Deep freeze grips Britain: Snow showers, freezing fog and ice in the South set to spark commuter chaos TODAY amid
- Temperatures fall to -11.1C (12.0F) in Scotland and -2C (28F) in Devon overnight
- Some areas of Britain are colder than places within the Arctic Circle this morning
By Mark Duell[1] and Richard Marsden[2]
Published: 06:36, 9 January 2024 | Updated: 12:10, 9 January 2024
Snow and ice gripped parts of Britain including the South East today after -11C (12F) temperatures overnight as forecasters warned the cold snap could last a month.
Amid another cold and frosty morning in the UK, the Environment Agency said 125 flood warnings and 136 alerts remained following last week's Storm Henk deluge.
The mercury plunged to -11.1C (12.0F) this morning at Aviemore in the Scottish Highlands - a record low for the short-lived New Year - and the coldest place in England was Okehampton in Devon, which recorded -3.5C (25.7F). Elsewhere, Birmingham[3] fell to -1C (30F), while London[4] was 1C (34F) and Glasgow[5] 0C (32F).
A low of at least -10C (14F) was expected in Scotland tonight while -7C (19.4F) was possible in some rural areas of South West England. The coldest night of the winter so far was December 3 last month, when -12.5C (9.5F) was recorded at Altnaharra.
Frosts made these areas colder than places within the Arctic Circle, with Tromso in northern Norway only expected to fall to 0C (32F) overnight amid milder-than-usual conditions.
Reykjavik in Iceland is set to stay frost-free all week with cloud and rain.
An amber cold health alert for the North West of England, the Midlands, the South West of England and the South East of England is in place until noon on Friday.
The alert by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) means 'cold weather impacts are likely to be felt across the whole health service for an extended period of time'.
Dog walkers brave the cold this morning at Cissbury Ring near Worthing in West Sussex
Houses in Wraysbury, Berkshire, are flooded today after the River Thames burst its banks
Dogs go for a walk at the National Trust site of Cissbury Ring in West Sussex this morning
Residents make their way through floodwater at Wraysbury in Berkshire this morning
Dog walkers brave the cold this morning at Cissbury Ring near Worthing in West Sussex
The grounds of Windsor Castle are flooded today after the River Thames broke its banks
Pedestrians on Westminster Bridge brave the cold weather on a sunny morning today
Floodwater covers the riverside path at Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire this morning
Derbyshire Police reported that there had been a crash on the A517 near Shottle and urged motorists to 'take extra care due to reports of ice on roads in the area'.
Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service tweeted: 'With the freezing temperatures this week, please take extra care on the roads. Wet roads could now be icy so drive carefully and allow extra time for your journey. Make sure your windscreen is fully clear of frost and ice before you set off too.'
Its Nuneaton and Bedworth Police account tweeted: 'Please be aware there is ice on some roads.
We've already been called to Atherstone Road in Hartshill several times this morning after a number of reported collisions and near misses. Thankfully there have been no serious injuries but please drive carefully.'
And Wiltshire Council said: 'It's cold again this morning with sub-zero temperatures. Our gritting team have been working overnight, but there may be ice on roads and pavements.
Please take care whether you're driving, cycling or walking and 'think ice' - even on treated roads.'
Today, the Environment Agency (EA) said 125 flood warnings remain in England where flooding is expected, including a flood warning on the River Thames south-west of London in Wraysbury.
The EA says flooding of property and roads was expected around Friary Road, The Embankment, Ousley Road and Riverside areas.
The majority of flood warnings are in the South of England and the Midlands, particularly through Reading, Slough, Oxford, Salisbury and further north in Cheltenham and Peterborough.
Cars in a flooded car park at Wallingford in Oxfordshire are pictured this morning
The grounds of Windsor Castle are flooded today after the River Thames broke its banks
Residents carry a cat as they walk through floodwater at Wraysbury in Berkshire this morning
Pedestrians on Westminster Bridge brave the cold weather on a sunny morning today
The grounds of Windsor Castle are flooded today after the River Thames broke its banks
A car in a flooded car park at Wallingford in Oxfordshire this morning
A cold start at Aylesford in Kent today where a medieval bridge spans the River Medway
Pedestrians on Westminster Bridge brave the cold weather on a sunny morning today
A Labrador goes for a swim at he floodwaters in the copse at Dunsden in Oxfordshire today
The grounds of Windsor Castle are flooded today after the River Thames broke its banks
Cars in a flooded car park at Wallingford in Oxfordshire are pictured this morning
People brave the cold weather as they walk over a bridge at Aylesford in Kent this morning
Pedestrians on Westminster Bridge brave the cold weather on a sunny morning today
The grounds of Windsor Castle are flooded today after the River Thames broke its banks
A canal boat that has broken free of its moorings at Wallingford in Oxfordshire today
Floodwaters in a dip in the copse at Dunsden in Oxfordshire today as a dog walker passes by
A car in a flooded car park at Wallingford in Oxfordshire this morning
Pedestrians on Westminster Bridge brave the cold weather on a sunny morning today
The grounds of Windsor Castle are flooded today after the River Thames broke its banks
People brave the cold weather as they walk over a bridge at Aylesford in Kent this morning
A car in a flooded car park at Wallingford in Oxfordshire this morning
The grounds of Windsor Castle are flooded today after the River Thames broke its banks
Cars in a flooded car park at Wallingford in Oxfordshire are pictured this morning
The grounds of Windsor Castle are flooded today after the River Thames broke its banks
The day's sunrise is obscured by a thick bank of cloud at Dunsden in Oxfordshire this morning
There are also 136 flood alerts in place throughout the same areas where flooding is possible.
It comes as a yellow warning for ice across southern England and South Wales expired at 3am today.
The Met Office said there would be snow flurries affecting parts of England's south into the early hours of this morning.
Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan said that not much of the snow appeared to have settled, with some areas seeing a 'dusting of maybe one centimetre or two of snow'.
He said today would be drier with limited snowfall, apart from some wintry showers in Cornwall.
He added: 'We're not expecting much in the way of further snowfall on Tuesday. In actual fact, it will be much sunnier than today, particularly in the south compared to Monday.'
Mr Morgan said a blast of cold air coming down from the north, mostly affecting Scotland, was likely to bring more cold conditions over the weekend with some snow showers.
Train services warned customers to be careful when using their services due to icy conditions.
Yesterday, a dusting of snow made for tricky driving conditions in Maidstone, Kent, while rail commuters took pictures of snowy scenes as they travelled through the South East.
Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon said Britain is in the grip of a 'cold regime and that theme continues for much of the week'.
He added: 'Temperatures through the week will remain below average for this time of year. If you do have to travel in icy conditions, plan your route and check for delays and road closures.
'If you are driving... look out for potential hazards and keep your speed down.
Using a higher gear may be more appropriate.'
Forecasters for Sky News predicted that the South East will likely face the biggest shock from the cold air after very mild temperatures, reaching an unseasonal 13C (55F) during recent storms.
As January goes on, northerly winds are set to bring a blast of Arctic air with more snow showers at times across the North and 'a smaller risk of a period of snow across some southern areas for a time'.
The arrival of wintry weather follows a wet and windy Christmas and New Year, most recently with Storm Henk bringing a deluge of rain, followed by widespread flooding.
Over the coming days, the weather is due to be 'cold with sunny spells for most [with a] risk of wintry showers', the Met Office said.
Today, there is a 'risk of some wintry showers for the South West in the morning, with the odd shower for North East England' but dry, bright and cold elsewhere.
Later in the week and into the weekend, mostly dry weather is due to predominate, with the best chance of sunshine in the South West.
It is set to be cloudier elsewhere with light rain, drizzle and wintry showers likely further north.
Cold health alerts, issued by the UKHSA, are in place until Friday, with an amber alert covering North West England, West Midlands, East Midlands and South West England.
The Environment Agency said 125 flood warnings (in red) remain where flooding is expected
The EA said there is a flood warning on the River Thames south-west of London in Wraysbury
There is a yellow alert for North East England, Yorkshire and The Humber, East Anglia, South East England and London.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, of the UKHSA, added: 'Temperatures are expected to turn particularly cold overnight, as we would expect at this time of year.
'If you have a pre-existing medical condition or are over the age of 65 it is important to try and heat the rooms where you spend most of your time, such as your living room or bedroom, in the coming days.'
The polar airflow is set to develop next week and towards the middle of the month, when forecasters say 'it is likely to turn colder as northerly winds begin to develop across the UK'.
A lorry stuck in floods yesterday on the A1101 in Welney, Norfolk - the lowest road in England
A rescue effort was attempted yesterday but teams will wait for water levels to drop further
The recovery was assessed but teams retreated rather than cause more damage to the lorry
As well as the risk of snow showers, there is also 'an increased chance of more unsettled conditions spreading from the west'.
The pattern is unlikely to change for the last week of January and into February, when there remains 'an increased chance compared to normal of cold conditions along with ice and snow'.
Weather systems are set to attempt to make inroads at times 'bringing periods of rain or snow' but 'some drier, more settled interludes are also likely'.
References
- ^ Mark Duell (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Richard Marsden (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Birmingham (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ London (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Glasgow (www.dailymail.co.uk)