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Icy roads warning for motorists Icy roads warning for motorists
(about 11 hours later)
Motorists have been warned to take care on the roads as the first icy snap of the winter hits the UK.Motorists have been warned to take care on the roads as the first icy snap of the winter hits the UK.
The unseasonably mild weather is expected to come to an end with severe weather warnings issued for Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland.The unseasonably mild weather is expected to come to an end with severe weather warnings issued for Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland.
The Highways Agency has warned drivers to beware of icy patches on the roads. Snow is expected on higher ground.The Highways Agency has warned drivers to beware of icy patches on the roads. Snow is expected on higher ground.
The winter snap follows one of the UK's worst day of storms in 17 years on Thursday which killed 11 people.The winter snap follows one of the UK's worst day of storms in 17 years on Thursday which killed 11 people.
Drivers should check road conditions before they set out and if they have to travel then to be prepared with a winter emergency kit Highways AgencyDrivers should check road conditions before they set out and if they have to travel then to be prepared with a winter emergency kit Highways Agency
The BBC Weather Centre said the blustery weather had died down overnight with temperatures dropping and showers falling on freezing surfaces leaving icy stretches - particularly in Scotland and the north of England.
Winter showers are also expected across the UK with the cold snap expected to stay around for much of next week.Winter showers are also expected across the UK with the cold snap expected to stay around for much of next week.
The Highways Agency said that, while it had been gritting motorways and A roads, drivers should take care in the icy conditions, particularly in the north.The Highways Agency said that, while it had been gritting motorways and A roads, drivers should take care in the icy conditions, particularly in the north.
"The Highways Agency will be treating motorways and major A roads in advance of any bad weather and will continue to do so through the cold spell," a spokesman said."The Highways Agency will be treating motorways and major A roads in advance of any bad weather and will continue to do so through the cold spell," a spokesman said.
"Drivers should check road conditions before they set out and if they have to travel then to be prepared with a winter emergency kit.""Drivers should check road conditions before they set out and if they have to travel then to be prepared with a winter emergency kit."
Scottish snowfall BBC weather forecaster Dan Corbett said temperatures had already begun to fall on Sunday evening and people in parts of the UK would be "waking up to treacherous conditions" on the roads.
BBC weather presenter Tom Schafernaker said snow was likely in hilly areas such as Snowdonia and the Pennines on Sunday. He said snowfall was most likely in Northern Ireland and Scotland as well as northern parts of England. Higher areas, including the Chilterns and Pennines, could see snow.
Snow was also possible late on Monday night and early Tuesday morning on the eastern English coast as well as in Kent and London. "There will be icy stretches in areas primarily in northern parts of the UK but there could be spots further south too - which could be on the tricky side," he said.
Despite the cold snap, January's temperatures had so far been more like those of March or April, he added. Mr Corbett added temperatures for Monday morning will be "right about freezing for many of us", with wintry conditions set to continue for a few days with the risk of snow and ice.
Some parts of Scotland saw snowfall on Thursday with dozens of schools closed and motorists facing long delays. Meanwhile, power is understood to have been restored to thousands of homes in Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex and Oxfordshire which were left without electricity after Thursday's storms.
Insurers say the bill for Thursday's storms, involving gusts of up to 99mph, could reach hundreds of millions of pounds. Of 150,000 left without electricity at one stage, only some 200 are still cut off, supplier Southern Electric said.
Many homeowners will be able to claim on household buildings and contents insurance to cover repairs to property - although fences and gates are not usually covered.