Surrey prepares for snow as weather warning issued

A yellow weather alert for snow and ice begins at 12:00 GMT on 4 January and lasts until 23:59 on 5 January

Surrey County Council has been gritting roads in preparation for possible snowfall after the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for snow and ice over the weekend.

The alert begins at 12:00 GMT on 4 January and lasts until 23:59 on 5 January.

The Met Office said there was a chance of travel delays on roads with some stranded vehicles and passengers, along with delayed or cancelled trains and planes.

Overnight temperatures on Friday are expected to reach lows of -4C, according to the Met Office.

Surrey County Council said it had stockpiled 10,000 tonnes of grit in preparation for winter and that its gritters were out on the evening of 2 January gritting "priority one routes across Surrey".

The council also recommended that residents, particularly those over the age of 65, should make sure they are stocked up with food and medicine to minimise the need to leave home during the cold weather.

Meanwhile, rail operators Thameslink and Southern warned passengers to take care when moving around stations.

They added: "Platforms and car parks have been gritted but may still be slippery.

"Surface ice is not always visible, so please take extra care when it is cold to avoid an injury."

A number of councils across the county have activated their Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP).

SWEP aims to ensure that temporary accommodation can be provided for rough sleepers during a cold snap.

The Met Office added that there was a small chance of power cuts, injuries from slips and falls on icy surface, and rural communities possibly becoming cut off.

'Icy grip of arctic air'

BBC Weather's Nina Ridge said: "The new year has ushered in a stark contrast to the mild and cloudy days of December, as south-east England has been plunged into the icy grip of arctic air. This shift has brought sunny skies and a significant drop in temperatures. Friday morning saw some of the lowest temperatures this winter, with South Farnborough recording -4.3°C, East Malling -4.1°C, and Shoreham -4°C.

"Saturday morning promises to be equally chilly, with a widespread frost and the possibility of freezing fog patches. As the day progresses a developing low-pressure system to the south-west of the UK will start to make inroads into the cold air over south-east England. The result? A short-lived spell of potentially disruptive wintry weather on Saturday night.

"The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for snow and ice covering Surrey, as well as inland parts of Kent and Sussex. While details remain uncertain, especially at lower levels, this weather system is forecast to bring a brief period of snow before milder air takes hold. So any snow in the south-east is expected to be a transient feature before turning back to rain during the early hours of Sunday morning.

"By Sunday, the cold arctic air will have been replaced by wet and windy weather with temperatures of 12C. However, this milder weather will only be a brief reprieve, as the longer range forecast currently predicts the return of colder air and potential for snow later next week."