UK weather: Britain on flood alert with nearly 200 areas at risk of being left underwater as 20 schools close
- Met Office rain warning for South West and North East as well of South Wales
- Ice warning in Scotland as RAC warns drivers of ‘very treacherous’ conditions
Britain was on flood watch today with alerts or warnings in place for nearly 200 areas as major roads were closed and rail lines shut amid a big thaw on ‘Ice Rink Monday’.
The Met Office[3] issued rain warnings for the North East until 9am tomorrow and the South West until 6pm this evening amid fears over flooding and travel disruption.
Elsewhere an ice warning was imposed on northern Scotland from 3pm today until 11am tomorrow. It comes after a snow alert covering a 280-mile length of Scotland and another for the Peak District and North Wales expired at midday today.
The mercury dipped to -5.9C (21.4F) in Scotland and -3C (26.6F) in England early this morning, causing icy patches on untreated surfaces due to thawed snow refreezing.
Motorists were warned that they face ‘very treacherous icy conditions’ – and some commuters ended up using skis to travel in the worst-hit areas of the Lake District.
Some drivers abandoned vehicles to trudge for up to six hours home through the drifts, including one man who skied for over an hour from Ings to Bowness. The man, known only as Rory, said: ‘I just got my ski touring kit out the boot and started skiing… At the bottom of the hill a load of people were clapping. It was good fun.’
The Environment Agency issued 43 flood warnings, mainly in Somerset and Dorset, meaning flooding is ‘expected’. As heavy rain caused river levels to rise, it also imposed 129 alerts, meaning flooding is ‘possible’ across the South and Midlands.
Some 21 schools in Somerset were closed today because of the bad weather – after Cumberland Council told parents nearly 40 schools were shut due to the snow.
On South Western Railway today, passengers were urged ‘not to travel’ between Salisbury and Exeter due to flooding. Flooding in Taunton also blocked all lines, with some Great Western Railway services towards London[4] being diverted via Bristol.
And snow meant Northern Rail told passengers ‘do not travel’ between Lancaster and Carlisle via Barrow-in-Furness and also between Oxenholme and Windermere.
An aerial view of flooding on the River Frome at Stratton near Dorchester in Dorset today
The flooded main A358 route to Chard in Somerset at Donyatt in Somerset, pictured today
Heavy rain and difficult driving conditions on the M1 near Nottingham this afternoon
Bredy Lane at Burton Bradstock in Dorset is flooded today as heavy rain continues to fall
The Met Office issued rain warnings for the North East of England until 9am tomorrow and the South West until 6pm this evening amid fears over flooding and travel disruption. Elsewhere an ice warning was imposed on northern Scotland from 3pm today until 11am tomorrow
It comes after hundreds of drivers were rescued from cars in Cumbria yesterday when drifts more than a foot deep blocked roads and brought down power lines.
Met Office warnings
ACTIVE
- Rain – South West and South Wales – Until 6pm today
- Rain – North East – Until 9am tomorrow
- Ice – Northern Scotland – Until 11am tomorrow
EXPIRED
- Snow and ice – Eastern Scotland – Until 12pm today
- Snow – Peak District and North Wales – Until 12pm today
- Ice – Northern England – Until 12pm today
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Some reported being stranded for up to 19 hours without food or water before help came. Around 2,500 residents spent yesterday without electricity as engineers battled treacherous conditions to repair lines damaged by the severe blizzards.
A major multi-car crash closed the M4 between junctions 21 and 22 in Gloucestershire this morning, while the A30 was shut eastbound between the junctions with the A377 and the M5 near Exeter in Devon due to an accident.
National Highways said the A303 in Somerset was closed eastbound between the A37/A372 at Podimore and the A359 near Sparkford because of flooding.
There was also flooding on the A46 near Nottingham[5] and the A1 southbound between the junctions with the A6121 and the A47 near Peterborough.
Today, a yellow weather warning for ice from the Met Office had been in place across much of the north of England until noon.
Further warnings for snow covering the eastern side of Scotland, high ground in Wales and the Peak District were in place until the same time.
Simon Williams of the RAC said northern parts of the UK could be facing an ‘ice rink Monday as snow refreezes overnight’. He also urged staff to work from home if possible.
The flooded main A358 route to Chard in Somerset at Donyatt in Somerset, pictured today
Vehicles drive through deep floodwater on the B3157 coast road at Bridport in Dorset today
Flooded road in Puddlebridge, Somerset, today as the South West faces a rain warning.
The flooded main A358 route to Chard in Somerset at Donyatt in Somerset, pictured today
A car drives through deep floodwater on St Swithin’s Road at Bridport in Dorset today
Vehicles drive through floodwater on part of the A37 near Bristol this morning
Flooding on the A37 near Bristol this morning as cars and buses are driven along the road
Vehicles drive through floodwater on part of the A37 near Bristol this morning
Sand bags out today as flooding is expected from the Cong Burn river in County Durham
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Met Office severe weather warnings in place for much of Britain this morning
Forecasters said rain and hill snow will ease tomorrow with brighter spells developing
Frost and fog clears for bright spells on Wednesday, wet and windy weather is set to arrive
The wet and windy weather is expected to push north and east into Thursday
More heavy rain is expected on Friday, although temperatures could get up to double figures
Mr Williams said: ‘We’re expecting some very treacherous icy conditions in northern parts, so those who have to drive should exercise great caution. If it’s possible to delay or even abandon journeys that may well be the best option.
Met Office weather forecast for Christmas
The Met Office has issued a forecast for the period of December 18 and January 1 as follows:
‘Conditions are most likely to be changeable through this period. Wetter and windier than average conditions are slightly more likely than normal, especially in the west and northwest. Temperatures are most likely to be near or above average overall, especially in the south and west. It is possible that there will be further colder interludes, but these likely to be short lived at first. Perhaps a greater chance of a longer cold spell late in the period.’
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‘Those who decide to drive should leave extra space behind the vehicle in front, and reduce their speed to give plenty of time to stop.
‘Before setting out, it’s important to allow more time to de-ice and de-mist vehicles thoroughly.’
The Met Office also issued a yellow warning for heavy rain creating disruption to travel across parts of southern England, South East Wales and into the Midlands which will last until 6pm.
The warning was extended west this morning to include more of Devon and Somerset.
ScotRail has advised passengers to check their journey before leaving home. The operator added: ‘It’s another cold start to the day. We’re making sure platforms are gritted, but it may still be slippery at the station.
‘Please take care when you’re travelling and remember that first train services of the day will take some time to heat up after being in the depots overnight.’
Electricity North West said it was making hot food available at Greenodd Service Station in Ulverston this morning for customers who remained without power.
More than 830 properties in Cumbria, primarily in South Lakeland, were still without power today.
A person shovels snow in the village of Ings in Cumbria today after it endured heavy snow
A person walks through snow in a churchyard in the village of Ings in Cumbria this morning
The village of Ings in Cumbria is pictured today after being hit by heavy snow at the weekend
Snowy scenes in the village of Ings in Cumbria today following severe weather in the county
A person walks along a snowy and icy road in the village of Ings in Cumbria this morning
Snow in the village of Ings in Cumbria today after severe conditions hit the county
Snowy scenes in the village of Ings in Cumbria today following severe weather in the county
A person walks along a snowy and icy road in the village of Ings in Cumbria this morning
Snowy scenes in the village of Ings in Cumbria today following severe weather in the county
Yesterday evening, it had said 1,500 properties in Cumbria were without electricity after power cuts followed heavy snow in the county.
The electricity network operator also said today that it had restored power to 13,000 homes, adding that ‘access continues to be a major issue and even specialist 4×4 vehicles cannot reach all sites’ with ‘equipment for repairs being carried on foot in some locations’.
It added that Cumbria’s power network had been severely impacted by the snow, with more than 35 separate incidents of damage to the network reported, including ‘severe damage to miles of overhead lines’.
The UK Health Security Agency and the Met Office have issued amber cold health alerts in five regions – the East Midlands, West Midlands, North West, North East and Yorkshire and the Humber – until tomorrow, meaning ‘cold weather impacts are likely to be felt across the whole health service for an extended period of time’.
The Met Office said Saturday saw the coldest temperatures since last winter, with -12.5C (9.5F) recorded in Altnaharra in the Highland region of Scotland.
That same location was the coldest place in Britain this morning, as the mercury dipped to -5.9C (21.4F).
England and Wales were expected to be largely cloudy outside the warning areas today with outbreaks of rain, some of them turning heavy.
Overnight snow was predicted to be confined largely to the North East and on hills with frost and ice in the north and north west.
An aerial view of snow on rooftops at Ambleside in Cumbria today amid the severe weather
Snow at Ambleside in Cumbria today after thousands of homes in the Lake District lost power
An aerial view of snow on rooftops at Ambleside in Cumbria today amid the severe weather
Snow in Ambleside, Cumbria, today after the county was hit by severe weather at the weekend
A heron by Lake Windermere at Ambleside in Cumbria today amid the severe weather
Snow at Ambleside in Cumbria today after thousands of homes in the Lake District lost power
An aerial view of snow on rooftops at Ambleside in Cumbria today amid the severe weather
Snow at a car park in Ambleside, Cumbria, today amid the severe weather conditions
Snow at Ambleside in Cumbria today after thousands of homes in the Lake District lost power
A tractor moves through the road at Ambleside in Cumbria today following the heavy snow
The Met Office said rain and hill snow will gradually ease across England and Wales tomorrow with brighter spells developing.
It will be sunnier but cold elsewhere with a few wintry showers in the North East, and lighter winds for most.
After frost and fog clears for bright spells on Wednesday, wet and windy weather is expected to arrive from the South West, pushing north and east into Thursday and Friday, with some initial hill snow.
Cumbria police said ice ‘will have a continued impact on Cumbria’s roads’ today and urged people not to travel to the region unless absolutely necessary.
The force posted on X: ‘If you are travelling today there is a yellow weather warning for ice in place. Please be aware of black ice on many of the county’s roads and ensure you drive to the road and weather conditions.’
It comes after officers, fire crews and mountain rescue teams worked through the night to rescue motorists trapped in one foot of snow in the southern Lake District on Saturday.
Jill Sherlock described it as ‘Ski Sunday’ in the Lake District yesterday after she managed to ski down a valley in the county – and posted a photograph on Facebook about her adventure
A member of the Beep Doctors team in Cumbria said they ‘resorted to sking’ around the county to bring life-saving emergency pre-hospital treatment to those in need
A truck driver lost control on an icy road in Elgin today before crashing into a house
Firefighters at the scene today after a truck driver lost control on an icy road in Elgin, Moray
Emergency services at the scene in Elgin, Moray, following the crash on an icy road today
Hundreds bunked down in schools, scout huts and church halls, or walked for hours to find refuge.
Many A-roads and the M6 – where several jack-knifed lorries blocked the motorway – were affected, and dozens of minor routes remained either closed or impassable yesterday.
Although some snow was forecast on Saturday, locals, tourists, motorists and, it seems, the Met Office were caught off guard by the heavy snowfall.
Mike Smith, 39, his partner, Sammy Tancock, 38, and his three step-children were among 100 people forced to spend the night at Hawkshead Esthwaite Primary School, in Ambleside, after being stuck in their car for eight hours.
Snow at Winnats Pass in Castleton, Derbyshire, today as drivers are warned about conditions
Snow in Winnats Pass, Castleton, Derbyshire, today amid the ‘very treacherous icy conditions’
Snow at Winnats Pass in Castleton, Derbyshire, today as drivers are warned about conditions
Snow in Winnats Pass, Castleton, Derbyshire, today amid the ‘very treacherous icy conditions’
Snow at Winnats Pass in Castleton, Derbyshire, today as drivers are warned about conditions
Dangerous conditions in the Peak District this morning as the region is hit by snowfall
Sheep graze on snowy fields in the Peak District this morning amid the severe weather
Motorists battle through dangerous conditions on roads in the Peak District this morning
Visibility is very poor on roads in the Peak District this morning amid severe conditions
The family had been to watch the annual Grizedale Forest Motor Rally when they became trapped.
Ambleside resident Jane Renouf told the BBC: ‘In all the years I’ve been here, which is over 50, I’ve never seen snow like it. It completely blanketed the town. It is about a foot deep.’
Elsewhere in the North, locals were undeterred by the snowy conditions – including revellers in Leeds who took to icy pavements in high heels to enjoy the countdown to Christmas.
References
- ^ Mark Duell (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Liz Hull (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Met Office (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ London (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Nottingham (www.dailymail.co.uk)