COMMUTERS this morning (Wednesday) into Taunton may have been greeted by slight frost and now sunshine but warnings remain in place for severe weather.

Yesterday drivers in Somerset were being urged to take extra care on the roads with strong winds expected.

The Highways Agency issued a Severe Weather Alert with gusts of up to 75 mph expected in the South East and South West this evening (Wednesday) and into tomorrow morning.

Road users driving high-sided vehicles, riding motorcycles or towing caravans are being urged to check traffic and weather conditions before setting out on journeys and to heed any advice such as speed restrictions once they are on the strategic road network.

The Met Office yesterday continued to issue a yellow warning of snow, ice, wind and rain for the whole of the South-West today (Wednesday, January 14) with parts of the region experiencing significant snowfall overnight.

Areas of North-East Somerset have been particularly affected.

A Met Office spokesman said yesterday: "A cold westerly airstream will spread across the area on Tuesday evening, allowing frequent showers in the overnight period to fall as snow, especially over high ground.

"There is some uncertainty over how much snow will settle at low levels, and many places within the yellow area may miss the snow altogether.

"However, where snow does occur it is likely to be heavy and produce a covering quite quickly. Coastal areas facing west or southwest will probably miss most of the snow, but hail and lightning will be hazards here, along with gusty winds."

An update this morning confirmed the warnings remain in place. The brighter interlude currently being experienced could soon be replaced by heavy rain and gales or severe gales by late afternoon.

Tonight the Met Office says we could see very windy conditions with gales or severe gales and heavy rain clearing to the east by dawn.

There were reports from colleagues in the Gazette's Falmouth office where Packet newspapers are published from of some snow in parts of Cornwall overnight although they too are not seeing the predicted heavy weather.

Don't forget to send your weather stories and pictures to us at newsdesk@countygazette.co.uk or phone the newsdesk on 01823 365100.