SNOW is expected to fall in parts of Dorset on Thursday, the Met Office has said. 

A yellow weather warning has been issued by the forecaster for the region from 5am to 3pm on November 21. 

The warning covers much of west Dorset from Bere Regis, Wool, Milton Abbas, Dorchester, Beaminster and Bridport. 

Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole, Swanage, Wareham and north Dorset are not covered in the weather warning. 

 

Snow warning by the Met OfficeSnow warning by the Met Office (Image: Met Office)

A spokesman from the Met Office said: “A spell of rain and snow is expected to develop across south west England early on Thursday.  

“Accumulating snow is most likely over higher ground above 200 metres where 2-5 cm is probable. 

“There is a chance that similar accumulations occur at lower levels in places. 

“Higher parts of Dartmoor could see 5-10 cm. There is likely to be a risk of ice developing as skies clear into Thursday night.” 

The forecaster added: “Snow over higher parts of south west England may lead to some travel delays, with a chance of snow to lower levels too.” 

Temperatures are set to drop to freezing from 5pm on Wednesday afternoon and below freezing into Thursday morning. 

The cold weather will then clear for the weekend, with temperatures on Saturday, November 23, rising to 15C. 

RAC spokesperson Rod Dennis, said: “We’ve seen, as you would probably expect, a really sharp rise in breakdowns – predominantly from a lot of people’s batteries failing in the cold, which is inevitable.”

He recommended properly de-icing vehicles and ensuring the entire windscreen is clear, rather than rushing out of the house “with a tiny little space” to see the road.

“Adopt a cautious driving style” in areas with risk of black ice and “be gentle on the accelerator, never be tempted step on the brake” as it could cause issues on slippery roads, he added.

Tuesday saw widespread disruption across the UK, with more than 200 school closures reported by the afternoon.

Snowfall was also widely reported, with 12cm of lying snow recorded at Watnall, Nottinghamshire, on Tuesday morning as an Arctic airmass influenced the UK’s weather.

The Met Office previously said the coldest temperature was recorded at Braemar village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, with the mercury falling to minus 11.2C on Tuesday.

Thousands of train passengers suffered disruption on Tuesday morning and a Stagecoach bus in Aberdeenshire toppled onto its side with a passenger on board in icy conditions.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued the first amber cold weather health alert of the season, warning conditions could be dangerous for vulnerable people, including the elderly.

The amber warning covers the east and north of England, the Midlands, and Yorkshire and the Humber, with yellow alerts coming into place for the south east, south west and London until 6pm on Saturday.

The Alzheimer’s Society warned cold weather can be “particularly challenging” for people with dementia.

“Colder temperatures can be difficult for a person with dementia to adjust to, and they may not always be able to communicate that they are cold – or they may not even recognise it themselves,” the charity said.

Another charity, Asthma + Lung UK, urged those with lung conditions to be “extra careful”.

The charity warned cold weather can trigger potentially life-threatening asthma attacks or “flare-ups” for people with other lung conditions.