UK weather – latest: Met Office issues amber warnings as snow causes ‘potential risk to life’ and drivers in some areas told not to travel

Six people have been rescued from a mountain in Co Kerry, Ireland overnight amid “dangerous” conditions as a snow warning has been put in place for the entire nation.

Kerry Mountain Rescue Team (KMRT) were responding to reports that a female hillwalker had fallen in the eastern part of the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks when it was told other hillwalkers were also in difficulty. 

The rescuers the found six people stuck 150 metres from the bottom of a gully, but conditions were so poor that any chance to reach them was deemed “dangerous”. 

In order to reach them, team climbed to a point above the trapped people and abseiled down, before securing the casualties to haul lines, which were used to bring them all to safety.

“Apart from being very cold and fatigued, thankfully none of the casualties were injured and the rescue concluded at approximately 1.30am,” KMRT said.

A video shared by RTE News showed part of the rescue effort…

The Irish weather agency Met Eireann has warned that rain, sleet and snow will be accompanied by strengthening easterly winds today and tomorrow. 

A Status Yellow Snow-Ice warning for the Republic of Ireland is in place until 11pm today, but this will be immediately followed by other warnings from the agency.

A status yellow low temperature ice warning applies for the whole country from 11pm today until 10am tomorrow. 

The forecaster warned of possible travel disruption, hazardous driving conditions and poor visibility.