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The Met Office has issued new snow and ice warnings for England and Northern Ireland as wintry weather arrives. As some of the first snow of the season hit Scotland on Tuesday morning, the weather experts have warned that wintry showes could soon travel south as strong cold winds blow the freezing temperatures down the British Isles.

The new weather alert has warned of disruption due to snow and ice in Northern Ireland and ice over much of England across the whole of Wednesday, November 19, as they advise to "keep your family safe". With temperatures plummeting to -2C, they also issued a new snow and ice warning for Yorkshire after predicted snowfall feeding in from the North Sea. Met Office deputy chief forecaster Tom Crabtree said: "Wednesday to Friday will be the coldest part of the week, and this period has the greatest potential for impactful weather, with multiple warnings in place.

"Overnight, temperatures could get down to minus 10C, with a significant wind chill from the strong northerly wind making things feel even colder."

The weather agency warned that wintry showers throughout the night on Tuesday would likely freeze overnight in the cold winds, creating a risk of ice on roads and paths.

Warning of dangerous driving conditions from the snow and ice, a Met Officer spokesperson added: "Keep yourself and others safe by planning your route, giving yourself extra time for your journey. Check for road closures or delays to public transport and amend plans if necessary.

"Keep yourself and your family safe when it is icy. Plan to leave the house at least five minutes earlier than normal. Not needing to rush reduces your risk of accidents, slips, and falls."

The news also comes alongside a warning from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) who issued an amber Cold-Health Alert (CHA) for the Yorkshire & Humber, North West and North East regions of England and a yellow alert across the rest of England.

Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, said: "This is the first prolonged cold spell of the season, and it is therefore vital to check in on friends, family and neighbours that are most vulnerable.

"The forecasted temperatures can have a serious impact on the health of some people, leading to increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections, particularly for individuals over the age of 65 and those with pre-existing health conditions."

For anyone affected by the weather and who insists on travelling, the Met Office suggests packing essentials in the event of a delay, such as warm clothing, food, water, a blanket, a torch, an ice scraper/de-icer, a warning triangle, a high visibility vest and an in-car phone charger.

For pedestrians, they suggest sticking to pavements along main roads that are likely to have been gritted.

They added: "Be prepared for weather warnings to change quickly: when a weather warning is issued, the Met Office recommends staying up to date with the weather forecast in your area."