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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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
ICYMI: Ambulance service declares critical incident for first time ever
A critical incident has been declared by East Midlands Ambulance (EMAS ) for the first time ever, after a combination of significant patient demand, pressure within local hospitals, and flooding across the East Midlands.
Declaring a critical incident means:
- Rapid release of ambulances from hospital departments. We appreciate this will be challenging for hospital colleagues however, we need to ensure we have emergency ambulances available to respond to people waiting in the community where life is at threat.
- From the morning, local NHS Clinical Hubs to take Category 3 calls (see additional notes) from EMAS and provide support and/or a local alternative NHS pathway for these patient. This allows EMAS to focus on responding to Category 1 (life-threatening) and Category 2 (serious) calls.
- All Category 3 calls (see additional information below) from NHS 111 receive a clinical validation from DHU Healthcare (the provider of 111 services) before it is sent for an ambulance.
Full report: Four major hospitals declare critical incidents over soaring flu cases as A&E patients face 50 hour waits
My colleagues Rachel Clun and Alexander Butler report:
Four major hospitals declare critical incidents over soaring flu cases
Hospitals in Hampshire, Liverpool and Plymouth have declared critical incidents following a surge in patients with respiratory issues
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.”
Pictured: Homes in flood water after the Grand Union Canal burst its banks in Loughborough
Flooding has been ‘challenging’, Leicestershire fire chief says
Judi Beresford, Leicestershire’s assistant chief fire and rescue officer, said the demand on the service from flooding across the county has been “challenging”.
She said: “The pressure that we experienced yesterday from about five o’clock in the morning and well into the early hours of this morning was significant.
“It was very challenging but I’m really pleased to say that our crews handled themselves and the situation magnificently.
“The latest information that we have is that the water is still continuing to rise, particularly in relation to the rivers, but we would expect that to start to ease.
“Just because the weather is showing some signs of improvement at the moment, floodwater can still be incredibly dangerous, so I’d still just reinforce our messages to stay out of floodwater, to plan journeys ahead, and if people do need assistance and life is at risk, then please dial 999.”
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service has responded to 380 calls and attended 56 flooding incidents since Monday morning.
Ski season is here as snowboarders take to the fresh powder in Northumberland
Skiers and snowboarders were pictured taking to the slopes at Allenheads ski club in Northumberland after heavy snow fall.
Weather warnings for snow and ice are in force across much of the UK after severe flooding and snow caused travel disruption and school closures. But for some it was a rare opportunity to hit up the fresh powder.
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