Fresh snow and ice warnings and main flooding throws half time period into chaos for hundreds of thousands of households – as parks and sweetness spots left underwater
Fresh snow and ice warnings remain in force across large parts of the UK today, while major flooding has already left parks and beauty spots underwater as millions of families begin their half term break.
A yellow warning for ice is in place across parts of the country, with flooding expected in more than 70 areas.
While a series of snow and ice warnings expired over the weekend, a yellow ice warning is still covering eastern Scotland and north-east England until 10am on Tuesday.
A separate yellow warning for ice has also been issued for vast swathes of England and Scotland from 6pm on Monday until 10am on Tuesday.
Northern Ireland has not escaped the wintry conditions either, with a yellow warning for ice in force from 8pm on Monday until 10am on Tuesday.
The Environment Agency urged the public to remain vigilant amid the ongoing flood risk, after heavy rainfall left dozens of areas at risk of being inundated.
There were 74 flood warnings – meaning flooding is expected – and 195 flood alerts, where flooding is possible, across England on Sunday night.
The grim weather outlook comes as millions of families start their half term holidays today, with travel disruption feared as temperatures plunge below freezing overnight.
Floodwater surrounding Tewkesbury Abbey on Monday afternoon
A flooded playground is seen near Chertsey Road in Surrey
The King’s Sandringham Estate was forced to close to the public yesterday after it was hit by a blizzard
Snow and Ice warnings from the Met Office for Monday 16 February
Forecasters say rain and hill snow will solidify in parts of the UK, raising the risk of dangerous black ice and making roads treacherous, particularly across eastern Scotland and north-east England.
Wintry showers are forecast to move southwards on Tuesday and Wednesday, with hill snow likely to affect parts of England and Scotland, sparking fears of yet another wave of disruption.
It follows parts of the UK being blanketed with snow over the weekend after the Met Office declared freezing conditions as temperatures plunged to as low as -5C.
Jonathan Day, flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, said more than 24,000 homes and businesses have been protected but about 330 have been flooded.
In the warning area, ice forming on untreated surfaces could lead to difficult travelling conditions, the Met Office said.
The warning said: ‘Following a spell of rain and some hill snow during Sunday afternoon, temperatures will fall below freezing as skies clear from the west through the evening and overnight, leading to ice forming on untreated surfaces.’
Met Office operational meteorologist Dan Stroud warned of hazardous conditions, saying there could be black ice and slippery surfaces in the yellow warning area and urging people to take extra care.
A flooded playground in Chertsey, Surrey, on Monday afternoon
A drone image shows how parts of Tewkesbury have been left underwater after major flooding hit the Gloucestershire town
Parts of Tewkesbury were underwater on Monday after heavy rain over the weekend
A yellow warning for ice is in place across parts of the country, with flooding expected in more than 70 areas
He said: ‘Monday really is a day of sunny spells and blustery showers. Overnight Monday into Tuesday we will see a frosty start. It’s going to be a largely dry day, some decent amounts of winter sunshine.
‘But it does start to go downhill later in the day, from the south and the west we’ve got a broad area of cloud and rain pushing in south-west England and South Wales late on Tuesday, during the course of Wednesday this will bring a mix of rain, sleet and hill snow.
‘We do need to keep an eye on this system, there’s the potential for snow warnings to be issued.
‘Thursday into Friday will be largely dry with some clear skies, turning milder towards the end of the week.’
