Storm Bert is battering the country with strong winds, heavy rain and snow and ice with amber warnings coming into force bringing a “potential risk to life and property”.

Travel is widely disrupted with roads closed and some train routes cancelled throughout Saturday with rail companies urging passengers to avoid travelling to certain areas.

Winds of up to 68mph have been recorded and 13cm of snow has fallen in some parts of the country on Saturday morning, a Met Office spokesperson said, while 12 flood alerts are in place across the UK.

National Highways has issued a “severe weather alert” for snow affecting Yorkshire and north-east England with “blizzard conditions” expected and up to five hours of heavy snow set to “accumulate quickly at all levels”.

The Met Office has issued an amber warning for snow and ice for parts of Scotland and northern England, with a “good chance some rural communities could be cut off”.

Amber warnings mean there is the potential for risk to life and property.

“Travel delays on roads are likely, stranding some vehicles and passengers” the National Weather Service said.

The amber alert for heavy snow and ice is in force between 7am and 5pm on Saturday in areas across Scotland, where 10-20cm is likely on ground above 200 metres and potentially as much as 20-40cm on hills above 400 metres.

Here's an hour-by-hour forecast for County Durham from the Met Office:

Morning

09:00: Sleet shower, Temperature: 0°C, Precipitation: ≥95%

10:00: Heavy rain, Temperature: 0°C, Precipitation: ≥95%

11:00: Heavy rain, Temperature: 2°C, Precipitation: ≥95%

Midday

12:00: Heavy rain, Temperature: 3°C, Precipitation: ≥95%

13:00: Heavy rain, Temperature: 4°C, Precipitation: ≥95%

Early Afternoon

14:00: Light rain, Temperature: 4°C, Precipitation: 90%

15:00: Light rain, Temperature: 5°C, Precipitation: 70%

16:00: Light shower night, Temperature: 5°C, Precipitation: 50%

Late Afternoon / Early Evening

17:00: Overcast, Temperature: 6°C, Precipitation: 50%

18:00: Cloudy, Temperature: 8°C, Precipitation: 30%

Evening

19:00: Partly cloudy night, Temperature: 8°C, Precipitation: 30%

20:00: Cloudy, Temperature: 9°C, Precipitation: 50%

21:00: Light shower night, Temperature: 10°C, Precipitation: 60%

22:00: Light shower night, Temperature: 11°C, Precipitation: 70%

23:00: Light shower night, Temperature: 12°C, Precipitation: 60%