Cyclone expected to hit UK

Snow has covered areas across the UK and strong winds are now expected to start battering the country as a cyclone hits. 

The Met Office has issued warnings of strong winds of up to 60mph to hit the country from Wednesday and the Weather Channel UK is warning of a deep Atlantic cyclone due to hit.

The bad weather is expected to continue into next week with more snow and the lowest temperatures of the winter so far.

The stormy weather has already seen Cornwall being hit by a mini tornado on Tuesday damaging homes and smashing car windows.

Now more snow is also expected on Thursday in areas of higher ground.

Snow fell in the Cotswolds and across the South West of England to the Severn Estuary, with some places seeing 5cm.

Parts of Wales had 8cm but worst hit so far is Scotland with 30cm, where more than 90 schools have been forced to close due to blizzards.

Leon Brown, meteorologist at The Weather Channel UK, is warning more snow could come on Thursday.

"More snow is likely again tomorrow and onwards as colder weather moves back southwards," he said.

"More persistent and heavier rain, sleet and hill snow will move down across Scotland to North England and Ireland on Thursday. We may see some heavy snow over the Pennines in the afternoon and evening with blizzard conditions in the gales.

"From Friday the winds ease and there will be hail, sleet and snow showers around coasts and some sleet and snow showers moving inland. We should prepare for freezing temperatures and very icy conditions for the coming days, and probably much of next week too. 

"There is a risk of some more widespread snow early next week. We can also the lowest temperatures of the winter so far."

Temperatures in Scotland are predicted to drop to 5F (-15C) and 14F (-10) in Wales.

Mark Wilson, of the Met Office, said the UK has faced disruption due to the snow and the country now needs to brace itself for stormy weather.

"There have been reports of snow overnight and snow continues to fall across Scotland and parts of the Pennines," he said.

"We are going to see strong winds from the west and across the UK and rain will affect the country particularly in the west. There will be some snow across hills and higher areas. The winds will bring the temperature down and there will be frost."

Gritters have been out in force and commuters have been told to expect some delays and cancellations of services.

Cumbria Police said it had received up to 40 reports of road collisions across the county in the past 24 hours. 

Chief Inspector Matt Kennerley said: "Although there have been no serious or fatal injuries, the danger of icy conditions remain.

"We ask that motorists take care, adjust their driving to match the conditions of the road and allow extra time for any journey."

Network Rail has suspended four train routes and the AA said its crews were ready for a busy 48 hours.

Darron Burness, from the AA's severe weather team, said: "It's a case of 'expect the unexpected' and drive accordingly."

Network Rail said a limited number of train services would be suspended from noon today, when the worst of the winds are expected to strike.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "Our crews are reporting snow in West Mercia, Birmingham, the Black Country and parts of Staffs and Warwickshire. Some minor issues on roads.

"A few reports of cars slipping and at least one jack-knifed lorry. No injuries so far thankfully. Please take care out there. 

In Cornwall, a lightning strike left a hole in a house on Tuesday night which left a woman in her 90s shaken but uninjured in Tremorva, Hayle.

There was a huge bang, our TV just blew," said Des Morris, 73, who lives on nearby Bay View Terrace.

"I went outside; people were coming out of their houses. Almost everyone's TV in the street went.

"I went over to the house where the lightning hit she was terrified. It had blown a great big hole in the property."

Snow caused hazardous driving conditions in Cornwall, especially around Launceston and the A3074 near Lelant was closed after high winds brought down trees and power cables.

The A361 in Frome, Somerset, was closed in both directions between the B3090 Marston Road junction and the B3092 junction just after 8am today because of an accident involving a lorry and a bicycle.

Police in Bideford, Devon, said driving conditions were 'treacherous' because of ice and snow, and the Highways Agency warned this morning that winds could hit 70mph in the South of England.

A Devon and Cornwall police spokesman said "There are tricky driving conditions out there this morning. Please drive carefully, check the forecast and allow extra time for your journey."

More than 250 properties in the centre of Reading, Berkshire, were blacked out by a power cut last night.