Devon snow warning of "atrocious" conditions over high ground (From Mid Devon Star)

Devon snow warning of "atrocious" conditions over high ground

8:41am Monday 11th March 2013 in News

Devon drivers are being warned to take care on the roads, with snow and gales causing "atrocious" conditions over high ground.

The Met Office says there is a risk of significant falls of snow across south Devon and Dartmoor this morning, with east to northeasterly gales causing blowing and drifting of lying snow.

Adding: "Accumulations of 2-7 cm of snow are likely fairly widely with 10cm or more over the higher parts of Dartmoor.

The Met Office has issued an amber "be prepared" warning with snow also falling in South Hams, Newton Abbot, Kingsbridge and Torbay.

A Devon County Council spokesman said: "Please keep an eye on the forecast, be alert to the conditions and allow extra time for your journey."

The chief forecaster at the Met Office said: "Colder air continuing to move westwards is already causing a band of rain to turn to snow over the high ground of southwest England. This process will continue during Sunday evening and overnight into Monday with a risk of more persistent and at times heavy snow for parts of south Devon and particularly into Dartmoor. Combined with gales and sub-zero temperatures, conditions will be atrocious over high ground, with severe drifting of lying snow."