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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

Simon Calder
Travel Correspondent
,Jabed Ahmed
Tuesday 07 January 2025 15:54 GMT
Comments
Snowfall on A3 in Surrey as weather causes flight delays and motorway chaos

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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.

Caravan owner mourns damage as floodwaters rise

Neil Monteith, 49, owns a caravan on the front row of the Proctors Pleasure Park, near Barrow upon Soar in Leicestershire, which was surrounded by flood water on Tuesday morning.

He said he no longer lives in the caravan but has “never seen” the flooding this bad before.

He said: “(The water) is the highest I’ve seen it, I’ve never seen it this bad before.”

Mr Monteith added that he only keeps furniture inside but said that it is “more than likely” damaged.

Flooding at a caravan park near Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire (Joe Giddens/PA)
Flooding at a caravan park near Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire (Joe Giddens/PA) (PA Wire)
Barney Davis7 January 2025 12:55

Coldest night expected to fall way below sub-zero

BBC Weather Watchers said they were expecting temperatures to plunge to between -16 to -20 C on Thursday night.

The last time the UK recorded a temperature that low was on 11 Feb 2021, when the temperature at Braemar in Aberdeenshire fell to -23 C.

Crathie Kirk near Balmoral, Aberdeenshire, is surrounded by snow and ice (Jane Barlow/PA)
Crathie Kirk near Balmoral, Aberdeenshire, is surrounded by snow and ice (Jane Barlow/PA) (PA Wire)
Barney Davis7 January 2025 12:45

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.”

(Charlie Haskayne)
Barney Davis7 January 2025 12:20

Man pictured being rescued from floodwater

People living at caravan parks near Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire, have been urged to act now, with a large-scale evacuation required to save lives after heavy rainfall and rapid snowmelt amid the Environment Agency’s severe flood warning for the River Soar.

One man was rescued from a caravan in Proctors Park, Barrow upon Soar, on a raft on Tuesday morning.

And two people had to be rescued from flood water by firefighters in Leicester Road, Leicester, on Monday afternoon, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said.

(AP)

Barney Davis7 January 2025 11:53

Swans take over town as water rises sharply in Wateringbury

(AP)
Barney Davis7 January 2025 11:46

Flights resumed at Aberdeen airport as workers de-ice runway

Barney Davis7 January 2025 11:07

Drone shots as Caravan park evacuated

An evacuation order was issued as the River Soar burst her banks and flooded a Caravan park in Barrow Upon Soar, England.

(AP)
(AP)

Barney Davis7 January 2025 10:55

Watch: Daring mountain rescues in Scotland

A mountaineer who suffered a deep cut to their leg was rescued in the middle of a horrific snowstorm.

The Cairngorm MRT said on X: “Another rescue for a couple who had intended to camp near the Saddle but in deteriorating condition had raised an SOS text from their phone.

“After locating the couple and some rewarming they were walked out to safety through some to arduous underfoot conditions. All safe were 1.30am.”

Barney Davis7 January 2025 10:45

Desperate rescues as floodwaters rise across Kent, Sussex and Leicestershire

(PA)
(Joe Giddens/PA Wire)
(Andrew Matthews/PA Wire)
(PA)
Barney Davis7 January 2025 10:41

Rare snowfall drifts over north west London

Barney Davis7 January 2025 10:14

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