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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A major incident was declared in Leicestershire on Monday after rain and snow brought severe flooding.
Number of flu hospital admissions 3.6 times higher than last year, Northern Irish health minister says
The number of people admitted to hospital with flu in Northern Ireland this winter is 3.6 times higher than the previous year, Stormont’s Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has said.
Mr Nesbitt told the Health Committee that patients facing long waits in hospital emergency departments were often having to “surrender their dignity and privacy” and said staff were facing “moral injury”.
The minister announced that the flu vaccination programme would be extended to all those over the age of 50.
Officials from the Department of Health said it has been the worst year for flu cases since before the pandemic, but added they believed the number of hospital admissions had peaked.
Mr Nesbitt attended the emergency meeting of his oversight committee amid ongoing concerns about winter pressures on health services in Northern Ireland, particularly the amount of time people are having to wait at emergency departments in hospitals.
Mr Nesbitt began his evidence by paying tribute to health and social care staff who had worked over Christmas.
The minister said he was “looking for levers short term” to deal with hospital pressures, as well as offering a “blank page” for next winter.
Snow mapped: Where freezing weather and flooding will hit UK with more snow forecast
Snow mapped: Where freezing weather and flooding will hit UK this week
Heavy snow and rain causes widespread disruption as cold temperatures return this week
Woman visiting mother in Loughborough ‘trapped’ in home due to flooding
A 25-year-old woman visiting her mother’s home in Belton Road, Loughborough, Leicestershire, for Christmas said she did not expect to become “trapped” after the house was flooded on Tuesday.
Duaa Abdulal remains stuck with her mother and younger sister upstairs while the ground floor of the home is filled with water.
She said the house was destroyed by flooding from Storm Henk in January last year and the family have not finished refurbishing since then.
Ms Abdulal said: “We’re stuck upstairs. Last year my family managed to leave the building.
“Thankfully, today we managed to get everything upstairs when we got the flood warning.
“We’re still recovering from last year, actually, we haven’t finished refurbishing the house, so it’s stressful.”
Man whose housee was damaged by Storm Henk last year has home flooded again
A man, who did not wish to be named, found his home flooded on Tuesday in Belton Road, Loughborough, Leicestershire, from rising water in the nearby Grand Union Canal.
He said he has been living in alternative accommodation for a year since Storm Henk damaged his property last January and was just about to move back in before the flooding started again on Monday.
The homeowner told the PA News Agency, as he stood on the road near his house: “They had almost got everything ready to move back in – all new downstairs. Now, all the new stuff, the new items, have got to be repaired and replaced again.
“They will potentially tell us it’s all got to be scrapped.
“Last year everything downstairs – the carpets, flooring, furniture – all were damaged.
“In the space of a year, it’s just unbelievable that it’s happened again.
“I can’t comprehend this all, you never think it’s going to happen in this area.
“It’s the Grand Union canal – it seems like there’s a weak point that just sort of overflows and just all comes cascading down this way.”
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.”
People in Ireland warned of ‘invisible hazards’ amid Orange-level low temperature alerts
People in Ireland are being urged to keep their guard up ahead of a Status Orange low temperature warning issued for most counties on Tuesday and Wednesday night.
Snow and sub-zero conditions have already caused hazardous driving conditions and cut power and water to thousands of homes, with crews from various agencies working to help stranded communities.
The worst-hit counties are Tipperary, Limerick, Cork and Kerry, where authorities have deployed additional supports to clear snow before sub-zero temperatures hit again.
An Orange alert is in place for most counties from 8pm on Tuesday until 10am on Wednesday, with severe frost, ice and snow forecast.
Another Orange low temperature warning is in place from 6pm on Wednesday until 11am on Thursday for 25 counties.
Separately, a Status Yellow low temperature warning remains in place for all counties until 6am on Friday.
Irish premier Simon Harris warned people to be aware of the “invisible hazards” as temperatures fall to as low as minus eight degrees overnight.
Mapped: How many flu cases are in my area as hospitals declare critical incidents?
Mapped: How many flu cases are in my area as hospitals declare critical incidents?
The number of people admitted to hospital with flu has quadrupled over the past month with health services feeling the strain
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