Storm Bert brings snow and heavy rain to northern UK

Storm Bert is forecast to bring snow, rain, and strong winds across the UK this weekend, with northern England and Scotland expected to be hit hardest.

The Met Office has issued a series of warnings as the second named storm of the season is set to impact travel and raise concerns for flooding in certain areas.

“Storm Bert marks a shift to much milder air, and wintry hazards will gradually diminish through the weekend,” said Dan Holley, the Met Office's deputy chief meteorologist.

“However, heavy snowfall is expected across parts of northern England and Scotland for a time on Saturday, especially over higher ground.”

According to forecasters, heavy rain throughout Saturday and Sunday in southern and western parts of the UK is likely to bring added disruption.

Rainfall totals could reach 50-75mm within warning zones, with over 100mm possible in high areas of Wales and southwest England. The rapid melting of existing snow combined with heavy rain is expected to exacerbate potential flooding and travel disruptions.

Scotland is under an amber warning for heavy snow and ice, particularly between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday in areas north of the central belt, including Angus, Perth and Kinross, Stirlingshire, Aberdeenshire, the Highlands, and Argyll and Bute.

Up to 20cm of snow is expected above 200 metres, with up to 40cm on hills above 400 metres. Power cuts and travel delays are anticipated, with a high chance that some rural communities may be cut off.

Meanwhile, much of Scotland, northern England, and parts of western and eastern England and Wales are under a yellow warning for snow and ice.

This comes after heavy snowfall earlier in the week forced school closures across the Highlands and Aberdeenshire, with over 100 schools closed in Scotland on Wednesday. Inverness Royal Academy also rescheduled exams due to the weather.

Scottish police are urging residents to avoid road travel this Saturday with expected Storm Bert.

“All road users should consider if they really need to travel in adverse weather,” said Superintendent Vinnie Fisher, deputy head of Road Policing. He encouraged people to “listen to media broadcasts for updates, follow Transport Scotland and the Met Office on social media, and share information with others.”

Temperatures have dropped below freezing this week, with snow and ice already accumulating across the north of the country, leading to school closures and travel disruptions.

“Regardless of where you are travelling to and from, I think you are likely to see some disruptive weather in some way, shape, or form,” he said. He advised anyone planning a journey to consider if they can “retime, remodel or rethink” their travel plans.