UK weather live: Two airports suspend flights as hundreds of flood warnings issued and more snow forecast
Heavy rain, flooding and snow continue to disrupt travel and cause school closures
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Your support makes all the difference.Liverpool and Aberdeen airports were forced to suspend flights on Tuesday morning as heavy rain, flooding and snow continue to disrupt travel and cause school closures.
It came as the Environment Agency issued a critical flood warning – indicating a “danger to life” as a mass evacuation was ordered for the River Soar at caravan parks near Barrow upon Soar in Leicestershire.
It said: “River levels are rising at the Pillings Lock river gauge as a result of heavy rainfall and rapid snowmelt.”
One man has died in the winter storm impacting much of the country, with North Yorkshire police saying a body pulled from floodwater near the River Aire has been formally identified. The man’s next of kin are still being informed.
Flooding means all rail lines are closed between Peterborough and Leicester, affecting CrossCountry and East Midlands Railway services.
At 8.10am on Tuesday, the Environment Agency has 190 flood warnings, meaning flooding is expected, and 292 flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible, active across England.
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27,000 homes lost power on Monday due to cold snap
Northern Powergrid said more than 27,000 homes across Yorkshire and the North of England had lost power during the cold snap, with 100 customers still without power by Monday lunchtime.
Elsewhere, National Resources Wales had 16 flood alerts and one flood warning in place, while the Met Office warned that snow and ice was set to cause more disruption in large parts of Scotland.
Sunday night was the UK’s coldest of the winter so far, with a temperature of minus 13.3C recorded in Loch Glascarnoch in the Highlands, between Ullapool and Inverness.
Hundreds of schools were closed on Monday, in areas including Lancashire, Yorkshire and north-east Scotland.
The Met Office advised people to be “prepared” for snow.
Government to invest £2.4bn in flood defences
Environment minister Emma Hardy said the Government intends to refresh its approach to funding flood defences and bring in a new approach in 2026.
She told the Commons: “Flood defence integrity is at its lowest since 2009/10, with approximately 60,000 properties less well protected than if flood defences were at an optimal condition. This is why we’re investing £2.4 billion over the next two years to build and maintain flood defences.”
She added: “To make the most of our flood forming, we’ll be refreshing our approach to funding flood defences, including a review of the existing flood funding formula … to ensure the challenges facing businesses and rural and coastal communities are taken into account when delivering flood protection.
“We were going to consult on this new approach in the new year, and of course, I’ll inform all members when that consultation is live, and we aim to bring the approach in from April 2026.”
Body found in flood water in North Yorkshire
Police have asked for help in identifying a body found in flood water. North Yorkshire Police said the body was recovered earlier on Monday from an area of flooding near Intake Lane in Beal, close to Eggborough and Knottingley.
Officers have made inquiries locally and with neighbouring forces in Humberside and West Yorkshire but have been unable to identify the man, who was found without any personal belongings.
He was white, in his early 50s to 60s, with light brown short hair and stubble.
He wore brown walking boots, blue jeans with a brown belt, a multi-coloured knitted jumper with a zip and hood and a waterproof coat which was possibly dark green.
The man was believed to have entered the water on Saturday or Sunday.
In a post shared on social media, the force said: “Does this description match someone you know who could be missing? Do you have CCTV, doorbell, or dashcam footage from the area, or any information that could help us piece together what happened?”
17 people rescued and 200 calls made in Leicestershire
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said 17 people were rescued by crews and the control room received more than 200 calls on Monday morning as a major incident was declared.
Judi Beresford, Assistant Chief Fire and Rescue Officer, said: “Flooding poses a serious risk to lives and property, and we urge everyone to take these warnings seriously.
“Our control room and crews are working tirelessly to assist those in need and to keep people safe.
“We are working with our partners to reduce the impact of this major incident and ask the public to avoid flooded routes when travelling and never to enter floodwater.”
Flooding is ‘personal priority’, says environment minister
Environment minister Emma Hardy told the Commons that “flooding is a personal priority” for her, after fresh weather warnings were issued across large parts of the UK on Monday.
In a statement, Ms Hardy said that as of Monday the Environment Agency’s areas of most concern are the Midlands, Warwickshire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, with a major incident declared in Leicestershire.
She added: “The EA (Environment Agency) are continuing to respond in affected areas, including in the Midlands, Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Birmingham, Nuneaton, Loughborough and the river Trent, Avon, and Idle.
“The Environment Agency are reporting at least 350 properties have flooded, and over 21,000 properties protected since New Year’s Eve. Over the next 24 to 36 hours, as water moves to the lower reaches and slower responding catchments, there will likely be some localised flooding across multiple smaller areas.
“Climate change will inevitably lead to more severe weather of the kind you have seen this weekend, but I want to reassure the House that flooding is a personal priority for me and one of our top five priorities in Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs).”
Starmer urges people in flooded areas to follow advice
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “Major incidents have been declared in Lincolnshire and Leicestershire due to severe flooding.
“My thoughts are with all those affected and my thanks to responders working hard to keep communities safe.
“Anyone in these areas should follow advice from the emergency services.”
All the places at risk of flooding as severe weather warnings are issued across UK
Hundreds of flood warnings and alerts are in place across the country as wintry conditions continue to cause travel disruption and school closures across the UK.
Yellow warnings for snow and ice come into force across large parts of the UK on Monday afternoon and will remain in place into Tuesday.
Many commuters suffered travel disruption on Monday morning, with major roads closed and railway lines blocked.
My colleague Jabed Ahmed takes a look at all the latest warnings:
All the places at risk of flooding as severe weather warnings are issued across UK
There are 173 flood warnings and 314 flood alerts in place across England
Trains calling at Gatwick but delays expected
Trains are now stopping at Gatwick after disruption was caused by a fire, on a day when public transport is already being affected by adverse weather.
West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said firefighters were called to a “small fire”, believed to have been caused by an electrical fault, at 12.34pm.
The station has now reopened, but travellers have been warned of delays which could reach up to 45 minutes.
Children stranded at primary school as Lincolnshire declares major incident
Children have been left stranded at a primary school due to flooding in the surrounding area, with Lincolnshire being the second county to declare a major incident.
The Lincolnshire Resilience Forum has said emergency services have “operational responses” in place for “a number of ongoing incidents” which include multiple road closures.
“Emergency services are also working to get children currently stranded at a school in Edenham home safely. They are safe and well, routes around affected,” the group said.
In a post on Facebook, Edenham Church of England Primary School said that the fire brigade had advised parents not to collect children, due to the risk of their vehicles becoming stuck.
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