Multiple yellow and Amber National Severe Weather Warnings

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The Met Office has issued multiple yellow and amber national severe weather warnings for snow and ice across large parts of the UK this week (Tuesday 18 November to Thursday 20 November 2025), as an Arctic air mass brings significantly colder conditions after a mild spell. The warnings highlight a range of potential disruptions, from travel delays to power cuts and a risk to life in the most affected areas.

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

The Current Situation: An Arctic Blast

The change in weather is marked by the arrival of cold, Arctic air from the north, leading to a "markedly colder" week with widespread frost and sub-zero temperatures expected. This is the first significant cold snap of the winter.

As of Tuesday, the Met Office has active warnings spanning from northern Scotland down to Wales and North and South West England. The primary hazards are widespread icy patches on untreated surfaces and accumulated snow, particularly on higher ground.

Breakdown of Active Warnings

The warnings currently in force for the week ahead (as of Tuesday, November 18, 2025) are predominantly yellow, with some amber alerts for specific regions:

Amber Warnings

An amber warning for snow is in effect for parts of the North East of England, with potential impacts including significant travel delays, power cuts, disruption to services like mobile phone coverage, and a chance of rural communities being temporarily cut off. The UKHSA has also issued an amber cold health alert for North West England, North East England, and Yorkshire and the Humber, indicating possible significant health and social care impacts.

Yellow Warnings

Yellow warnings for snow and ice cover large areas, including Scotland, Northern Ireland, North West England, Yorkshire and the Humber, Wales, and South West England. Expected impacts include probable icy patches on untreated surfaces with a risk of injuries from slips and falls, and disruptions to roads and railways leading to longer journey times. Wintry showers are anticipated, with snow accumulations in many areas and significantly more on higher ground.

These warnings are expected to remain until at least Thursday, with conditions potentially easing by Friday as milder weather arrives.

Understanding the Met Office Warning System

The Met Office uses a colour-coded system for its National Severe Weather Warning Service: Yellow, Amber, and Red. This system balances the likelihood of severe weather with its potential impact.

• Yellow: Possible for bad weather that could cause disruption; awareness and planning ahead are advised.

• Amber: Likely severe weather with increased chance of disruption, risk to life, and property damage; preparedness to change plans is needed.

• Red: Expected dangerous weather with a very likely risk to life and widespread disruption; immediate action to stay safe is recommended. (No red warnings have been issued for this week so far).

The warnings include specific advice on what to expect and what to do, such as allowing extra travel time, checking road conditions, preparing a car winter kit, and checking on vulnerable neighbours.

Outlook and Recommendations

The public should stay updated with the latest forecasts due to the potential for warnings to change quickly. The cold weather is predicted to continue for a few more days before a transition to a milder, more unsettled pattern towards the weekend.

For the most current warnings and local advice, visit the official Met Office UK weather warnings page. General cold and icy weather safety tips are available on the Met Office WeatherReady website.