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Storm Bert to hit UK with heavy rain, wind and snow Storm Bert brings weather warnings and travel disruption
(about 1 hour later)
BBC Weather's Darren Bett explains how Storm Bert will hit the UKBBC Weather's Darren Bett explains how Storm Bert will hit the UK
Storm Bert will bring high winds, potential flooding and some snow as it hits the UK on Saturday. Storm Bert has begun to make an impact with snow closing roads, while strong rains and winds are expected to cause further travel disruption and potential flooding.
Disruption is expected over the weekend, with gusts of 40-60mph (65-96km/h) forecast in parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland, north Wales and northern England. Weather warnings and 16 flood alerts came into effect across the UK on Saturday morning after the Met Office warned of a "multi-hazard weather event".
An amber warning for snow and ice has been issued for central Scotland, while numerous yellow warnings for rain and wind are in place for Saturday and Sunday. Rail companies urged passengers to avoid travelling to certain areas while National Highways issued a "severe weather alert" for snow affecting Yorkshire and north-east England.
The Environment Agency says heavy rain could lead to areas of localised flooding in northern England. Storm Bert follows a cold snap earlier this week which caused some schools to close in several parts of the UK.
The turbulent forecast comes after an early cold snap brought snow and ice to many parts of the UK this week. Yellow wind, rain and snow warnings cover much of the UK on Saturday and into Sunday.
Met Office spokesman Oli Claydon said: "Because of the different nature of the weather across the UK, people really need to have an idea of what the forecast is for them specifically.
"Further south it's wind and rain, further north it's snow then rain and wind. So it really depends on where you are in the UK."
In Yorkshire, the A628 remained closed overnight in both directions between the Hollingworth and Flouch due to snow, National Highways said.
The A66 Trans-Pennine route was also closed between the A6 and the M6 (J40).
An amber alert for heavy snow and ice will be in force between 07:00 GMT and 17:00 on Saturday in areas across Scotland, where potentiall 20-40cm could fall on higher ground.
Weather warning covers parts of Angus, Perth and Kinross, Stirlingshire, Aberdeenshire and some of the Highlands, Argyll and Bute, the Borders, Dumfries and Galloway, East Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire.
Ferry operator CalMac - which serves the west coast of Scotland - has cancelled several services on Saturday with disruption expected on many other services.
P&O Ferries said it had cancelled the 04:00 ferry between Larne in Northern Ireland and Cairnryan in Scotland's south west on Saturday.
A second amber warning will be in place between 07:00 and 12:00 on Saturday, covering parts of Yorkshire and the north-east of England.
Over the weekend, Wales and south-west England are at risk of seeing 75mm of rain widely, and potentially more than 100mm over the higher parts of south Wales and Dartmoor.
Strong winds are expected on the south coast of England, with gusts of more than 70mph in places.
Rain and snow warnings cover northern England from 04:00 to 09:00 and Northern Ireland until 11:00 on Saturday.
A wind warning also covers coastal areas of southern England from 15:00 until 21:00 on Saturday.
Rail companies issued announcements of service changes ahead of the weekend.
In Scotland, there will be speed restrictions on several lines covering the Highlands, the far north and west coast lines including the Glasgow South Western Line.
ScotRail has withdrawn services from Inverness to Elgin, Aberdeen to Inverurie, and Glasgow Queen Street to Oban while trains from Glasgow Central to Carlisle will terminate at Dumfries.
South Western Rail (SWR) asked passengers to only travel west of Basingstoke if their journeys are essential.
TransPennine Express "strongly" urged customers not to travel north of Carlisle on Saturday while Avanti West Coast advised passengers not to travel north of Preston - including Lancaster, Oxenholme, Penrith, Carlisle, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
UK airports are not anticipating disruption.
Parts of England and Wales will snap out of the cold on Saturday, with elsewhere warming up on Sunday
The Met Office has issued a number of weather warning for Saturday and Sunday:The Met Office has issued a number of weather warning for Saturday and Sunday:
An amber warning for snow and ice for parts of of the Highlands, Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross and Angus from 07:00 until 17:00 on SaturdayAn amber warning for snow and ice for parts of of the Highlands, Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross and Angus from 07:00 until 17:00 on Saturday
An amber warning for snow for parts of north-east and north-west England, and parts of the Scottish borders and south-west Scotland, from 07:00 until 12:00 on SaturdayAn amber warning for snow for parts of north-east and north-west England, and parts of the Scottish borders and south-west Scotland, from 07:00 until 12:00 on Saturday
A yellow warning for rain and snow covering Northern Ireland from midnight until 11:00 on SaturdayA yellow warning for rain and snow covering Northern Ireland from midnight until 11:00 on Saturday
A yellow warning for rain for all of Wales from 06:00 on Saturday until 06:00 on SundayA yellow warning for rain for all of Wales from 06:00 on Saturday until 06:00 on Sunday
A yellow warning of rain for the south-west of England and parts of the Midlands from 06:00 on Saturday until 23:45 on SundayA yellow warning of rain for the south-west of England and parts of the Midlands from 06:00 on Saturday until 23:45 on Sunday
A yellow warning for rain and snow for most of northern England and Scotland from 04:00 on Saturday until 09:00 on SundayA yellow warning for rain and snow for most of northern England and Scotland from 04:00 on Saturday until 09:00 on Sunday
A yellow warning for wind for much of the western coast of Scotland and north-west England, as well as north Wales and northern Ireland from 05:00 to 19:00 GMT on SaturdayA yellow warning for wind for much of the western coast of Scotland and north-west England, as well as north Wales and northern Ireland from 05:00 to 19:00 GMT on Saturday
A yellow warning for wind for the eastern coast of Scotland and north-east England from 05:00 to 19:00 GMT on SaturdayA yellow warning for wind for the eastern coast of Scotland and north-east England from 05:00 to 19:00 GMT on Saturday
A yellow warning for wind for the south-west of England and south coast from 15:00 on Saturday until 21:00 on SundayA yellow warning for wind for the south-west of England and south coast from 15:00 on Saturday until 21:00 on Sunday
The Irish weather service Met Eireann has issued a rare red warning for rain covering Cork and Galway on Saturday, warning of severe flooding and damage to homes and businesses. An amber cold health alert is also in place for much of England until 18:00 on Saturday.
Strengthening winds will be felt by all - but some of the strongest gusts, of up to 70mph (113km/h), will be around the Irish Sea and southern England coasts.
High winds will continue at times well into Sunday and Monday as Bert makes slow progress eastward across the UK.
Strong winds have the potential to cause damage and disruption to the transport network and buildings, with power cuts also possible.
Network Rail is already advising passengers to check journeys before they travel this weekend.
Avanti West Coast is advising customers not to travel north of Preston because of expected disruption.
Storm Bert to hit UK as new weather warnings issued for weekend
Across south-west England and Wales, the Met Office expects between 50-75mm (2-3in) of rain could fall widely.
The heaviest and most persistent rain will fall in south Wales and south-west England, where there could be as much as 150mm (6in) - which would be the whole of November's average rainfall in just a day.
As rain spreads across the country, there will temporarily be a bit of snow on the hills of Northern Ireland and Wales.
Bert is also expected to bring heavy snow and blizzards to higher ground in northern England and Scotland, making any travel very difficult.
The Met Office is forecasting as much as 20-40cm off snow on higher ground in an area north of Scotland's central belt, where an amber alert for heavy snow and ice will be in force between 07:00 and 17:00 on Saturday.
Police are urging people not to travel on Scotland's roads on Saturday as the country braces itself for more heavy snowfall.
Met Office spokesman Oli Claydon said Storm Bert was a "multi-hazard event" for the UK.
He added: "Because of the different nature of the weather across the UK, people really need to have an idea of what the forecast is for them specifically.
"Further south it's wind and rain, further north it's snow then rain and wind. So it really depends on where you are in the UK."
An amber cold health alert is in place for much of England until 18:00 on Saturday.
It means there is an increased health risk to vulnerable people, and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has urged people to check on those who may be at risk.It means there is an increased health risk to vulnerable people, and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has urged people to check on those who may be at risk.
Some people may be eligible for cold weather payments - a government benefit top-up to help with fuel bills during times of exceptionally cold weather.Some people may be eligible for cold weather payments - a government benefit top-up to help with fuel bills during times of exceptionally cold weather.
Parts of England and Wales will snap out of the cold on Saturday, with elsewhere warming up on Sunday
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How have you been affected by the snow and ice?How have you been affected by the snow and ice?