Brutal -7C freeze grips Britain: Icy blast set to spark journey chaos
Much of Britain was in the present day within the grip of a deep freeze as temperatures fell to -7C (19F) and sleet and snow fell – with amber chilly well being and ice warnings activated.
Flood distress additionally continued with 300 Environment Agency alerts or warnings in place after greater than 1,800 properties have been deluged by extended, intense rainfall.
The mercury plunged this morning to -7C (19F) at Altnaharra in Scotland, -5C (23F) at Castlederg in Northern Ireland, -2C (28F) in Yeovilton, Somerset, and -1C (30F) at Keswick within the Lake District – whereas London and Birmingham each fell to 0C (32F).
And trains have been nonetheless being disrupted by flooding, together with Great Western Railway between Reading and Westbury and CrossCountry between Gloucester and Lydney.
Meanwhile an amber chilly well being alert for the North West of England, West Midlands, East Midlands and South West of England was in place from now till midday Friday.
The alert from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) means ‘chilly climate impacts are prone to be felt throughout the entire well being service for an prolonged time frame’.
There was additionally a yellow chilly well being alert in place for the North East of England, Yorkshire and The Humber, East of England, South East of England and London.
Cold Health Alerts issued by UK Health Security Agency
Cold Health Alerts (CHA) are working from now till 12pm this Friday.
Amber CHA
- North West England
- West Midlands
- East Midlands
- South West England
Yellow CHA
- North East England
- Yorkshire and The Humber
- East England
- South East England
- London
The Met Office issued yellow climate warnings for ice throughout components of South East England and Northern Ireland till 10am this morning.
It comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited flood-hit residents in Oxford yesterday and Environment Agency (EA) staff proceed attempting to mop up from the heavy rainfall and excessive winds throughout Storm Henk final week.
South London and components of the South East, coated by the ice warning, will endure ‘a mixture of sleet and snow showers’ that may transfer in from the east and ‘temperatures close to zero’, in keeping with the Met Office.
The forecaster added: ‘Given these wintry showers, and likewise moist surfaces after latest moist climate, some icy patches are possible on untreated surfaces.
‘Additionally just a few of the snow showers may flip fairly heavy; these in all probability solely affecting a slender zone however just a few locations may see 1 to 3cm, primarily over the north Downs and on grassy surfaces.’
The EA has warned that greater than 1,800 properties have already flooded, and extra may very well be affected over the following week as river ranges rise – with the impression of excessive water ranges prone to proceed significantly across the Trent, Severn and Thames.
The company mentioned buildings ‘will flood and there will probably be journey disruption’ throughout that point interval, and native groundwater flooding can be attainable within the South of England, Yorkshire and the Humber.
There have been 169 flood warnings in place the place flooding is anticipated and 159 flood alerts this morning within the southern components of England, up by way of the Midlands and into Yorkshire.
Mr Sunak had sought to defend the Government’s file on flood safety as he spoke to the media in entrance of the fast-moving River Thames.
He mentioned: ‘We have over 1,000 Environment Agency personnel on the bottom in native communities serving to, over 200 pumps have been deployed.
There are 169 flood warnings (in purple) in place the place flooding is anticipated and 159 flood alerts (in amber) in the present day within the southern components of England, up by way of the Midlands and into Yorkshire
Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak talks to members of the Environment Agency as he seems to be at flood defences throughout a go to to Oxford yesterday
‘We’ve invested £5.2 billion in flood defences over the interval in query, that is a file sum, excess of we have achieved (beforehand), sooner or later that is contributed to defending over 300,000 houses.
‘And, after all, there have been many individuals affected by what’s occurred over the previous week, but additionally over 49,000 have been protected against flooding.’
Labour had accused the Government of being ‘asleep on the wheel’ over flood warnings, with chief Sir Keir Starmer vowing to make flood defences ‘match for goal’, writing on social media that ‘individuals’s lives should not be upended by excessive rain’.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of maximum occasions and well being safety on the UKHSA, mentioned: ‘With the Met Office forecasting drops in temperature throughout the United Kingdom into subsequent week, it is very important test in on the wellbeing of these most weak to the chilly.’
The chilly climate can improve the dangers of coronary heart assaults, strokes and chest infections and might have a severe well being impression for older individuals and people with pre-existing well being situations.
