Amber snow warning issued for Cumbria

The Met Office issued an amber warning for snow covering much of Cumbria on Saturday 2 December 2023, in place from the afternoon until midnight that night¹. The forecaster said snow showers were continuing to move in from the Irish Sea, with 10 to 15 cm of snow possible before the showers began to ease overnight¹.

The warning was announced in a Met Office post at 14:54 UTC on 2 December¹. The forecaster's Chief Meteorologist, Jason Kelly, said snow could be heavy at times across Cumbria with the odd rumble of thunder¹. Amber and yellow warnings for snow and ice were in place over the weekend as cold air from the north brought freezing temperatures, widespread frosts, patchy freezing fog and snow at times, and the Met Office said warnings may well be updated over the coming days¹.

The Met Office said a low pressure system would bring less cold but more unsettled weather for southern parts of the UK from that night onwards, while northern areas would continue cold with wintry showers and sharp overnight frosts¹. Many areas of England and Wales could then expect spells of rain for the start of the following week, which could be heavy at times with a risk of flooding, and some higher hills across parts of north Wales and northern England could see further snow¹. The UK Health Security Agency issued yellow and amber cold-health alerts for the health sector covering all regions of England through until 5 December¹. The Met Office also noted that snowfall in late autumn or early winter does not generally linger because ground temperatures broadly remain relatively high, especially compared with late winter after the ground loses more of its warmth¹.

Why it matters for households

Households in Cumbria faced disruption from snow during the evening of 2 December, with 10 to 15 cm possible before showers eased overnight¹. The Met Office advises people to keep up to date with the forecast for their area, as warnings may be updated over the coming days¹. For travel, National Highways National Network Manager Dale Hipkiss said keeping a kit of essential items such as a torch and warm clothes in a vehicle can be vital in case drivers and passengers become stranded, and advised planning journeys in advance, checking forecasts, adjusting driving behaviour and taking extra care where conditions are challenging¹. He also said it is a good idea for people to check their vehicle's tyres, coolant and oil levels before heading out to reduce the risk of a breakdown, and that anyone who finds themselves in an unsafe or vulnerable situation and needs assistance should contact the emergency services¹.

The British Veterinary Association's Senior Vice President, Justine Shotton, said extreme cold weather calls for extra precautions for pets, that leaving a dog outside a shop in this weather can cause problems, that cats should not be left outside all night, and that rabbits and guinea pigs are vulnerable to hypothermia despite their warm coats, so hutches should be protected from snow, cold draughts and winter rain¹. She said pet owners with any concerns should speak to their local vet¹.

The Met Office explains the difference between warning levels in its guide to Met Office weather warnings: yellow, amber and red explained, and households can read how to receive alerts in how to sign up for Met Office weather alerts. Further coverage of winter weather is in the storms and snow hub.

What happens next

The amber warning runs until midnight on 2 December, after which showers were expected to ease overnight¹. Less cold but more unsettled weather was forecast for southern parts of the UK from that night, with rain possibly heavy at times and a risk of flooding at the start of the following week, while northern areas were expected to stay cold with wintry showers and sharp overnight frosts¹. The UKHSA cold-health alerts cover all regions of England until 5 December¹. The Met Office said warnings may well be updated over the coming days¹.