Storm Bert live: New weather warning issued as Britain braces for 70mph winds and rain this weekend
Parts of the country are bracing for power cuts as charities and energy companies warn homeowners to stay warm as temperatures drop to freezing
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Your support makes all the difference.The Met Office has issued a new weather warning ahead of the arrival of Storm Bert on the weekend.
The storm is set to reach the UK on Saturday and the Met Office is expecting it to bring “heavy rain, strong winds and disruptive snow to parts of the UK through the weekend”, potentially causing travel disruption and flooding.
The forecaster has issued a yellow weather warning across southern England, covering Cornwall, Plymouth and Southampton. It is in place from 3pm on Saturday to 9pm on Sunday.
Overnight on Thursday, the Met Office said much of the UK experienced temperatures near freezing, with the mercury falling as low as minus 6C at Tulloch Bridge in Scotland.
The forecasting body said many will wake up to a frost with icy surfaces in places with several yellow warnings for snow and ice in place across the UK until 10am on Friday.
Commuters can expect significant travel disruption, with National Rail predicting four days of delays as heavy snow continues through the weekend.
The wintry weather affected education, with dozens of schools closed across the country.
Met Office warn rainfall in excess of 100mm is possible
Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Dan Holley said: “Storm Bert marks a shift to much milder air and wintry hazards will gradually diminish through the weekend, but heavy snowfall is expected across parts of northern England and Scotland for a time on Saturday, especially over higher ground, and warnings are in place.
“Heavy rain through Saturday and Sunday, especially in southern and western parts of the UK, will also bring impacts for some with a number of warnings in place.
“We expect 50-75mm of rainfall quite widely within the warning areas, but in excess of 100mm is possible over high ground in parts of Wales and south-west England.
“In addition, rapid melting of lying snow over the weekend and periods of strong winds are likely to exacerbate impacts and bring the potential for travel disruption, as well as flooding for some.”
Can and should you walk your dogs in the snow?
Temperatures are dropping across the UK with snow weather warnings in place for parts of the country.
Temperatures dropped to minus 7.8C in Tulloch Bridge, Scotland, in the early hours of Monday, which is the lowest temperature the UK has seen since last winter.
Cold temperatures, ice and further snow feature on the forecast for the coming days in what the Met Office deemed is the country’s “first taste of winter”. With this news, many will be thinking about how this chilly weather may affect our pets.
It’s important to prepare our dogs, as well as ourselves, for this forecast.
Can and should you walk your dogs in the snow?
Tips for how to look after your pets during the cold weather
Met Office’s five day weather forecast
This Evening and Tonight:
A cold evening and night to come for much of the UK. A widespread frost developing, along with icy stretches. Sleet and snow showers will continue to move southwards, leading to further snow accumulations in places, mainly in the north.
Friday:
Another frosty and in places icy start on Friday with sunshine and wintry showers continuing in exposed areas. Showers and winds gradually easing through the afternoon.
Outlook for Saturday to Monday:
Turning wet and windy for all on Saturday, with some hill snow initially, and blustery showers on Sunday and Monday. Milder on Saturday and Sunday but cooler again into Monday.
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