Snow uk forecast: what is a snow drift? Latest weather forecast

Drivers up and down the country have been warned of treacherous road conditions today, caused by the wintry weekend spell. On Sunday a woman driving her 4X4 on the B1398 in Burton by Lincoln

recounted being caught in a three-foot-deep snow drift on the side of the road. Michelle Ogden who was rescued by three good Samaritans, said: “We were stuck for around two and a half hours

in drifts about three foot deep.” Earlier today a Tavistock Police patrol car in Devon also got stuck in a snow drift for more than 90 minutes.  Tavistock Police tweeted: “Just spent 90

minutes digging ourselves out of a snowdrift. If a Defender can get stuck, a hatchback hasn’t got a chance!” WHAT IS A SNOW DRIFT? Snow drifts are monstrous mounds of heavy snow whipped up

into shape by powerful winds. Snow drifts typically resemble sand dunes in appearance and are very much formed in the same way.  They are formed when light surface snow is blown into larger

deposits, usually propped up against houses or cars. The Met Office explains: “Dry, powder snow is the easiest type of snow to move around because it doesn’t stick together like wet snow. 

“The air temperature and dew point must be below 0°C to give us cold and dry air. “The next ingredient is the wind, which must be at least 10 mph to get the snow on the move.  “The stronger

the wind the more it’s shifted and you can end up with really deep areas of snow piled against road sides, houses or anything that’s facing the wind.” HOW DANGEROUS ARE SNOW DRIFTS? The most

common hazard caused by drifting snow is reduced visibility on the roads Conditions can be particularly hazardous on sunny days when the drifting snow scatters the sunlight. In rare cases

snow drifts can rise higher than doors and windows, stranding people inside of their homes.  As the snow continues to pile on against your home, it can make escaping in an emergency

impossible.  Earlier in March and elderly couple and their two dogs were stranded in their farm house in West Linton, Scotland, after a 12-foot-tall snow drift piled onto the house.  WHAT IS

THE SNOW FORECAST FOR TOMORROW? Wintry showers will continue today before giving way to warming temperatures by the end of the week.  Tuesday looks to remain a largely dry but frosty and

windy day with bouts of sunny weather. Met Office forecaster Alex Deakin said: “Increasingly cloud thickening over the east and a few showers coming in overnight and anywhere it could turn

icy. “Particularly where the snow on the ground has melted through the day as temperatures tumble down to or close to freezing.  “Certainly well below where there is any snow lying on the

ground and in rural areas, so it’s another chilly start to Tuesday but by and large a dry day.”