Britain is braced for a spell of sharp frosts, snow showers and widespread ice as forecasters warn that a burst of Arctic air will bring dangerous travel conditions to large parts of the country in the coming days. With overnight temperatures expected to plunge well below freezing and wintry showers turning roads and pavements treacherous, drivers and rail passengers are being urged to prepare for disruption and only travel if necessary where severe weather warnings are in force.
Fresh Met Office Warnings as Arctic Air Tightens Its Grip
The Met Office has issued a series of yellow weather warnings for snow and ice stretching across northern and eastern parts of the UK, with additional alerts in force for Northern Ireland and areas of southern Scotland and northern England. The latest guidance, updated on Monday 16 February 2026, highlights a cool pool of air sitting over the country that is set to generate frequent wintry showers and sharp overnight frosts capable of turning untreated surfaces into skating rinks.
Forecasters say central and northern Scotland will bear the brunt of the snow at first, with accumulations of 5 to 8 centimetres possible over higher ground and a couple of centimetres even at low levels where showers band together. Northeastern parts of Scotland are also expected to see gusty winds, with exposed coasts at risk of 50 to 60 mile per hour gusts, adding blowing snow and poor visibility to the list of hazards.
Ice warnings extend well beyond the Highlands. Much of eastern and northern England, parts of southern Scotland and counties across Northern Ireland have been placed under yellow alerts, reflecting the risk that wintry showers and meltwater from daytime thawing will refreeze overnight. Even where snowfall is limited, a hard frost on already saturated ground is likely to produce widespread patches of black ice on roads, cycle paths and pavements.
Risk of Travel Disruption Across Roads, Rail and Air
With the school half term coinciding with the cold snap in many regions, transport operators are warning that journeys could take significantly longer than usual and may be subject to late notice changes. The Met Office says road, rail and air travel could all be affected if heavier snow bands set up over key routes or if ice forms on untreated stretches, particularly in the early morning and late evening.
On the roads, even modest snowfalls can quickly cause problems when combined with sub-zero temperatures. National Highways, which looks after motorways and major A roads in England, is advising motorists to allow much more time for trips, to keep speed down and to expect conditions to vary dramatically over short distances. Steep gradients, bridges and exposed sections are likely to see ice first, while shaded stretches that receive little winter sunlight may remain slippery well into the day.
Rail operators are also preparing for potential disruption, with frozen points, icy platforms and drifting snow all capable of slowing or halting services. In recent years similar cold snaps have led to temporary speed restrictions on some lines and the suspension of more marginal rural services, particularly in northern England and the Scottish Highlands, when heavy snow has coincided with strong winds. Passengers are being encouraged to check for live updates before leaving home and to travel earlier in the day where possible.
Airports are not expecting the kind of heavy, prolonged snowfall that can shut runways for hours, but early morning flights may still be affected by the need to de-ice aircraft and clear aprons. Travellers with departures around dawn have been advised to allow extra time for their journey to the airport and to keep in close contact with their airline for any schedule changes if snow showers become more frequent overnight.
Regional Hotspots: Scotland, Northern Ireland and the North and East of England
Forecasters say the most severe combination of snow, ice and wind will be felt in northern Scotland, where a yellow warning for snow and ice is expected to remain in place for much of Monday night and into Tuesday. Higher routes in the Highlands, Grampians and parts of the northwest are at risk of significant accumulations, with drifting snow likely in stronger gusts. On some exposed stretches, visibility could fall sharply during heavier showers, creating whiteout conditions for short periods.
Further south, a separate band of ice warnings covers large parts of central and eastern Scotland, including major population centres where freezing conditions will follow earlier rain and sleet. Here, even small amounts of snow settling on top of compacted slush are expected to cause slippery surfaces on residential streets, car parks and untreated pavements, posing a particular risk to pedestrians and cyclists.
Across the Irish Sea, the Met Office has issued a dedicated ice warning for parts of Northern Ireland, including counties Antrim, Down, Derry and Tyrone, with the alert typically running through the late evening and into the next morning. Wintry showers feeding in off the Atlantic are likely to leave a patchwork of wet and slushy surfaces, which are then forecast to refreeze as skies clear and temperatures drop later in the night.
In England, the focus is on northern and eastern areas, where cold air moving over the North Sea is bringing a stream of showers inland. While accumulations away from hills are expected to be modest, the timing of the showers is crucial. Any bursts of sleet or snow during the overnight and pre-dawn hours could settle on untreated roads and create hazardous driving conditions for the morning commute, particularly on minor routes and in rural communities.
National Highways and Local Authorities Step Up Winter Operations
National Highways says its winter resilience plans are fully activated, with more than 500 gritting vehicles and hundreds of thousands of tonnes of salt available to treat key routes across England. The agency operates its winter service from October through early April each year, drawing on a network of over 250 weather stations to monitor road surface temperatures and anticipate where ice is most likely to form.
Gritters are being deployed ahead of the coldest conditions, with priority given to motorways and the most heavily used A roads. Where snow is expected, ploughs can be fitted to the front of vehicles and used in combination with salt spreading to help keep lanes open. The agency emphasises that salt does not prevent snow from settling altogether, but helps to break the bond between snow and the road surface, making it easier to plough away accumulations.
Local authorities are running parallel operations on smaller A and B roads and within towns and cities, using their own fleets to treat priority bus routes, steep hills and access roads to hospitals, schools and major employment sites. Pavement and cycleway treatment is also being stepped up in many urban centres, though councils warn that they cannot cover every street and that residents should take care on side roads and in car parks where gritting is less frequent.
Despite these efforts, officials stress that even gritted routes can remain slippery, especially immediately after treatment and where traffic volumes are low. Drivers are being urged not to assume that a visible coating of salt guarantees normal stopping distances and to adjust speed and following gaps accordingly.
Authorities Urge Drivers to Rethink Non-Essential Trips
Highway authorities and safety organisations across the UK are reiterating a simple message as the cold spell takes hold: if the forecast shows significant snow or widespread ice for your route, consider delaying your journey until conditions improve. Where travel is essential, motorists are advised to plan carefully, stick to main routes where possible and make sure their vehicle is properly prepared for winter weather.
Core advice includes slowing down, accelerating and braking gently, and allowing significantly greater distances to the vehicle in front. In icy conditions it can take up to ten times as long to stop as it would on a dry road, making sudden manoeuvres particularly dangerous. Drivers are also encouraged to use higher gears to reduce wheel spin when pulling away and to be especially cautious at junctions, where road markings and painted surfaces can become extremely slippery.
Officials in Northern Ireland, where separate regional guidance has been issued, are advising road users to clear all ice and snow from windows, mirrors, lights and roofs before setting off, to use at least dipped headlights in poor visibility and to be prepared for rapidly changing conditions over relatively short distances. Hills, bridges, and shaded sections are highlighted as places where ice tends to form first and linger longest.
Emergency planners note that while serious accidents during snow and ice events draw headlines, many of the injuries that occur in cold snaps happen at low speed or off the highway altogether. Slips and falls on untreated pavements, car parks and station platforms are a recurring concern, particularly for older people and those carrying luggage or small children.
Public Transport Networks Balancing Resilience and Safety
As conditions deteriorate, train operating companies and bus firms are working to balance the need to keep people moving with the imperative to operate safely. Light snow and frost are unlikely to halt services completely, but heavier showers combined with ice can quickly lead to speed restrictions, platform closures and revised timetables.
In previous winters, some operators have pre-emptively reduced services on vulnerable rural or high-level routes during the coldest spells, consolidating resources on busier, more accessible lines where track can be treated and inspected more readily. Similar contingency plans are in place this week, with additional staff rostered on for early shifts and extra de-icing equipment prepared at depots.
Bus services are particularly sensitive to local road conditions. Operators warn that even if main roads are passable, estates and residential streets may be too icy for safe operation, forcing diversions to stick to primary routes. Commuters are being urged to allow extra walking time to reach alternative stops and to wear appropriate footwear for icy pavements.
Ferry operators serving Scottish islands and some cross-channel routes are also monitoring the situation closely. While wind and sea state are typically more significant factors than snow itself, the combination of strong gusts, freezing spray and icy quaysides can complicate both loading and docking operations, leading to delays or short-notice cancellations.
Health and Safety Concerns Beyond the Transport Network
The cold snap brings a wider set of concerns beyond immediate transport disruption. Public health officials caution that prolonged periods of sub-zero temperatures can have serious consequences for older people, those with underlying health conditions and anyone struggling to heat their home adequately. Short, sharp journeys in freezing weather can also be risky for people with heart or respiratory problems.
Local councils and voluntary organisations are activating cold weather plans, which can include additional outreach to vulnerable residents, the provision of warm spaces and targeted support for those at highest risk. Members of the public are being asked to check on elderly neighbours and relatives, particularly if snow or ice makes it harder for them to venture out for food, medication or social contact.
Schools and childcare settings are monitoring forecasts closely. While authorities now generally encourage schools to remain open where possible, headteachers retain the discretion to close or to adjust opening hours if access roads and playgrounds become unsafe. Parents are advised to watch for updates from individual schools rather than relying solely on national forecasts.
Retailers, delivery companies and hospitality businesses are also bracing for the impact. While some high streets may see fewer shoppers during the coldest days, local convenience stores often experience a rush as people choose to stay closer to home. Home delivery services may need to adjust schedules or suspend operations in areas where side roads become too hazardous for larger vehicles.
Outlook for the Rest of the Week
Looking beyond the immediate 24 to 48 hour window, forecasters expect cold air to remain in place over much of the UK for several days, maintaining the risk of further snow and ice episodes. A developing area of low pressure approaching from the west and southwest later in the week introduces additional uncertainty, with competing scenarios for how far north heavier rain and potential snow will extend.
One of the more likely outcomes would see the deepest low tracking across northern France, bringing spells of heavy rain to southern England and south Wales, with snow possible mainly over higher ground in the south and strong winds brushing coastal areas. A more northerly track could draw a band of sleet and snow further inland and towards the Midlands, while a more southerly path would confine the worst of the conditions to the near continent.
For now, the message from meteorologists and transport planners is consistent. With the country emerging from an already unsettled and notably wet start to the year, the arrival of hard frosts, snow showers and widespread ice is likely to add a fresh layer of complexity to journeys. Anyone planning to travel in the affected areas over the coming days is advised to keep a close eye on updated forecasts, to monitor transport operator alerts and to be prepared to change plans at short notice if conditions deteriorate.