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Severe weather warning has Britain braced for another wintry blast
Last updated at 16:37pm on 06.02.07
Britain could see its heaviest snowfall for seven years this week
Forecasters have issued an early severe weather warning as Britain prepares to plunge into wintry mode with heavy snowfalls predicted across country.
Find the latest weather forecast here
Up to 15cm of snow - around six inches - could fall in South and Mid Wales tomorrow night and Thursday morning with up to five centimetres - around two inches - predicted for London and southern England on Thursday.
More here:
• One inch of snow causes chaos - and there's five more on the way
This could plunge transport networks around the country into more chaos after roads and rail ground to a halt when 2.5cm fell two weeks ago.
Southern England could see snowfalls of up to 10cm, or nearly four inches, in areas of high ground.
Paul Knightley, forecaster for MeteoGroup UK, the weather division of the Press Association, said cold air from the north mixing with an "active" mild weather system from the Atlantic would bring the snowfalls.
There have already been small snowfalls in the South West and overnight tonight parts of eastern England will see some snow showers.
"On Wednesday night and Thursday morning a much more active weather system comes in from the South West," he said.
"Overnight Wednesday and Thursday morning are going to see quite a significant band of sleet and snow into south west England and South Wales and eventually by morning across much of Wales into the Midlands and into the London area and southern England as well as the South East," he said.
"The snow will be potentially disruptive in London because it is predicted for rush hour and is going to cause some significant disruption, I think.
"It will probably be some of the heaviest snow in the last couple of years in the London area." The Met Office issued an early warning of severe weather.
A statement said: "The Met Office is expecting a period of heavy snow to develop across south west England and much of Wales during Wednesday night and this is expected to extend across the Midlands, London, the South East of England and East Anglia during Thursday morning.
"There is also a risk that the snow will extend into parts of northern England for a time before dying away from all areas during Thursday afternoon."
The statement added that the snow would cause "disruption to travel networks".
Ladbrokes said they were offering 6/1 odds that snow would fall on Valentine's Day in London. Spokesman Nick Weinberg said: "Snow would add a picturesque dimension to the day, but we can't afford to be sentimental. "If it does fall it'll be us left out in the cold."
