Cold snap brings heavy snowfall

Press Association, 13.03.2011

Much of Northern Ireland has been blanketed by snow as a band of Arctic weather began making its way across the UK, bringing heavy snowfall and difficult driving conditions in some parts. Northerly parts of Northern Ireland were expected to see falls of between 1-2ins (2-5cm) on Saturday, with up to 4ins (10cm) on higher ground. Andy Ratcliffe, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: "Overnight saw a band of rain, sleet and snow over Northern Ireland and Scotland and this has continued to spread northwards. "The risk of snow will become confined to northern parts of Scotland later, elsewhere it will turn to rain. "The north west will be affected in particular, where winds will also strengthen through tomorrow and we will see blizzard conditions." England and Wales are expected to escape the wintry conditions, with mild temperatures of around 13C expected in London. Strong winds battered many northern parts of England on Thursday, leaving two dead in West Yorkshire after two lorries toppled over in the gusts.

Scotland braced for heavy snowfall

Press Association, 12.03.2011

Heavy snow is set to continue to affect large parts of Scotland over the weekend as winter returns with a vengeance. The Arctic conditions are predicted to engulf the region over the course of Saturday and Sunday, with falls as high as 10ins (25cm) expected to cause disruption on the roads. Temperatures dropped to around freezing overnight with sleet and light snow falling in southern Scotland and parts of Northern Ireland. Conditions are expecting to worsen, however, with a band of heavy snow moving northwards towards the central band of Scotland and the Highlands in the coming 24 hours. Matt Dobson, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: "It is not unusual to have snow in March but we are expecting some really high accumulations on higher ground. It is possible it could cause disruption on the roads and transport network where it lies on the ground."

Low lying areas in central Scotland, including Glasgow and Edinburgh, and northerly parts of Northern Ireland are expected to see falls of between 1-2ins (2-5cm), with up to 4ins (10cm) on higher ground. However, forecasters say more northerly parts of the country should brace themselves for between 4-6ins (10-15cm) of snow, with 6-10ins (15-25cm) potentially falling in the Highlands. England and Wales are expected to escape the wintry conditions, with mild temperatures of around 13C expected in London. "While southern England and Wales will be experiencing mild temperatures over the weekend, northern Scotland will get another taste of winter with large accumulations expected in the Highlands," added Mr Dobson. "The heavy snow is going to continue throughout northern Scotland on Sunday."