UK weather forecast: Brutal winds 'for next 5 days' as Met Office issues snow & ice alerts – with more flooding expected
A YELLOW weather warning for lightning and snow has been issued for much of Scotland & Northern Ireland as schools were forced to close.
A yellow weather warning for ice has been issued across Northern Ireland from Thursday evening through to Friday morning.
Brits have been advised to brace for snow and ice across Scotland and northwest England through the same period.
The Met Office has warned of the possibility of 10 to 20cm of snow on higher ground, along with strong blustery winds and a chance of showers that could be accompanied by frequent lightning.
Meanwhile, the Environment Agency said that severe flooding is expected to continue and "strongly recommended" that residents evacuate from behind the defences due to the risk and take action to implement their emergency flood plans as severe flooding to homes and main roads were expected to continue.
Read our weather live blog for the latest on Storm Eunice…
- Louis Allwood
1.4 million households were left without power
Storms Dudley, Eunice and Franklin left 1.4 million households without power, some for up to 72 hours, and dozens of properties near the River Severn were evacuated.
One severe flood warning, meaning there is a danger to life, has been issued for the River Severn at Wribbenhall, Bewdley, where levels could overtop the defences, the agency said.
Around 400 properties have flooded across different parts of the country as a result of the heavy rain.
Environment Secretary George Eustice said 40,000 homes had been protected by flood defences, as he was quizzed on flooding and the lack of permanent defences on the River Severn at the National Farmers' Union conference.
- Louis Allwood
UK weather outlook for Saturday and Sunday
Saturday will be fine and dry with lots of sunshine across England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland will be cloudy with a few showers.
There will be some early spells of sunshine on Sunday however a band of cloud and outbreaks of rain will push eastwards during the day and may be wintry.
- Louis Allwood
Tomorrow's weather (Friday)
Any early wintry showers will clear during the morning.
It will then be fine during the day as it will be dry and bright with long spells of winter sunshine and just some patchy fair-weather cloud cover around.
Thick cloud cover will build across Northern Ireland and Scotland during the afternoon.
- Louis Allwood
Tonight's weather
Daytime wintry showers will continue across northern and western areas during the evening but will tend to turn increasingly light and patchy.
Overnight will then be mainly dry with long clear spells and variable amounts of patchy cloud cover. Wintry showers will ease and largely clear by dawn.
- Louis Allwood
Why are flight delays more likely in winter?
Fog, snow, ice and crosswinds mean that air traffic controllers have to increase the gap between planes that are landing, reducing the number of aircraft that an airport can manage.
The same weather can make it slower and more difficult for the planes to taxi between runway and terminal building. As many commercial flights are cruising more than five miles above the ground, they can be affected by different weather than we are experiencing on the ground.
Safety is always the first consideration for the aviation industry. An aircraft that’s stood overnight in freezing weather will need de-icing before its first flight in the morning.
That’s a fairly big task for one plane but imagine the task at Heathrow on a snowy January morning. At the same time there are miles of taxiways and runways to clear.
Then think about the people who do this work getting to the airport – the same snow and ice are probably affecting the roads and railways.
- Louis Allwood
In pictures: Search & rescue operations in Bewdley, Worcestershire
In the image below, search and rescue teams check on residents in Bewdley, in Worcestershire.
Floodwater from the River Severn yesterday breached the town's flood defences following high rainfall after Storm Franklin.
Elsewhere on the river a severe flood warning, meaning there is a danger to life, has been issued at the Wharfage in Ironbridge.
- Joseph Gamp
Severe flooding expected to continue says Environment Agency
The last week has seen storms Dudley, Eunice and Franklin cause problems across the country and about 400 properties have been flooded.
A severe flood warning is in force for the River Severn at Wribbenhall, Bewdley, where temporary flood defences were breached following heavy rainfall on Tuesday afternoon.
The River Severn peaked in the town on Wednesday afternoon but levels are expected to remain high for a prolonged period and a severe flood warning, meaning a danger to life, is still in place.
The Environment Agency said that severe flooding is expected to continue and "strongly recommended" that residents evacuate from behind the defences due to the risk and take action to implement their emergency flood plans as severe flooding to homes and main roads were expected to continue.
The Environment Agency Midlands said teams were out at the River Severn in Tewkesbury where they are monitoring the river level as it moves down to Gloucester.
The Environment Agency had 32 flood warnings and 30 flood alerts in place on Thursday afternoon.
- Joseph Gamp
Unsettled blustery weather to remain for next five days
The Met Office said the unsettled blustery weather will stay around over the next four or five days, especially in the northwest, although conditions are not expected to be as severe as during the past week.
Met Office chief meteorologist Frank Saunders said: "A cold front, followed by cold arctic Canadian air, has now pushed south across the country and has brought a spell of windy, showery and cold weather.
"Northern Ireland, Scotland, and parts of northern England will see some further snowfall, chiefly on hills through the rest of today and in places tonight.
"Gusty winds mean blizzards are possible on higher routes and national severe weather warnings are in place.
"A ridge of high pressure builds on Friday resulting in a fine, bright day for most. However, the winds pick up again as we head into the weekend with weather fronts bringing rain to the north and west and milder air spreads back in here."
- Joseph Gamp
Snow and ice warnings in force
Snow and ice are set to hit parts of the country as forecasters warn that unsettled weather is set to stick around for up to five days.
A yellow weather warning for ice has been issued across Northern Ireland from Thursday evening through to Friday morning while people have been told to brace themselves for snow and ice across Scotland and northwest England through the same period.
Sleet or snow showers may hit higher ground in Northern Ireland while temperatures may drop towards freezing in places, leaving people to possibly have to face icy stretches on untreated surfaces.
In Scotland and northwest England, the he Met Office said that rain, sleet and hail, with snow may hit areas that are above around 200-300 metres on Thursday and may bring 2-5 cm of snow to higher routes across the Pennines and Scotland.
Police Scotland said that conditions for travel may be "hazardous" and urged people to take "extra caution" as the forecaster warned that falling temperatures on Friday could bring widespread icy stretches, especially on untreated surfaces.
- Joseph Gamp
Met Office: Cold night for all across the UK
The Met Office says showers will fade and a cold front will sweep in this evening and overnight.
The weather agency tweeted: "Tonight, showers will start to fade and it will be a cold night for all with winds easing and skies clearing.
"Icy stretches are likely to form on untreated surfaces across Northern Ireland, Scotland and northwest England."
- Joseph Gamp
RAC: Lives were saved by drivers staying home during Eunice
Millions of drivers heeded warnings to stay off the roads when Storm Eunice hit, new figures show.
The RAC said “lives were saved” as the Department for Transport revealed that car traffic in Britain fell to 69% of pre-coronavirus pandemic levels on Friday February 18, down from 91% during the previous day.
Strong winds caused by Storm Eunice caused dangerous conditions on the roads, with three people killed in incidents involving fallen trees and other debris.
Several major road bridges were closed, including both crossings over the River Severn between England and Wales, and the Queen Elizabeth II bridge, which is part of the Dartford Crossing linking Essex and Kent.
RAC spokesman Simon Williams believes the reduction in traffic limited the number of fatalities.
He said: “These statistics show that lives were saved as millions of motorists heeded the warnings to only drive if absolutely essential.
“It seems like all the developments around working from home in the pandemic made a massive difference in an extreme weather event like Storm Eunice as many employees clearly were able to stay off the road and continue being productive away from their workplaces.”
- Joseph Gamp
Further yellow warnings in place overnight
Further areas of rain, sleet & hail, with snow mainly at elevations above around 200-300 metres, are likely to affect many areas this evening.
These will be heavy in places, perhaps bringing 2-5 cm of snow to some of the higher routes across the Pennines and Scotland.
Beyond midnight, showers will become less widespread and will fall increasingly as rain or sleet away from some higher routes and parts of northern Scotland.
However, as temperatures fall, icy stretches are possible more widely, especially on untreated surfaces.
- Joseph Gamp
Weather this evening and tonight
Wintry showers heavy and frequent at first, with some snowfall on hills, especially northwest England and Scotland, these becoming more isolated later as winds ease.
Clear spells developing allowing a frost and some icy patches in places, especially northern areas.
- Joseph Gamp
RAC: Lives were saved by drivers staying home during Eunice
Millions of drivers heeded warnings to stay off the roads when Storm Eunice hit, new figures show.
The RAC said “lives were saved” as the Department for Transport revealed that car traffic in Britain fell to 69% of pre-coronavirus pandemic levels on Friday February 18, down from 91% during the previous day.
Strong winds caused by Storm Eunice caused dangerous conditions on the roads, with three people killed in incidents involving fallen trees and other debris.
Several major road bridges were closed, including both crossings over the River Severn between England and Wales, and the Queen Elizabeth II bridge, which is part of the Dartford Crossing linking Essex and Kent.
RAC spokesman Simon Williams believes the reduction in traffic limited the number of fatalities.
He said: “These statistics show that lives were saved as millions of motorists heeded the warnings to only drive if absolutely essential.
“It seems like all the developments around working from home in the pandemic made a massive difference in an extreme weather event like Storm Eunice as many employees clearly were able to stay off the road and continue being productive away from their workplaces.”
- Louis Allwood
Tips to avoid freezing and bursting pipes
- Make sure you know where your stop tap is and check it’s working
- If you are leaving your house during the freezing temperatures, leave your heating on and set the thermostat to 14 C
- Make sure all roof and vulnerable pipes are insulated and your boiler is serviced
- Make sure you have the name and telephone number of your nearest WaterSafe qualified plumber to hand. Keep it by the boiler or stop tap
- Get a neighbour to look in occasionally if you go away
- Louis Allwood
Massive sinkhole forces locals to flee their homes
A MASSIVE sinkhole forced locals to flee their homes after swallowing up a garden as the terrifying Storm Eunice battered Britain.
The garden in Keighley, West Yorkshire was obliterated by the treacherous weather, as flood warnings were put in place across the country.
Horrifying footage shows the huge hole which suddenly appeared outside the home on Sunday, consuming the entire contents of the outdoor area.
- Louis Allwood
Four million households can claim £25 a week energy bill help
AROUND 4million households are eligible for a £25 cold weather payment when temperatures drop below zero.
The benefit is to help struggling Brits pay for energy bills during spells of freezing weather.
The latest government figures show that 3.9million Brits are eligible to receive the £25 grant as energy bills rocket.
However, they'll only get it when the temperature falls below zero for seven days in a row.
There have been six triggers in Britain since November last year.
All of the payments have been in Scotland so far, with 394,000 eligible recipients.
The data shows that five of those were in December 2021, with another payment made in January.
You can check whether you're owed a payment by searching for your postcode on the Department for Work and Pensions website.
- Louis Allwood
ICE to form overnight
The Met Office have warned of ice forming overnight on untreated surfaces.
For many showers will begin to fade and it will be a cold night for many as winds begin to ease and skies clear.
Beyond midnight, showers will become less widespread and will fall increasingly as rain or sleet away from some higher routes and parts of northern Scotland.
- Louis Allwood
Environment Secretary quizzed over flooding
Environment Secretary George Eustice said 40,000 homes had been protected by flood defences, as he was quizzed on flooding and the lack of permanent defences on the River Severn at the National Farmers' Union conference.
He said: "The Severn has had some issues particularly around Bewdley and Ironbridge and also some issues as well around Shrewsbury, but actually the defences that we have put in place have been very successful, as they were two years ago, protecting those communities.
"We know there are around 40,000 homes that have been protected by the flood defences put in place and on the Severn in particular we have these rather innovative demountable barriers that enable you to use the river normally most of the year.
"And then when the flood risk arises, we put up temporary barriers alongside the river, and those have been remarkably successful at reducing the flood risk particularly along the Severn, and have been again this time."
- Louis Allwood
Cardiff facing some calmer weather
A colder day with sunny spells and scattered showers, these wintry across Snowdonia and the Brecon Beacons at times.
Brisk winds will make it feel even colder with maximum temperatures of 7 °C.
Showers will fade into the evening and winds will ease.
Some clear spells will develop particularly to the east of the country with minimum temperatures of 1 °C.
- Louis Allwood
Drivers warned to be careful
A second warning for snow and ice has been issued – stretching from the north of Scotland to Manchester.
Drivers are urged to watch out for icy patches on some untreated roads in the affected area.
The Environment Agency (EA) said people living in parts of the West Midlands and Yorkshire – especially those along the Rivers Severn, Aire and Ouse – should prepare for significant flooding following high rainfall from Storm Franklin.
- Louis Allwood
Schools in Northern Ireland unable to open
Schools in various parts of Northern Ireland were unable to open on Thursday morning due to the snow, after the area was blanketed overnight.
Counties Fermanagh, Tyrone, Londonderry and Antrim were worst hit by the wintry conditions.
People in Belfast also woke up to snowy scenes on Thursday morning.
- Louis Allwood
Schools close in Scotland
SEVERAL schools are closed today after heavy snow blasted Scotland overnight.
Storm Gladys has swept in, just days after deadly Eunice and Franklin.
Commuters are facing difficult conditions and many schools have opted to close as a result of the snow, with more forecast today.
Some schools within Angus and Fife as well as the highland have closed today and look set to close tomorrow as the Met Office have released further warnings.
Many schools within Perth & Kinross have also closed.
- Louis Allwood
What to expect from tonight's warnings
- Probably icy patches on some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths, leading to an increased chance of accidents and injuries
- Some roads, and possibly railways, could be affected by longer journey times, particularly those roads crossing higher ground
Further yellow warnings in place for over night
Further areas of rain, sleet and hail, with snow mainly at elevations above around 200-300 metres, are likely to affect many areas this evening.
These will be heavy in places, perhaps bringing 2-5 cm of snow to some of the higher routes across the Pennines and Scotland.
Beyond midnight, showers will become less widespread and will fall increasingly as rain or sleet away from some higher routes and parts of northern Scotland.
However as temperatures fall, icy stretches are possible more widely, especially on untreated surfaces.
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