Somerset has been hit with a rare amber weather warning for sleet and snow, with immediate effect this afternoon. A yellow Met Office warning has already been in place since 9am today across large areas of the South West, valid until 11.59pm tonight, a more severe alert was triggered at 2.27pm impacting parts of mid-Devon, Somerset, and Cornwall until 9pm.
The Met Office warns: “Sleet and snow is expected to continue this afternoon and evening with accumulations of 2-5cm on high ground above 150m, and up to 10cm above about 250m, leading to some travel disruption. The sleet and snow will ease from the west during the first part of Wednesday night.”
Exmoor is included in the warning, which also covers Wellington and Taunton. Dartmoor is also set for a lot of snow, including Chudleigh, Cullompton, and Honiton in Devon – though not Exeter. To the north, Lynton is included but not Ilfracombe, as well as Launceston in Cornwall.
For further snowy weather updates this afternoon, keep an eye on our live blog on the website.
The Met Office warns locals can expect:
- Travel delays on roads are likely, stranding some vehicles and passengers
- Power cuts are likely and other services, such as mobile phone coverage, may be affected
- There is a chance that some rural communities could become cut off
- Some delays and cancellations to rail and air travel are likely
Travel delays on roads are likely, potentially stranding some vehicles and passengers. Power cuts are probable and other services, such as mobile phone coverage, may be affected. There’s a possibility that some rural communities could become isolated. Delays and cancellations to rail and air travel are expected.
Meanwhile, the yellow weather warning remains in effect with forecasters cautioning of extended journey times, reduced visibility and treacherous driving conditions. The Exeter-based forecaster warns: “Outbreaks of sleet and snow are likely to push in from the southwest during Wednesday, affecting some places especially during the afternoon and evening.”
“Many places will probably see relatively little or no snow settling, (especially on tarmac), but there could be 1-2 cm locally. Upland areas could see more, perhaps 5-10 cm on Dartmoor and Exmoor. As precipitation clears eastwards and skies clear during Wednesday night, ice is likely to form on untreated surfaces.”