Amber weather alert for snow issued amid cold snap

Five cars and vans parked on a residential street. Heavy snow has fallen and settled on their roofs and windscreens. There is a front garden fence in the foreground of the picture which is covered in snow. In the distance the sky is grey and foggy with low visibility. Image source, Jon Chilcott
Image caption,

Cars were buried under a thick blanket of snow in Wheddon Cross

  • Published

An amber weather warning for snow has been issued across areas of Somerset as temperatures remain low.

The Met Office alert, which covers areas including Taunton, Chard, Minehead, Dulverton and Wiveliscombe, will be in force until 21:00 GMT on Wednesday.

At locations above 150m (492ft) elevation, between 2-5cm of settled snow is possible, but over the higher ground of Exmoor up to 10cm could accumulate.

National Highways has warned drivers to take extra care on the roads. The wintry weather is likely to impact sections of the M5, A30, A38, A35 and the A303.

A map showing the South West of England. There is a large yellow shaded block covering most of the map, indicating a yellow warning for snow. A smaller irregular shaped orange block, covering areas of Somerset and Devon, indicates an amber warning for snow.Image source, Met Office
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The amber weather warning will be in place till 21:00 GMT

A horse walking across a snowy field while snowflakes drift down. The grass and trees in the distance are covered in snow and the ground is completely white.Image source, Weather Watcher/ DCV
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This horse was pictured frolicking in the snowflakes in Crowcombe

A large field in Somerset which has been covered in snow. In the foreground there is a bush without any leaves left on it. In the distance the sky and horizon is foggy and grey. There are two tyre tracks left in the snow from a tractor.
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Areas like Forton and Chard received a light covering of snow on Wednesday

A snowy scene taken in the dark. The ground is completely white with a blanket of snow and there are snowflakes drifting down in front of the camera flash.Image source, Weather Watcher/ AstroMike
Image caption,

Corsley Heath in Wiltshire was transformed into a wintery wonderland

A view out across a snowy field with a hedge in the foreground and large trees in the background. You can see snowflakes drifting down past the camera.Image source, Weather Watcher/ Roger
Image caption,

Frigid temperatures took hold of Chard in Somerset

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