Brits face snow 'shock' as weather warnings come into effect across swathes of UK
In the warning area, a period of sleet and snow on Monday may lead to icy surfaces and disrupt car and train journeys, the Met Office said
Brits are facing a 'shock to the system' as yellow warnings for snow and ice come into force covering large swathes of the UK.
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Yellow weather warnings covering much of Scotland, Northern Ireland and stretching through the north east of England, down to Ipswich came into effect on Monday afternoon.
In the warning areas, periods of rain, sleet and snow may lead to icy surfaces and disrupt car and train journeys.
They come on the heels of a series of similar alerts throughout the weekend, as well as flood warnings in more than 70 areas in England.
Read More: What are weather warnings and how do they work?
Read More: Ice warning in force as flooding expected in more than 70 areas
Two hours later the same warning came into effect in Northern Ireland.
All three alerts will remain in effect until 10am on Tuesday.
There were 73 flood warnings, meaning flooding is expected, and 196 flood alerts, where flooding is possible, across England on Monday afternoon.
Jonathan Day, flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, said more than 24,000 homes and businesses have been protected but about 330 have been flooded.
Met Office meteorologist Liam Eslick warned of icy stretches developing overnight.
On Monday, he said: "It will be a relatively mild day especially across the south again, nine or 10C, but otherwise it is around the seasonal average, maybe even feeling quite cold up towards Scotland in those northerly winds and a few of those showers again turn into snow, possibly even on some lower levels through the afternoon as well.
"But as we go through this evening much of the showers across the south will start to fade and start to fizzle away and we will start to see some clearer skies overnight as well.
"So we are expecting those temperatures to fall away and develop some frosty and icy stretches, especially across Northern Ireland, northern England and Scotland, so do take care first thing in the morning on Tuesday.
"Further towards the south temperatures may stay above freezing for a time but you may see the odd frost patch in some rural spots but you'll see further north those temperatures are touching those freezing levels as well so likely to see some icy stretches here, but that will lead to a bright and crisp Tuesday morning."