UK Weather: Met Office Issues Ice and Snow Warnings
The Met Office has issued new weather warnings for ice that are set to take effect from Thursday afternoon at 16:00 GMT and continue until Friday morning. These warnings cover parts of Northern Ireland and Wales, as well as areas in north west England and the east of England. They come after an existing warning for snow and ice in parts of northern Scotland.
Travel Disruption Expected Across UK
The bitterly cold spell has already brought heavy snowfall to many areas, leading to dozens of flood alerts and warnings due to either heavy rain or melting snow. Travel disruption to road and rail services is expected throughout Thursday in areas covered by the warnings.
Manchester Airport temporarily closed its two runways on Thursday due to “significant levels of snow.” While the airport has since reopened, some departures and arrivals may still experience delays. There are currently three weather warnings in place:
– A yellow warning for snow and ice in northern Scotland until 10:00 GMT Friday
– A yellow warning for ice in parts of the east of England, East Midlands, north east England, Yorkshire & Humber, and south west Scotland and Lothian Borders from 16:00 GMT Thursday to 10:00 Friday
– A yellow warning for ice from 16:00 on Thursday to 10:00 on Friday for parts of Northern Ireland, East Midlands, Wales, West Midlands, and north west England
Recorded Low Temperatures Across UK
On Wednesday, the lowest temperature recorded overnight was -12.4C (9.68F) at Tulloch Bridge in the Highlands. Other low temperatures included -11C (12.2F) in Shap, Cumbria, -7.8C (17.96F) in Sennybridge, Powys, and -7.3C (18.86F) in Castlederg, County Tyrone. The coldest temperature recorded this winter was -13.3C at Loch Glascarnoch on Sunday night into Monday morning.
An amber cold health alert remains in place for all of England until Sunday, indicating significant impacts across health, including a rise in deaths due to the forecast weather.
Impact on Transportation and Services
The wintry conditions have caused significant disruption across the UK since snow swept many parts of the country at the weekend. Around 80 schools are closed across Wales, with Devon, Yorkshire, and Aberdeenshire among the counties in England and Scotland also experiencing closures. Widespread flooding has been reported in recent days, with flood warnings in place for areas of England and a flood alert in South Pembrokeshire in Wales. National Rail has advised passengers to check before they travel, as ice and snow may lead to speed restrictions and line closures, affecting various rail operators.
As the cold weather is set to continue until at least the weekend, drivers are urged to remain vigilant of the risks posed by ice and snow. Stay safe and stay informed as you navigate the wintry conditions across the UK.