An unexpected cold snap has led the Met Office to issue a yellow weather warning for snow across parts of the west of England. The alert covers an area extending from south of Bristol to north of Worcester, and from Hereford to Swindon.
The warning follows temperatures that stayed just above freezing overnight, causing surprise among many. Motorists shared videos on X of heavy snow impacting motorways in the region.
One user posted, “Was not expecting this. Heavy snow M5/M4 this morning. Be careful out there folks!”
Met Office warns of tricky driving conditions as snow blankets Wiltshire and surrounding areas.The Met Office issued the alert around 6 am on Saturday, warning that the brief snowfall could create “tricky driving conditions in some areas.”
The warning, effective until 10 am, predicted light snow accumulation of up to 3cm (1.2 inches) in certain locations. Drivers were advised to avoid traveling in severe snow and icy conditions unless necessary.
National Highways in the southwest also updated their information, showing snow covering two motorways via CCTV images. They reminded drivers to allow extra travel time due to the snowfall and noted that gritting would not prevent snow from settling on the roads.
In particular, parts of Wiltshire, including Chippenham, Melksham, Warminster, and Salisbury, experienced significant snowfall overnight. National Highways urged motorists to prepare for delays and to drive cautiously.