Code red! 'Don't go out' warnings as rare alert warns of blizzard A rare red "take action" alert has been issued for part of Wales tomorrow as snow and strong winds hit the UK. The snow warning covers south-east Wales and says 20-30cm of snow is likely with strong winds causing blizzards and severe drifting. The red alert covers from 3am tomorrow until 9pm. A yellow "be aware" alert for snow covers virtually all of England, Wales and Northern Ireland - as well as southern and eastern Scotland. Drivers are being warned of widespread snowfall of up to 10cm. An amber severe weather warning has been issued. Steve Crosthwaite, head of the agency's National Traffic Operations Centre, urged drivers to allow more time for morning travel. "During periods of severe weather we also suggest people consider whether their journey is essential," he added. They may want to delay their travel until conditions improve and to allow our winter fleet the chance to treat the roads. London Fire Brigade urged caution during the "Arctic blast." Its warning follows two serious fires this week caused by householders taking extreme measures to keep warm. Yesterday, fire crews were called to rescue an elderly man from a serious blaze in Wembley, north London, which is believed to have been caused by a halogen heater being placed too close to flammable items. Last week, firefighters battled flames in Fulham, west London, after an electric blanket was left on for the weekend. British Gas said it was expecting a "huge spike of activity" for its home service engineers this weekend, predicting they would attend around 20,000 call-outs. Matthew Bateman, managing director of the firm's home services branch, said: "With the recent mild weather it's easy to understand why people may have thought winter was behind them, but over the weekend we've had calls from a huge number of customers experiencing problems with their heating or hot water." The latest cold snap may leave Britons shivering in their snow boots but it has nothing on the chill of 1963. That year the UK had one of its worst winters in living memory. The snow started on Boxing Day 1962 and the big freeze lasted until March. Lakes and rivers froze across the country amid biting temperatures and there were even patches of ice on the sea. Huge ice boulders formed on beaches and blizzards caused snowdrifts up to 20ft (6m) deep.