UK weather: warning of wintry showers and ice from Sunday evening

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Wintry showers are expected to create icy conditions across all four nations of the UK from Sunday evening, forecasters have warned.

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for ice covering Northern Ireland, southern Scotland, northern England, northern Wales and the Midlands, while hundreds of flood warnings are in place across the UK.

The alert, which warns that “wintry showers” would lead to “difficult driving conditions” due to slippery surfaces, is in place from 6pm on Sunday until 10am on Monday.

The Met Office has also issued a lengthy yellow warning for snow and ice across northern Scotland from 2pm on Sunday through to 10am on Wednesday.

It said: “A few centimetres of snow are likely at low levels over a given 24-hour period, with the potential for 10cm-15cm above 200 metres, especially across parts of the Highlands. Ice will be an additional hazard.”

Residents are urged to take care as there may be icy patches on untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths, and some roads and railways are likely to be affected, with longer journey times.

The forecaster said: “By Sunday most of the UK will be in the northerly airflow, with lower temperatures spreading further south overnight.

“Showers will fall increasingly as sleet and snow in the north, even to lower levels. Some showers further south and west, and perhaps a more persistent spell of rain overnight into Monday, could also turn to sleet and snow, mainly over high ground such as the Brecon Beacons, Exmoor and Dartmoor.

“Overnight frost will become more widespread by Monday night, with overnight temperatures below 0C across much of the UK. Temperatures could get down to -10C in sheltered glens, or across high ground areas of Scotland where there is lying snow.”

More than 100 flood warnings were in place across the UK.

Earlier, flood defences, including boarding, were deployed in York city centre. City of York council said it had taken the measure to keep the area “safe and open” as it urged visitors to plan their journeys in advance.

Rescue workers were seen using a boat to navigate floodwater in the centre of York after the River Ouse burst its banks.

The Environment Agency had issued 98 flood warnings and 180 flood alerts in England as of Sunday morning.

Meanwhile, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has issued three flood warnings for areas of the Scottish Borders, Tayside and Ayrshire and Arran, along with two milder alerts for West Central Scotland.