Dated: 07/12/2021 STORM BARRA ARRIVES NORTHUMBERLAND Storm Barra arrives on the Northumberland County Durham border today (Tuesday) bringing wind and snowfall to the region See weather Storm Barra
Driving conditions will be treacherous in the worst affected areas (Picture: North News)

The Met Office has issued a snow warning for parts of the UK as temperatures look set to plunge after days of unseasonably mild conditions.

A record-breaking 16.3C was measured on New Year’s Day, but swathes of England and Wales were soon battered by thunderstorms and 50mph winds.

Forecaster Simon Partridge warned this turn for the worse will continue during the first week of 2022.

Daytime temperatures are expected to plunge to 4-6C in Scotland by Tuesday, while the southern half of the UK will be 8-9C. However, the strength of the wind will make it feel cooler.

Northern parts of Scotland are under a yellow alert for gale force winds and severe snow showers from midnight tonight until 6am on Wednesday.

Mr Partridge said: ‘The combination of gales and snow showers is why there is a warning out for that part of the world.

‘Driving conditions will be really dangerous because you are not going to see a great deal if you have got gales and snow.’

Dated: 07/12/2021 STORM BARRA ARRIVES NORTHUMBERLAND Storm Barra arrives on the Northumberland County Durham border today (Tuesday) bringing wind and snowfall to the region See weather Storm Barra
Gritters will be needed across the northernmost parts of the UK (Picture: North News)
Riders take their bikes through the snow near Castleside, County Durham. Parts of England from the East Midlands to the North-East have joined Scotland in preparing for blizzard-like conditions on Boxing Day as the white Christmas continues. Picture date: Sunday December 26, 2021. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire
Snow is forecast to make a return this week (Picture: PA)

Bus, ferry and train services could be affected, with trips taking longer or even being cancelled.

The Met Office warning states: ‘Frequent snow showers and gusts to severe gale force are expected on Tuesday, leading to travel disruption, particularly for higher routes.’

Angus, Grampian, Highlands and Eilean Siar, plus Orkney and Shetland are among the areas that could be affected.

Forecast summary UK 5 days UK 6-30 days UK forecast for the next 5 days Becoming much colder from the north. Today: Rain and hill snow edging south across northern UK. Frequent blustery and wintry showers following across northern Scotland. Showers and bright or sunny intervals further south, mostly dry in the east. Windy with gales in the north. Tonight: Rain and mostly hill snow continuing south. Mostly dry in southeast. Blustery, wintry showers continuing in north with coastal gales. Much colder in north. Windy later in southwest. Tuesday: Rain slowly clearing to the southeast. Otherwise sunny spells and showers, central, north England and southern Scotland mostly fine and dry. Windy, particularly in north with coastal gales. Cold. Outlook for Wednesday to Friday: Blustery wintry showers early in the far northeast. Elsewhere, fine after a widespread frost. Rain, with hill snow in the north, Thursday, clearing to wintry showers later and into Friday. Updated at: 0212 on Mon 3 Jan 2022
The worst weather over the next few days will be concentrated in northern Scotland (Picture: Met Office)

Areas above 200 metres could be among the worst affected, with the snowfall possibly reaching 10-15cm in places.

The weather warning adds: ‘In combination with winds gusting 50 to 60mph, perhaps 70mph on exposed summits, temporary blizzard conditions and some drifting of snow on higher-level routes is likely.

‘Gusts of around 70mph on exposed coasts will generate some large waves and dangerous coastal conditions in a few places.’

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