Britons have been urged to do five things before a 15-hour snowstorm hits the UK. As many as 13 cities could face power outages during the weather event, which is expected to take place today and tomorrow (Monday, November 18 to Tuesday, November 19).

Households have been warned that an Arctic blast could disrupt parts of England, Scotland and Wales. This can affect not only power supply, but also travel.

The Met Office has issued a 15-hour yellow weather warning for ice and snow, starting at 7pm this evening and continuing until 10am on Tuesday. In Scotland the warning is already in place, having come into force yesterday (Sunday 17 November) at 4pm.

“An area of ​​snow could disrupt a central part of the UK overnight Monday and Tuesday morning,” the forecaster said. “There is a small risk that power outages may occur and other services, such as mobile phone coverage, may be affected.”

THE Met Office also highlighted that there was a “slight chance” that some rural communities across the country “could be isolated”.

If you’re in one of the areas potentially at risk from the impending deluge, one TikToker has given some advice on how to prepare for a possible power outage. Sal Farzin, who posts on the social network under the name Simply Sal Finds, shared five tips to “help you get through a winter storm.”

“Be sure to fully charge your laptop in the event of a power outage so you can easily charge your phone,” he recommended. It’s worth making sure you have a cable that connects your laptop to your phone before the snow starts.

Second, he recommends investing in an “emergency bulb” that “turns on during a power outage” without needing to be connected to the main power supply. If you can’t find a short-term backup bulb, you should make sure you have a few flashlights and fresh batteries to ensure they don’t run out of power in the middle of a power outage.

Candles can also be a good source of light with a little extra heat, but they pose an added fire hazard, so it’s important to be careful when using them.

Third, “if the power goes out and you need warmth, these mylar blankets will provide up to 90% insulation to protect your body from the extreme cold.” If you don’t have a mylar blanket – which is rare in the UK – but want to stay warm, you can use a battery-operated electric blanket or layer on jumpers.

Sal also recommends that you “be sure to put fresh batteries in your carbon monoxide detector, as most people turn up the heat and close the windows during the winter.” »

“Finally, be sure to remove hoses and cover exterior faucets (faucets) to prevent pipes from bursting,” he concluded.

Some 13 major English cities are affected by the warning, including Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Leeds, Sheffield, Nottingham, Stoke, Chester, Lincoln, Derby, York, Durham and Hull.

But other areas, including Bangor in north Wales, Carlisle on the northwest coast and Middlesbrough, as well as the whole of Yorkshire, will be affected by the yellow weather warning.

THE Met Office warned residents in affected areas: “People fare better when they prepare in advance for the risk of power outages or being cut off from services and amenities due to snow. It’s easy to do; consider gathering flashlights and batteries, a cell phone. power supply and other essential items.

“Be prepared for weather warnings to change quickly: when a weather warning is issued, the Met Office recommends staying informed of the weather forecast in your area. “