GOING SNOWHERE!

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® WEATHER experts are warning of up to a foot of snow and freezing winds in the coming days.

It will be the beginning of a month-long barrage of snow, wind and rain and could cause travel chaos, power cuts and flooding.

Police are advising people to travel only if absolutely necessary in areas covered by amber snow and ice warnings.

Supt Louise Blakelock, of Police Scotland, said: “I would like to make it clear that there is a high risk of disruption for road journeys and with that comes a high likelihood of the conditions being very poor. Therefore I would ask people whether their journey is really necessary?”

The north-west in particular will be battered by gales, rain and snow. Officers said there was a “high risk” of disruption and delays, especially in Scotland.

Grahame Madge from the Met Office said: “It will be another very cold night on Friday and into Saturday and this will bring further frosts and the risk of icy stretches.

“We could see more settling snow in Scotland.” The heavy rain and melting snow could then combine to cause flooding, experts warned.

The Met Office’s Andy Page added: “Travel delays on roads are likely, as are public transport cancellations. In some places vehicles may become stranded.

“There is a chance of power cuts, while services such as mobile phone coverage may be affected. Some rural communities may be cut off.”

The south is set to escape the Arctic blast – with parts of the region warmer than areas of Turkey by the middle of next week.

Forecasters predict temperatures could reach 14C. But there will still be a chance of occasional stormy outbreaks.