UK weather live: Snow warning for London as UK braces for temperatures to plummet to -20C
The warning for snow comes amid continued weather disruption at airports and schools across the UK
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Your support makes all the difference.A weather warning for snow has been issued for London as the UK is set to see temperatures plunge to as low as -20C this week.
The Met Office has said up to two inches of snow could fall in the south of England on Wednesday, including the capital.
Weather warnings for snow and ice are also in place in Northern Ireland and western and northern Scotland until noon on Wednesday.
The cold snap is set to continue until the end of this week, with amber health alerts from the UK Health Security Agency in place across England until midday on Sunday.
The bad weather has continued to cause travel chaos on Tuesday, with Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Aberdeen Airport both closed in the morning due to the snow.
And there are still hundreds of flood alerts and warnings across the country thanks to rain and melting snow. As of Tuesday lunchtime, the Environment Agency had one danger-to-life flood warning, 133 flood warnings and 217 flood alerts in place across England.
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More than 100 flood warnings in force with more rain, sleet and snow on way
Temperatures low as -5.5C on Tuesday
Temperatures reached as low as -5.5C on Tuesday, the Met Office said.
Here’s their forecast for the past 24 hours.
RAC say Monday was the busiest day for breakdowns this winter
Rod Dennis, RAC spokesperson, said: “Monday was our busiest day for breakdowns this winter so far, with our teams taking more calls from members than at any other point in the last 12 months. With cold conditions persisting, we expect today to be almost as busy with our patrols working incredibly hard to rescue our members and get people moving.
“Anyone unfortunate enough to break down should expect a longer wait than normal this week. It’s therefore more important than ever that drivers ensure they have an emergency breakdown kit in the boot – extra warm clothes including waterproofs, sturdy shoes, some food and drink and a fully charged power bank to keep a mobile phone charged up.
“With hundreds of flood warnings still in force, especially across central and southern parts of the UK, drivers need to remain vigilant. They should never drive through standing water unless they can be totally sure all of it is shallow, which can be impossible on roads that aren’t perfectly flat.
“If in any doubt about the water’s depth, turn around and find another safer route. We also urge everyone to obey road closures which are in place to keep them away from floodwater.”
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Flooding around Barrow upon Soar ‘unprecedented’, resident says
A woman, who lives near the Proctors Pleasure Park in Leicestershire, called the flooding around Barrow upon Soar “unprecedented”.
The woman, who did not wish to be named, told the PA news agency: “I’ve never seen it as bad as this. It flooded last January but not like this.
“They put in new flood defences – it used to flood all the time then it stopped, but this is unprecedented.
“It’s a flood plain, that’s what it’s for but they build houses on it and nobody will acknowledge it or accept it.”
Frost and ice patches in Northern Ireland to affect morning commute
A yellow warning for snow and ice came into effect across Northern Ireland at 3pm yesterday and is expected to remain in place until midday today.
Police have reported that several roads are impassable due to severe weather conditions, with numerous schools closing earlier because of heavy snowfall.
A widespread sharp frost and icy patches are anticipated overnight, potentially making this morning’s commute more challenging.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has advised drivers to exercise caution on icy roads across the region, while some bus services have also been disrupted.
More than 100 flood warnings in force
At least 101 flood warnings are in force across England and more rain, sleet and snow are on the way, risking further disruption.
The Environment Agency has urged people to remain vigilant over the coming days as flood warnings are still in place and a mixture of melting snow and saturated catchments could lead to further disruption in parts of England.
Potential for more snow in the south on Wednesday
There is the potential for another frontal system to move in from the southwest on Wednesday, bringing further snow and ice. A Yellow Warning is currently in place to cover this.
Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Mike Silverstone, explained: “There is a chance of a further spell of rain, sleet and snow moving in from the southwest on Wednesday to affect some southern parts of the UK.”
“Whilst not all those in the warning area may be affected, it is possible that that 2-5 cm of snow may accumulate fairly widely. Whether this system will brush the south of the UK or miss us altogether still remains a little uncertain, but we’ll continue to assess this over the next day or two. Weather warnings may well be updated, so it’s important people stay up to date with the forecast.”
Floods minister thanks emergency services as 300 properties flooded
At least 300 properties have flooded and 41,000 have been bolstered by flood protections across England since New Year’s Eve, according to estimates by the Environment Agency.
Snowmelt has brought further disruption to parts of England, particularly in the Midlands, following the heavy rainfall over the New Year. It saw significant river and surface water flooding across the North West of England and Yorkshire, the Environment Agency said.
Floods minister Emma Hardy said: “My sympathies go out to the people, businesses and communities impacted by the recent flooding across the country.
“I want to express my heartfelt thanks for the vital work that the Environment Agency and emergency services are doing to keep people safe. People must continue to follow their advice and sign up for flood warnings.”
UK to experience coldest nights of the year
The coldest nights of the year are expected this week, with temperatures potentially reaching -14C tonight in the North East of England and Scotland.
The Met Office has forecast a further drop of 2C tomorrow, with temperatures expected to plunge to -16C in places.
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