UK weather live: Snow and ice warnings across country as cold snap could see temperatures hit -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.An amber snow warning has been issued for south west England, with up to 10cm snowfall expected in the worst-affected areas.
Snow, ice and fog yellow weather warnings have been issued for areas across the UK on Thursday, which come after snow and sleet caused disruption on Wednesday.
Temperatures may plummet to -20C in the coming days, the BBC reported, as snow and ice warnings grip the UK prompting mass school closures and travel disruption.
Parts of the UK will see “negative double figures in the coldest areas during the next few nights and a few locations may see minimum temperatures as low as minus 16 Celsius,” the Met Office said.
Two other yellow weather warnings for snow and ice have been issued for northern parts of Northern Ireland, lasting until 11am on Thursday, and for northern Scotland until 23:59pm on Thursday.
The cold snap will 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.
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The number of flu cases has soared across England, with 5,074 patients with the virus being treated in hospital at the end of December.
This marks an increase of 305 per cent from the end of November, and is up by 352 per cent from the same day last year (1,458 patients).
The numbers are in line with 2022’s flu crisis, when 5,508 patients were in hospital with flu at end of December that year.
In the midst of this surge, eight hospitals across the country have declared critical incidents with “sustained pressures” are leading to waits of up to 50 hours.
The Independent’s data correspondent Alicja Hagopian reports:
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In pictures: Leicestershire floods
Cold weather health alert extended to Sunday
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has extended its cold weather health alert for all of England until Sunday.
Amber alerts have been extended and will now run until January 12, meaning a rise in deaths is likely, the agency said.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at the UKHSA, said: “We are extending the duration of our Cold-Health Alert, since the Met Office are forecasting that the low temperatures we are seeing will continue further into this week, with snow and icy conditions likely to persist.
“This weather can have a serious impact on the health of some people, including those aged 65 and over and those with pre-existing health conditions, and it is therefore vital that we continue to check in on friends, family and neighbours that are most vulnerable.
“These people could be more at risk of heart attacks, stroke and chest infections as a result of cold temperatures.”
Met predicts ‘bitterly cold’ Thursday night
It will be “bitterly cold” on Thursday night, said Oli Claydon, spokesperson for the Met Office.
He told the PA news agency the lowest temperatures will be recorded in rural Scotland and rural northern England where there is lying snow, cloudless skies and very cold airflow.
A temperature of -14C would equal the lowest seen in this month last year, recorded in Dalwhinnie in the Scottish Highlands on 17 January 2024.
But a temperature of -16C would be the lowest recorded in January in the UK for 15 years, since -22.3C was logged in Altnaharra in the Highlands on 8 January 2010, according to Met Office data.
Yellow fog warning in place in NI
A yellow fog warning has been issued for Northern Ireland until 9am this morning.
A further yellow warning for snow and ice affecting Cornwall, much of Wales and parts of north-west England has been issued until 11am.
And a yellow ice warning has been issued for parts of southern England and south-east Wales until 10.30am.
As icy conditions persist, motorists are being urged to stick to major roads that are most likely to have been gritted.
Homeowners trapped inside while ‘still recovering’ from flood a year ago
Dozens of homeowners in Leicestershire have been trapped after flooding caused damage to their properties which have still not been fixed after they were destroyed by water a year ago.
Homeowners on Belton Road in Loughborough remained stranded on the first floor of their semi-detached houses on Tuesday after rising water from the nearby Grand Union canal flooded the street.
Families on the road complained they were hit with similar flooding from Storm Henk on January 3 last year which ruined their properties and left them trapped inside.
Read the full report after severe flooding struck Leicestershire
Homeowners trapped inside while ‘still recovering’ from flood a year ago
A major incident was declared in Leicestershire on Monday after rain and snow brought severe flooding.
Forecasters warn of travel disruption to road and rail services
Travel disruption to road and rail services are likely this morning in the warning areas, as well as the potential for accidents in icy places, the forecaster said.
A yellow warning for snow and ice is in place for northern Scotland until midnight on Thursday and another snow and ice warning is in force for Northern Ireland until 11am in the morning as sleet and snow showers are set to continue.
Ploughs fitted to gritters to clear routes in Devon and Cornwall
Ploughs have been fitted to gritters in Devon and Cornwall which will work into Thursday morning to clear routes in the area, police and highways officials said.
It comes as significant travel disruption was caused by the snow yesterday with some roads closed and motorists stationary for “long periods of time”, a joint statement from Devon and Cornwall Police and Devon County Council Highways said.
Snow ploughs became stuck in queues of traffic caused by “minor incidents”, the statement added.
New weather warnings issued as temperatures set to plummet to -20C
Fresh weather warnings have been issued as temperatures are set to plummet. Forecasters predict the coldest nights of the year will come over the next two days as temperatures could reach as low as -20C in areas that have seen heavy snowfall, according to the BBC. The Met Office predicted lows of -16C.
Snow, ice and fog yellow weather warnings have been issued for areas across the UK today, which come after snow and sleet caused disruption on Wednesday.
Significant travel disruption was caused by the snow in Devon and Cornwall on Wednesday, with some roads closed and motorists stationary for “long periods of time”, a joint statement from Devon and Cornwall Police and Devon County Council Highways said.
Man whose house 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.”
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