UK weather – live: Temperatures plunge below zero as big freeze set to bring snow and ice
Scotland, England and Ireland brace for snow as temperatures drop
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Three ice warnings are in place across parts of the UK as up to 5cm of snow is forecast in some parts of the country[1], the Met Office said. A yellow snow and ice warning is in place for much of the east coast of England and Scotland, with two other ice warnings issued for Northern Ireland and the south west of England, according to the forecaster.
It comes as overnight temperatures plummeted to as low as -6C in the south-west[2], -8C in Wales and -10C in parts of Scotland. “Where the showers fall as rain, there is a risk of icy patches forming overnight with temperatures widely dipping below freezing,” Met Office chief meteorologist Frank Saunders said. “A number of National Severe Weather Warnings[3] have been issued and these are likely to be updated over the coming days.”
Meanwhile, temperatures will hit -2C in London, -3C elsewhere in the south, and -4C or -5C in the northwest overnight Friday to Saturday.
Show latest update 1701416949
Ice likely to cause travel disruption, Met Office says
Icy weather conditions are likely to cause travel disruption across the UK this morning, according to the Met Office. “There will be some icy stretches on the roads this morning, possibly causing some travel disruption,” the forecaster said on X. Alexander Butler1 December 2023 07:49
Walkers, drivers and passengers warned of risk of ice
Met Office forecasters have advised of the likelihood of people suffering slips and fall injuries in one of the first icy periods of the winter.
They are also advising of the chance of disruption to road, bus and rail networks – with ice patches forming on untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths. A fresh ice warning for parts of Devon and Cornwall was issued, running from 10pm until 10am on Friday. A yellow warning of ice has also been issued for parts of Northern Ireland, lasting until 10am on Friday.
People walk next to Antony Gormley’s Angel of the North as snow continues to fall in Gateshead
(REUTERS) Jane Dalton1 December 2023 07:00
Snow from north to south
Temperatures plummeted on Thursday, and although snow fell from Hampshire on the south coast to Northumberland in the north, in most places it settled only lightly.
(PA) Jane Dalton1 December 2023 06:00
Watch snow blizzard hit Britain’s highest pub
Watch snow blizzard hit Britain’s highest pub The Tan Hill Inn[8]
A snow blizzard and arctic temperatures have hit Britain’s highest pub The Tan Hill Inn, but it is still business as usual.
The Tan Hill Inn in Richmond, North Yorkshire, is 1,732ft (528m) above sea level and has been cut off by bad weather before. Guests visiting the pub in November 2021 had to dig themselves out after waking up to several feet of snow, trapping them inside during Storm Arwen. Temperatures plunged to minus 7.2C in England on Wednesday (29 November) as snow fell in Scotland, Northumberland, and Yorkshire.
A pub spokesman said: “We are open today with a warm fire for food drink and accommodation.” Jane Dalton1 December 2023 06:00
Vehicles crash in snow
In County Durham, police said snowy conditions had led to some crashes on the roads. Durham Constabulary said: “There has been the first main snowfall of the winter across the force area which has led to roads being covered in snow.
“We have already had collisions reported due to the weather. Please be careful if you need to drive this morning, drive to the conditions and allow extra time for your journeys.” Jane Dalton1 December 2023 05:00
Millions of drivers ignore severe weather alerts, survey shows
Millions of drivers ignore severe weather alerts, a new survey suggests.
A third (33%) of respondents to a poll of more than 12,000 AA members said they would go ahead with planned journeys even if a red warning for snow was issued by the Met Office: Jane Dalton1 December 2023 04:00
Snow falls on Dartmoor
Met Office spokesman Oli Claydon said parts of Dartmoor could potentially see 5-10cm of snow throughout the day, with other areas of the South West seeing “more modest accumulations” of one to three centimetres. Widespread frosts are expected overnight, with temperatures dropping to -8C in the rural south and -7C in rural parts of Wales.
Mr Claydon said: “The cold conditions are set to remain for the remainder of this week and into the weekend. For those inland it will remain dry, crisp and cold but showers will continue along the east, becoming more north into the weekend.” Jane Dalton1 December 2023 03:00
Health alerts run till Tuesday
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 Tuesday.
It means “cold weather impacts are likely to be felt across the whole health service for an extended period of time” in those areas. Jane Dalton1 December 2023 02:00
Snow and ice alerts issued
The Met Office has issued snow and ice alerts for large areas of Scotland, England and Northern Ireland amid plummeting temperatures. Jane Dalton1 December 2023 00:50
Schools in Cornwall closed
More than 30 schools in Cornwall either closed for the day on Thursday or opened late due to hazardous conditions.
Snow swept across the southwest of England, parts of Yorkshire, the northeast and Scotland, with more expected. The Met Office issued a fresh ice warning for parts of Devon and Cornwall, which runs from 10pm until 10am on Friday.
Looe, Cornwall (PA)
Jane Dalton30 November 2023 23:20
References
- ^ 5cm of snow is forecast in some parts of the country (www.independent.co.uk)
- ^ overnight temperatures plummeted to as low as -6C in the south-west (www.independent.co.uk)
- ^ National Severe Weather Warnings (www.metoffice.gov.uk)
- ^ 1701416949 (www.independent.co.uk)
- ^ 1701414006 (www.independent.co.uk)
- ^ 1701410406 (www.independent.co.uk)
- ^ 1701410400 (www.independent.co.uk)
- ^ Watch snow blizzard hit Britain’s highest pub The Tan Hill Inn (www.independent.co.uk)
- ^ 1701406800 (www.independent.co.uk)
- ^ 1701403206 (www.independent.co.uk)
- ^ 1701399600 (www.independent.co.uk)
- ^ 1701396000 (www.independent.co.uk)
- ^ 1701391800 (www.independent.co.uk)
- ^ 1701386402 (www.independent.co.uk)