An amber warning for snow and ice, with a risk of freezing rain, covers most of Wales and central England until midday on Sunday.
Freezing rain, which forms what are commonly known as ice storms in North America, is a rarity in the UK because the conditions for it are quite specific, according to the Met Office.
But what is it and how is it different from snow?
Freezing rain is rain that has been “supercooled” by falling from the sky.
Up to 30cm of snow expected in parts of the UK – follow it live
It starts as snow, ice, sleet, or hail high in the atmosphere, but as it descends it melts through a layer of warmer air and then refreezes through a layer of colder air near the surface. surface.
Why is it dangerous?
Once it reaches the surface and turns into ice, it can represent a current threat.
The ice is very clear, often called black ice, because it is very difficult to see, making it dangerous for pedestrians and drivers.
Sky Information meteorologist Kirsty McCabe explains: “Supercooled rain hits the ground and freezes instantly on impact, and that creates a thin layer of ice, also known as frosting, and it’s transparent so you can’t see it. the ice, which makes it really treacherous.”
If it hits power lines or tree branches, depending on how much rain it has gotten, the weight of the ice can cause them to break because they can’t support the weight.
It can also make it difficult to open the car door if there is enough of it.
Get the five-day forecast wherever you are
Where is it expected to fall?
From 6pm on Saturday until midday on Sunday, an amber warning for snow and ice, with a risk of freezing rain, covers most of Wales and central England, including the Midlands, Liverpool and Manchester in the northwest .
But McCabe says it is in Wales that people should be especially careful about freezing rain.
What precautions should people take?
The best thing people can do is take extra care when traveling. Because it is so difficult to see, it is difficult to judge how icy the road surfaces are.
The RAC says freezing rain is possibly the most dangerous of all conditions for motorists.
They urge people not to drive unless necessary, but say those who do need to should check they have enough fuel and oil and check the treads on their tires.
They also encourage drivers to make sure their lights are working and check to see if they have windshield washers.
