Snow continues to fall tonight as temperatures set to plunge to -9C

Snow will proceed to fall throughout the south tonight as temperatures are forecasted to plunge as little as -9C, with an amber alert in place till Friday.

The Met Office has warned of ice and snow resulting in slippery surfaces, advising drivers to be cautious of ice patches on the roads.

Temperatures might attain as little as -9C in Scotland and -6C in Wales tonight, with additional snow anticipated within the south.

There can be an amber chilly well being alert in place for the north west, west and east Midlands and south of England which can keep in place till 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 period’ 

It comes because the nation tries to get better from the aftermath of Storm Henk –  which noticed many areas flooded and two individuals killed by falling timber.

Snow fell throughout Britain immediately as temperatures plunged to -7C. Snowflakes have been seen from County Durham to Kent and Cumbria to London.

Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan mentioned that not a lot of the snow appeared to have settled, with some areas seeing a ‘dusting of possibly one centimetre or two of snow’.

He added that Tuesday can be drier with restricted snowfall, other than some wintry showers in Cornwall.

The forecaster mentioned a chilly wind coming in from the east means there will probably be a ‘important wind chill’ once more on Tuesday, which can make temperatures really feel extra like minus 3C within the South West of England.

He advised the PA information company: ‘We’re not anticipating a lot in the best way of additional snowfall on Tuesday. In precise reality, it is going to be a lot sunnier than immediately, significantly within the south in comparison with Monday.’

Mr Morgan mentioned there was a threat of ice in some areas as a result of the bottom ‘continues to be fairly moist’ after a number of weeks of moist climate.

He added: ‘We are prone to see some icy patches tonight, significantly in South Wales and southern components of England.’

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 is about to plummet tonight to -9C (16F) in Scotland, whereas tomorrow will once more be very chilly with maximums of simply 3C (37F) in a lot of southern England. 

This morning, temperatures fell to -7C 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 the Met Office issued a brand new 12-hour ice warning for southern England and South Wales from 3pm immediately till 3am tomorrow – with as much as 0.8in (2cm) of snow set to fall this afternoon and night in some areas, principally over larger floor.

Also immediately, trains have been nonetheless disrupted by flooding, together with Great Western Railway between Reading and Westbury and CrossCountry between Gloucester and Lydney.

This morning, the Met Office issued a brand new ice warning from 3pm immediately, saying: ‘Parts of southern Britain are prone to see some snow showers throughout Monday afternoon and the primary a part of the evening.

‘Most locations will see little or no mendacity snow, however 1 to 2cm might settle in a single or two locations, principally over excessive floor.

‘In addition, some icy surfaces are attainable for a time. However, the possibility is that this reduces by daybreak on Tuesday as snow showers clear to the west and surfaces dry out.’

It comes after comparable ice warnings throughout components of South East England and Northern Ireland expired at 10am this morning.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland roads account tweeted immediately: ‘Motorists ought to train warning this morning, significantly on untreated roads, as freezing temperatures have triggered widespread ice all through the street community. 

‘Stick to primary, gritted roads when attainable. Slow down, and improve your braking distance from the car in entrance.’

And Greater Anglia advised rail passengers immediately: ‘We expect icy circumstances this morning. Please take care when travelling.’

Also immediately, Labour chief Sir Keir Starmer mentioned the Government’s response to the flooding was not ‘adequate’ and vowed he would take pre-emptive motion as he toured streets being cleared up after final week’s deluge.

Sir Keir was talking after Ian Clements, 68, confirmed him round his drenched semi-detached home in Loughborough, Leicestershire, this morning.

Mr Clements described how water from the close by canal surged down Bottleacre Lane final Wednesday, reaching greater than a foot deep in his lounge.

The Labour chief defined how he would arrange a flood resilience process power to verify preventative measures have been in place earlier than the winter flooding season.

He mentioned: ‘The response wasn’t fast sufficient. So I simply do not suppose it is adequate for the Government to come back after the occasion once more and categorical empathy.

‘Get forward of this with a process power. That’s what I might do.’

Asked if Labour would offer more cash for flood prevention, Sir Keir mentioned: ‘Of course it does want cash however the process power isn’t just about cash.

‘It’s about getting the fundamentals executed. Getting these drains cleared. Getting the native authorities collectively. Having a plan.’

Yesterday, Rishi Sunak visited flood-hit residents in Oxford as Environment Agency (EA) staff proceed making an attempt to mop up from the heavy rainfall and excessive winds throughout Storm Henk final week.

South London and components of the South East, lined by the ice warning, will endure ‘a mixture of sleet and snow showers’ that can transfer in from the east and ‘temperatures close to zero’, in response to the Met Office.

The forecaster added: ‘Given these wintry showers, and in addition moist surfaces after latest moist climate, some icy patches are probably on untreated surfaces.

‘Additionally just a few of the snow showers might flip fairly heavy; these in all probability solely affecting a slim zone however just a few locations might 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 might be affected over the following week as river ranges rise – with the influence 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 via the Midlands and into Yorkshire. 

Mr Sunak had sought to defend the Government’s document 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.

‘We’ve invested £5.2billion in flood defences over the interval in query, that is a document sum, excess of we have executed (beforehand), sooner or later that is contributed to defending over 300,000 houses.

‘And, in fact, there have been many individuals affected by what’s occurred over the previous week, but in addition over 49,000 have been shielded from 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, you will need to examine 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 critical well being influence for older individuals and people with pre-existing well being circumstances.