are likely to be small.’
Earlier today, meteorologists revealed that at least six cities across the country including London and Birmingham have seen absolutely no sunshine for a whole week.
Other locations including Leeds, Derby, Norwich and Brighton have also all had zero hours of sunshine between last Friday and yesterday, according to BBC Weather.
An example of freezing rain bringing down power lines in Vladivostok in Russia in 2020
A yellow snow and ice warning will be in place across the North East, Cumbria and Yorkshire between 6am and 2pm on Saturday
An F-4E fighter plane is seen during a snow and freezing rain test in South Korea in 2008
Freezing rain is unusual in Britain because of the very specific conditions required for it to form
Walkers enjoy the snow at Ditchling Beacon in East Sussex earlier this year
But those living in north-western Scotland have seen the opposite, with Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides receiving an astonishing 40 hours of sunshine in the same period.
In London, data from the Met Office’s observation site at Heathrow Airport confirmed that yesterday was the seventh consecutive day when zero sunshine was recorded.
Amateur forecasters have suggested that the last time such a sunless streak happened in the capital in February was nearly half a century ago in 1979.
According to the @TheSnowDreamer ‘London & Southeast’ X account, other notable periods without sunshine in London include 13 days in 1959 and eight days in 1972.
Seven days were recorded in 1966 and 1979, as well as the period over the last week.
But, after a week-long wait, sunshine finally appeared in London this morning despite a chilly start with temperatures of just 3C (37F) at sunrise today amid 18mph gusts.
The UK’s coldest place overnight was Aviemore in the Highlands at -9.2C (15.4F), while English counties including Cumbria, Staffordshire and West Yorkshire all fell below zero early today.
