Deep freeze grips Britain: Snow showers and ice within the South
- Temperatures fall to -10.6C (12.9F) in Scotland and -2C (28F) in Devon in a single day
- Some areas of Britain are colder than locations inside the Arctic Circle this morning
Snow and ice gripped elements of Britain together with the South East at present after -10C (14F) temperatures in a single day as forecasters warned the chilly snap may final a month.
Amid one other chilly and frosty morning within the UK, the Environment Agency stated 125 flood warnings and 136 alerts remained following final week’s Storm Henk deluge.
The mercury plunged this morning to -10.6C (12.9F) at Aviemore within the Highlands, whereas North Wyke in Devon and Cardinham in Cornwall each dropped to -2C (28F). Birmingham fell to -1C (30F) in a single day, Glasgow 0C (32F) and London 1C (34F).
Frosts made these areas colder than locations inside the Arctic Circle, with Tromso in northern Norway solely anticipated to fall to 0C (32F) in a single day amid milder-than-usual situations. Reykjavik in Iceland is about to remain frost-free all week with cloud and rain.
An amber chilly well being alert for the North West of England, the Midlands, the South West of England and the South East of England is in place till midday on Friday.
The alert by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) means ‘chilly climate impacts are more likely to be felt throughout the entire well being service for an prolonged time period’.
Today, the Environment Agency (EA) stated 125 flood warnings stay in England the place flooding is anticipated, together with a flood warning on the River Thames south-west of London in Wraysbury.
The EA says flooding of property and roads was anticipated round Friary Road, The Embankment, Ousley Road and Riverside areas.
The majority of flood warnings are within the South of England and the Midlands, notably by Reading, Slough, Oxford, Salisbury and additional north in Cheltenham and Peterborough.
There are additionally 136 flood alerts in place all through the identical areas the place flooding is feasible.
It comes as a yellow warning for ice throughout southern England and South Wales expired at 3am at present.
The Met Office stated there could be snow flurries affecting elements of England’s south into the early hours of this morning.
Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan stated that not a lot of the snow appeared to have settled, with some areas seeing a ‘dusting of perhaps one centimetre or two of snow’.
He stated at present could be drier with restricted snowfall, aside from some wintry showers in Cornwall.
He added: ‘We’re not anticipating a lot in the way in which of additional snowfall on Tuesday. In precise reality, it is going to be a lot sunnier than at present, notably within the south in comparison with Monday.’
Mr Morgan stated a blast of chilly air coming down from the north, principally affecting Scotland, was more likely to carry extra chilly situations over the weekend with some snow showers.
A lady walks her canine by the churchyard at St Peter & St Paul’s at Ash in Kent yesterday
Leeds Castle in Kent is roofed in snow yesterday because the Met Office imposed an ice alert
A lady is caught in a snow flurry on road in Orpington, South East London, yesterday
A lorry caught in floods yesterday on the A1101 in Welney, Norfolk – the bottom street in England
St Ives in Cambridgeshire surrounded by flooding yesterday after a river burst its banks
Train companies warned clients to watch out when utilizing their companies because of icy situations.
Yesterday, a dusting of snow made for tough driving situations in Maidstone, Kent, whereas rail commuters took photos of snowy scenes as they travelled by the South East.
Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon stated Britain is within the grip of a ‘chilly regime and that theme continues for a lot of the week’.
He added: ‘Temperatures by the week will stay under common for this time of yr. If you do must journey in icy situations, plan your route and test for delays and street closures.
‘If you might be driving… look out for potential hazards and maintain your pace down. Using the next gear could also be extra applicable.’
Forecasters for Sky News predicted that the South East will probably face the largest shock from the chilly air after very gentle temperatures, reaching an unseasonal 13C (55F) throughout latest storms.
As January goes on, northerly winds are set to carry a blast of Arctic air with extra snow showers at occasions throughout the North and ‘a smaller danger of a interval of snow throughout some southern areas for a time’.
The arrival of wintry climate follows a moist and windy Christmas and New Year, most just lately with Storm Henk bringing a deluge of rain, adopted by widespread flooding.
Over the approaching days, the climate is because of be ‘chilly with sunny spells for many [with a] danger of wintry showers’, the Met Office stated.
Today, there’s a ‘danger of some wintry showers for the South West within the morning, with the odd bathe for North East England’ however dry, brilliant and chilly elsewhere.
The Environment Agency stated 125 flood warnings (in pink) stay the place flooding is anticipated
The EA stated there’s a flood warning on the River Thames south-west of London in Wraysbury
Later within the week and into the weekend, principally dry climate is because of predominate, with the perfect probability of sunshine within the South West.
It is about to be cloudier elsewhere with gentle rain, drizzle and wintry showers probably additional north.
Cold well being alerts, issued by the UKHSA, are in place till Friday, with an amber alert overlaying North West England, West Midlands, East Midlands and South West England.
There is a yellow alert for North East England, Yorkshire and The Humber, East Anglia, South East England and London.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, of the UKHSA, added: ‘Temperatures are anticipated to show notably chilly in a single day, as we’d anticipate presently of yr. If you’ve a pre-existing medical situation or are over the age of 65 it is very important try to warmth the rooms the place you spend most of your time, similar to your lounge or bed room, within the coming days.’
The polar airflow is about to develop subsequent week and in direction of the center of the month, when forecasters say ‘it’s more likely to flip colder as northerly winds start to develop throughout the UK’.
As properly as the chance of snow showers, there may be additionally ‘an elevated probability of extra unsettled situations spreading from the west’.
The sample is unlikely to vary for the final week of January and into February, when there stays ‘an elevated probability in comparison with regular of chilly situations together with ice and snow’.
Weather methods are set to aim to make inroads at occasions ‘bringing durations of rain or snow’ however ‘some drier, extra settled interludes are additionally probably’.
