Storm Bert triggers snow, rain and wind warnings from Met Office

Storm Bert is expected to bring heavy snow, rain and gusts of up to 70mph across the UK, with weather warnings in place across the country.

On Friday the Met Office updated its weather warnings, issuing a new one for extremely strong winds covering the whole of the south coast of England for Saturday from 3pm until 9pm on Sunday.

The Met Office said the gusts could be as strong as 70mph along the coast, and up to 60mph inland.

An amber warning for heavy snow is also in place north of Perth.

Much of the UK woke up to freezing temperatures on Friday morning and the prospect of the arrival of Storm Bert at the weekend.

The storm is set to reach the UK on Saturday and the Met Office is expecting it to potentially cause travel disruption and flooding, with several yellow and one amber weather warning in place.

Where will it snow?

As well as yellow alerts for wind, rain and snow on Saturday covering most of the country - an amber alert has also been issued for heavy snow and ice from 7am to 5pm on Saturday in an area north of Scotland’s central belt. It is predicted 10-20cm of snow is likely on ground above 200 metres and potentially as much as 20-40cm on hills above 400 metres.

The warning covers parts of Angus, Perth and Kinross, Stirlingshire, Aberdeenshire and some of the Highlands and Argyll and Bute.

Met Office meteorologist Honor Criswick said: “Through into Friday… snow showers are set to continue mainly around coastal areas though once again still a few feeding inland at times.

Read more: Every part of UK set for more snow as Met Office issues warnings (Lancs Live)

“There will also still be plenty of autumnal sunshine. Still feeling cold though, particularly in those brisk winds – once again we’re only looking at highs of around 5C, slightly higher in the south west around 7C.

“Across the north those temperatures struggling to move past 2-3C.

“As we head into Friday evening, a change is on its way as we introduce Storm Bert moving its way in from the Atlantic. So we’ll see clouds spilling in from the south west with outbreaks of rain – heavy at times by the time we reach Saturday morning.”

Criswick said there are likely to be “heavy” outbreaks of rain throughout Saturday, “falling as snow” at times across northern parts of England and parts of Scotland.

Met Office spokesman Oli Claydon said Storm Bert was a "multi-hazard event".

"We’re looking at strong winds, some high snowfall accumulation, heavy rain, all in various different parts of the UK,” he said.

"So it’s quite a complex weather set-up for the weekend. Generally speaking, it’s a very unsettled weekend of weather ahead."

"Because of the different nature of the weather across the UK, people really need to have an idea of what the forecast is for them specifically.

"Further south it’s wind and rain, further north it’s snow then rain and wind. So it really depends on where you are in the UK. Keep on top of the forecast for your area, and prepare as necessary."

Tips on how to stay safe in heavy rain and snow

With heavy rain on the way for large parts of the country, it is important to be aware of the risks and how to stay safe. Flooding is an obvious risk in some areas and it is important to keep checking flood advice for the latest news.

Charge mobile phones and keep your car parked outside of the flood zone in the event of needing to leave or keeping your vehicle safe from damage.

Turning off gas, water and electricity in the event of flooding is important, while there are simple measures that can be taken – like storing valuables high up and going to the highest level in the building you are in. However, avoid attic spaces as there is a risk of being trapped by rising water.

Read more: British Gas advises 'keep ice in the house' as UK prepares for snow

It is safer not to drive but if you have to, stay slow, use main roads and allow extra time for braking on slippery surfaces.

In the event of snow, driving is also more risky so pack any essentials for your car – including a fully charged phone – and check routes for closures.

Use dipped headlights and accelerate gently, using low revs and changing to higher gears as quickly as possible. Keep a good distance from other drivers and steer into skids rather than slamming the brakes.

If you are at risk of being cut off by snow, make sure you have torches and batteries or candles, as well as plenty of warm clothing. Thermostats should be set to the same temperatures during the day or night, and keep doors open to allow warm air to flow, lowering the risk of frozen pipes. Avoid using hobs to heat your home as they can increase carbon monoxide levels.

Why are storms named in the UK?

Storms in the UK are named through a collaboration between the Met Office, the Irish meteorological service Met Eirann and their Dutch counterpart KNMI to raise public awareness of storms that could have "medium" or "high" impacts.

The names are chosen alphabetically and alternate between male and female names. Each service chooses seven names each year, with the letters q, u, x, y and z excluded.

The process aims to make the public more aware of storms and ensure they take necessary precautions when such severe weather events are forecasted.

Read more:

• How are storms named in the UK and what will the next one be called?

• Why is it called Storm Bert? Met Office names new storm due to heavy rain and snow