Five days of snow warnings issued for most of UK as nation braces for cold spell
The UK Health Security Agency says elderly people are at particular risk, with temperatures plunging as low as minus-eight, ITV News' Kelly Foran reports
Yellow weather warnings for snow and ice, spanning over five days and affecting most of the UK, have been issued by the Met Office, with some rural communities at risk of being cut-off.
Schools could potentially be closed and there is a chance of power cuts and road closures as well as delays and cancellations to flights and trains, the forecaster said.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has also issued cold weather health alerts across England ahead of a week of low temperatures, warning that a rise in deaths is likely.
Where can we expect snow?
A yellow weather warning for snow comes into force from 4pm on Thursday until 10am on Friday for the north of Scotland and Shetland Islands.
The Met Office predicts 3 to 7 cm snowfall is likely in places, whilst 10 cm or more is possible above 300 metres. Across Shetland, much of this may fall during a short spell during the late afternoon.
On Saturday, a yellow warning for snow and ice is in place from noon until just before midnight on Sunday. This covers all regions of England other than the South West, the majority of Wales and parts of southern Scotland.
About 5cm of snow is expected widely across the Midlands, Wales and northern England, with as much as 20-30cm over high ground in Wales and potentially 30-40 cm over parts of the Pennines, which could bring power cuts, the forecaster added.
Another yellow snow warning covering most of Scotland will run throughout Sunday until midday on Monday.
Anyone planning to travel is being warned of delays on roads, with the possibility of stranded vehicles and passengers, along with delayed or cancelled rail and air travel.
Britons warned of travel disruption
It comes after a major incident was declared due to flooding in parts of the country and fresh weather warnings have been issued for ice ahead of a blast of snow over the weekend.
A yellow Met Office warning indicates there could be icy surfaces in northern and western Scotland, the north west of England and Northern Ireland. The warning is in place from 5pm on Thursday until 10am on Friday morning, and could make for difficult travelling conditions, the forecaster warned.Scattered wintry showers will be replaced by a longer spell of rain and sleet on Thursday night, particularly across western Scotland and Northern Ireland.As temperatures dip below freezing, this will lead to a risk of ice on untreated surfaces, the forecaster said.
UK Health Security Agency issues amber warning for low temperatures
An amber cold weather alert has been issued across England by the UKHSA from 12pm on Thursday until the 8th of January.
The agency says that a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions, is likely due to the cold weather. Some people will have challenges keeping indoor temperatures at the recommended 18C, leading to more risk to vulnerable people.
An imminent cold snap will bring the Government’s decision to limit the winter fuel allowance to only the poorest pensioners "into sharp relief", Age UK director Caroline Abrahams has said.
She said the charity had already been contacted by older people "worrying about what to do when this moment arrived".
"We urge older people to do everything they can to stay warm, even if that means risking spending more on their heating than they feel they can afford,” she said.
"The energy companies are under an obligation to help if you are struggling and there may be support available from your local council too. Better that than to jeopardise your health."
For those who intend to travel despite the current wintry weather, both the Met Office and National Rail issued alerts to remind Britons to plan ahead if on the move over the next few days.
With the end of the week comes the threat of overnight ice extending south as far as the South West of England.
Difficult driving conditions should be expected, particularly within areas under a yellow weather warning. Allowing extra time is also advised, with delays, diversions, or hampered conditions likely for road users.
For those using public transport, passengers are advised to check any timetables and services before setting out in case of delays or cancellations due to inclement weather.
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Flood alerts
Two new flood alerts were issued just prior to 6am on Thursday, with river levels peaking for both the Lower River Wharfe system in Yorkshire and Lower River Ure waterway in North Yorkshire.
The peaked water levels mean both the Wharfe and Ure river systems and surrounding tributaries are at risk of flooding.
Areas most at risk within the Lower River Ure system include low-lying land including agricultural land and local roads in the areas around Masham, Boroughbridge, Aldborough and Bishop Monkton.
For Lower River Wharfe, areas at risk of flooding span from Otley to upstream of Ulleskelf, including Tadcaster.
No further significant rainfall is expected for Thursday in the area, with water levels expected to begin falling in the coming hours.
Britons in the area are advised to avoid using low-lying footpaths, or any bridges near local watercourses, and to not attempt to walk, drive or cycle through flood waters, with officials advising that if the area is flooded, then forget it.
Major incident in Manchester stood down
It comes as a major incident has been stood down after flooding which saw almost 1,000 people evacuated.Fire crews in Greater Manchester attended more than 100 incidents as a result of the flooding, caused by heavy rain through New Year's Eve and into New Year's Day.In neighbouring Cheshire, the Bridgewater Canal breached its banks when an aqueduct was damaged during the rainfall.In a joint update on Thursday, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS), Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) said there had been no reports of injuries and they were now focussing on recovery efforts.The major incident was declared at 4am on New Year's Day and mountain rescue teams were deployed to help.Chief fire officer Dave Russel said: "The flooding on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day caused considerable damage and disruption across Greater Manchester. We have evacuated nearly 1,000 people, half of them on boats, and many from flooded homes."Over the past 36 hours, fire crews have worked tirelessly to keep people safe alongside Greater Manchester Police, North West Ambulance Service, Mountain Rescue, local councils and a range of partners. I'd like to thank everyone involved in the response for their hard work and dedication."
A number of train routes were disrupted or blocked by flooding on Wednesday, mainly in the North West of England, with some Northern services, TransPennine Express services, Transport for Wales services, and South Western Railway services affected.
National Highways said a section of the A628 Woodhead Pass between Woolley Bridge and Flouch was closed due to flooding, as was the westbound M56 between Junction 6 for Manchester Airport and Junction 8 for Bowdon.
In Bristol, the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol has been activated by Bristol City Council and homeless charity St Mungo’s, which will run until January 8, which will see increased outreach shifts and more accommodation made available, with the aim of ensuring nobody has to sleep on the streets during such extreme weather conditions.
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