PEOPLE are being urged to check in on the elderly and vulnerable as snow, ice and floods threaten disruption.

Amber warnings are in place for parts of south-east England where Storm Darcy could bring winds and snow on Sunday.

https://www.essexhighways.org/roads-and-pavements/winter-travel/track-the-gritting-lorries.aspx

An amber warning is also in place in parts of East Anglia and south eastern England, including areas of Suffolk, Essex and Kent, between 04:00 and 23:59 on Sunday.

Met Office weather expert Steven Keates said there will be “many similarities” to the Beast from the East in 2018.

Asked whether he thinks it was fair to call it the Beast from the East Two, he said: “I think so. The air mass is not quite as cold as it was then, so it’s not quite as extreme, but nonetheless this is probably the coldest weather we’ll see across the UK as a whole since then. 

“And if you’re stepping outside at all through the next few days, it really is going to feel cold. Temperatures [will be] barely above freezing on a thermometer, and when you factor in a strong easterly wind you’ll be feeling many degrees below freezing.”

The Met Office has extended alerts for snow and ice across the eastern length of Britain until Wednesday.

Up to 20-30cm (8-12in) of snow is expected in high areas of Scotland.

Public Health England’s Dr Owen Landeg said it was “crucial” people looked out for those who may be vulnerable during the cold snap.

“Cold weather isn’t just uncomfortable, it can have a serious impact on health,” he said.

Dr Landeg called on the public to make sure those at-risk have enough food and drink to stay warm and well.

It comes as some communities in Scotland were at risk of being “cut off for several days”, according to the Met Office.

Parts of south-east England and East Anglia could see between five and 10cm of snow on Sunday – with up to 20cm in some places, the BBC Weather Centre said.

It added that high winds would make it feel colder than it is out and about and could cause the snow to drift.

The conditions are caused by cold air spreading east from the Arctic Circle, tracking across the relatively mild North Sea to form showers that bring snow and a significant wind chill.

Meteorologist Mr Keates told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We’ve got some very cold air to the north and east of the UK. It’s been freezing cold across Scandinavia and western Russia for weeks now.”