Snow falls in London as -7C polar blast hits UK amid new ice warning

Snow fell throughout Britain at the moment as temperatures plunged to -7C (19F) with extra ice warnings issued and an amber chilly well being alert imposed for the remainder of this week.

Snowflakes have been seen from County Durham to Kent and Cumbria to London, whereas 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 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 at the moment till 3am tomorrow – with as much as 0.8in (2cm) of snow set to fall this afternoon and night in some areas, largely over larger floor.

Also at the moment, trains have been nonetheless 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 period’.

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.

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

‘Most locations will see little or no mendacity snow, however 1 to 2cm might settle in a single or two locations, largely 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 related ice warnings throughout elements of South East England and Northern Ireland expired at 10am this morning.

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

‘Stick to most important, gritted roads when attainable. Slow down, and enhance your braking distance from the automobile in entrance.’

And Greater Anglia advised rail passengers at the moment: ‘We predict icy circumstances this morning. Please take care when travelling.’

Also at the moment, Labour chief Sir Keir Starmer mentioned the Government’s response to the flooding was not ‘ok’ 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 activity pressure 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 assume it is ok for the Government to come back after the occasion once more and specific empathy.

‘Get forward of this with a activity pressure. That’s what I might do.’

Asked if Labour would supply more cash for flood prevention, Sir Keir mentioned: ‘Of course it does want cash however the activity pressure is not only about cash.

‘It’s about getting the fundamentals finished. 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 elements 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’, based on the Met Office.

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

‘Additionally a number of of the snow showers may flip fairly heavy; these in all probability solely affecting a slender zone however a number of 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 could possibly be affected over the subsequent week as river ranges rise – with the influence of excessive water ranges prone to proceed notably across the Trent, Severn and Thames.

The company mentioned buildings ‘will flood and there shall 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 predicted and 159 flood alerts this morning within the southern elements of England, up by means of the Midlands and into Yorkshire. 

Mr Sunak had sought to defend the Government’s report 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 report sum, way over we have finished (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 function’, writing on social media that ‘folks’s lives should not be upended by excessive rain’.

Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of utmost 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 susceptible to the chilly.’

The chilly climate can enhance the dangers of coronary heart assaults, strokes and chest infections and may have a critical well being influence for older folks and people with pre-existing well being circumstances.