Brits don their SKIS as they battle to work on Ice Rink Monday

Britons in snow-hit areas resorted to utilizing skis to get round on ‘Ice Rink Monday’ immediately amid a ‘don’t journey’ alert as greater than 150 areas have been placed on flood watch.

The Met Office issued rain warnings for the North East till 9am tomorrow and the South West till 6pm this night amid fears over flooding and journey disruption.

Elsewhere an ice warning was imposed on northern Scotland from 3pm immediately till 11am tomorrow. It comes after a snow alert masking a 280-mile size of Scotland and one other for the Peak District and North Wales expired at noon immediately.

The mercury dipped to -5.9C (21.4F) in Scotland and -3C (26.6F) in England early this morning, inflicting icy patches on untreated surfaces attributable to thawed snow refreezing.

Motorists have been warned that they face ‘very treacherous icy situations’ – and a few commuters ended up utilizing skis to journey within the worst-hit areas of the Lake District.

Some drivers deserted autos to trudge for as much as six hours house by way of the drifts, together with one man who skied for over an hour from Ings to Bowness. The man, recognized solely as Rory, stated: ‘I simply bought my ski touring package out the boot and began snowboarding… At the underside of the hill a load of individuals have been clapping. It was good enjoyable.’

The Environment Agency issued 37 flood warnings, primarily in Somerset and Dorset, which means flooding is ‘anticipated’. As heavy rain brought on river ranges to rise, it additionally imposed 120 alerts, which means flooding is ‘doable’ throughout the South and Midlands.

On South Western Railway immediately, passengers have been urged ‘to not journey’ between Salisbury and Exeter attributable to flooding. Flooding in Taunton additionally blocked all traces, with some Great Western Railway companies in direction of London being diverted through Bristol.

And snow meant Northern Rail instructed passengers ‘don’t journey’ between Lancaster and Carlisle through Barrow-in-Furness and in addition between Oxenholme and Windermere.

Cumberland Council instructed dad and mom practically 40 faculties shall be shut immediately because of the climate. It comes after lots of of drivers have been rescued from their vehicles yesterday when drifts greater than a foot deep blocked roads and introduced down energy traces.

Some reported being stranded for as much as 19 hours with out meals or water earlier than assist got here. Around 2,500 residents spent yesterday with out electrical energy as engineers battled treacherous situations to restore traces broken by the extreme blizzards.

A serious multi-car crash closed the M4 between junctions 21 and 22 in Gloucestershire this morning, whereas the A30 was shut eastbound between the junctions with the A377 and the M5 close to Exeter in Devon attributable to an accident.

National Highways stated the A303 in Somerset was closed eastbound between the A37/A372 at Podimore and the A359 close to Sparkford due to flooding.

There was additionally flooding on the A46 close to Nottingham and the A1 southbound between the junctions with the A6121 and the A47 close to Peterborough.

Today, a yellow climate warning for ice from the Met Office had been in place throughout a lot of the north of England till midday.

Further warnings for snow masking the japanese aspect of Scotland, excessive floor in Wales and the Peak District have been in place till the identical time.

Simon Williams of the RAC stated northern components of the UK might be dealing with an ‘ice rink Monday as snow refreezes in a single day’. He additionally urged workers to work at home if doable.

Mr Williams stated: ‘We’re anticipating some very treacherous icy situations in northern components, so those that need to drive ought to train nice warning. If it is doable to delay and even abandon journeys that could be the most suitable choice.

‘Those who resolve to drive ought to go away further house behind the car in entrance, and cut back their pace to provide loads of time to cease.

‘Before setting out, it is essential to permit extra time to de-ice and de-mist autos totally.’

The Met Office additionally issued a yellow warning for heavy rain creating disruption to journey throughout components of southern England, South East Wales and into the Midlands which is able to final till 6pm.

The warning was prolonged west this morning to incorporate extra of Devon and Somerset.

ScotRail has suggested passengers to examine their journey earlier than leaving house. The operator added: ‘It’s one other chilly begin to the day. We’re ensuring platforms are gritted, however it might nonetheless be slippery on the station.

‘Please take care once you’re travelling and do not forget that first prepare companies of the day will take a while to warmth up after being within the depots in a single day.’

Electricity North West stated it was making scorching meals accessible at Greenodd Service Station in Ulverston this morning for patrons who remained with out energy.

More than 830 properties in Cumbria, primarily in South Lakeland, have been nonetheless with out energy immediately.

Yesterday night, it had stated 1,500 properties in Cumbria have been with out electrical energy after energy cuts adopted heavy snow within the county.

The electrical energy community operator additionally stated immediately that it had restored energy to 13,000 houses, including that ‘entry continues to be a significant concern and even specialist 4×4 autos can’t attain all websites’ with ‘tools for repairs being carried on foot in some areas’.

It added that Cumbria’s energy community had been severely impacted by the snow, with greater than 35 separate incidents of harm to the community reported, together with ‘extreme injury to miles of overhead traces’.

The UK Health Security Agency and the Met Office have issued amber chilly well being alerts in 5 areas – the East Midlands, West Midlands, North West, North East and Yorkshire and the Humber – till tomorrow, which means ‘chilly climate impacts are prone to be felt throughout the entire well being service for an prolonged time frame’.

The Met Office stated Saturday noticed the coldest temperatures since final winter, with -12.5C (9.5F) recorded in Altnaharra within the Highland area of Scotland.

That identical location was the coldest place in Britain this morning, because the mercury dipped to -5.9C (21.4F).

England and Wales have been anticipated to be largely cloudy exterior the warning areas immediately with outbreaks of rain, a few of them turning heavy.

Overnight snow was predicted to be confined largely to the North East and on hills with frost and ice within the north and north west.

The Met Office stated rain and hill snow will regularly ease throughout England and Wales tomorrow with brighter spells creating.

It shall be sunnier however chilly elsewhere with just a few wintry showers within the North East, and lighter winds for many.

After frost and fog clears for vibrant spells on Wednesday, moist and windy climate is anticipated to reach from the South West, pushing north and east into Thursday and Friday, with some preliminary hill snow.

Cumbria police stated ice ‘can have a continued affect on Cumbria’s roads’ immediately and urged folks to not journey to the area except completely mandatory.

The drive posted on X: ‘If you might be travelling immediately there’s a yellow climate warning for ice in place. Please pay attention to black ice on lots of the county’s roads and make sure you drive to the highway and climate situations.’ 

It comes after officers, hearth crews and mountain rescue groups labored by way of the evening to rescue motorists trapped in a single foot of snow within the southern Lake District on Saturday.

Hundreds bunked down in faculties, scout huts and church halls, or walked for hours to search out refuge.

Many A-roads and the M6 – the place a number of jack-knifed lorries blocked the motorway – have been affected, and dozens of minor routes remained both closed or impassable yesterday.

 

Although some snow was forecast on Saturday, locals, vacationers, motorists and, it appears, the Met Office have been caught off guard by the heavy snowfall. 

Mike Smith, 39, his associate, Sammy Tancock, 38, and his three step-children have been amongst 100 folks pressured to spend the evening at Hawkshead Esthwaite Primary School, in Ambleside, after being caught of their automotive for eight hours.

The household had been to observe the annual Grizedale Forest Motor Rally once they turned trapped.

Ambleside resident Jane Renouf instructed the BBC: ‘In all of the years I’ve been right here, which is over 50, I’ve by no means seen snow prefer it. It fully blanketed the city. It is a couple of foot deep.’

Elsewhere within the North, locals have been undeterred by the snowy situations – together with revellers in Leeds who took to icy pavements in excessive heels to benefit from the countdown to Christmas.