Here comes the sun! Millions of Brits to start their weekend with a reprieve from dreary weather
- The UK will soon see glimmers of sunshine across the country
- It comes after days of rain and thick cloud cover
- Sadly, much of Scotland still faces a yellow weather alert
Published: 02:03, 10 February 2024 | Updated: 02:32, 10 February 2024
Millions of Brits will start their weekend with a glimmer of sunshine today, following days of miserable rain and cloud cover across the country that is still affecting some regions.
Saturday afternoon will see towns and cities across the south of England, the coast of Wales and much of Northern Ireland[2] lit up by the sun, though temperatures will largely remain in single digits, according to data from the Met Office[3].
Areas on the south coast of England, including Exeter, Southampton, and Dover will jump up in temperature to 10C, while London[4] will see a comparatively balmy 11C in the afternoon.
Up in Scotland, however, snow will continue to fall, with temperatures in Orkney plunging as low as 3C across the day.
The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for much of Scotland, warning that disruption from snow and ice may continue until 3pm today.
A snow plough clears the road in Allenheads, Northumberland
Cars and vehicles drive through floodwater on the A4 Bath Road in Kiln Green, Berkshire
A jogger runs through snow-covered lanes in Digley, Britain, 09 February 2024
Many towns and cities across the south coast of England, including Exeter, Southampton, and Dover will jump up in temperature to 10C
Meteorologists said there was a small chance of outages of power and mobile service, leading to ‘some’ rural communities being cut off.
It also warned of a ‘small chance’ of injuries caused by the weather, and a chance that it may cause delays to travel.
Yesterday, much of England was on flood watch while snow continued in Scotland after a group of schoolchildren pushed a stranded bus on an icy road in Sheffield.
More than 400 flood alerts or warnings were in place across the UK. Most of these were in England, with 68 warnings and 311 alerts – mostly in the South and Midlands – while there were 21 alerts in Wales, plus two alerts and one warning in Scotland.
In Sheffield, the children went into the road to help push a First bus in the snow at the junction between Selbourne Road and Sandygate Road in the Crosspool area.
Witness David Kessen, a local journalist for The Star[5], said the bus got stuck at the top of the road, but ‘found help in the unexpected form of a group of schoolchildren’.
A man returned to his submerged Audi TT this afternoon amid flooding in Essex
Flooding around St Ives in Cambridgeshire today after the River Great Ouse burst its banks
Heavy snow covers rooftops in the Northumberland village of Allenheads this morning
A car on the side of a road in the Peak District today after the area was hit by heavy snow
A car is seen crashed on the side of the snowy A66 at Bowes in County Durham this morning
Horse riders on the flooded high street at Alconbury Weston in Cambridgeshire this morning
A taxi and a Porsche car are victims of flooding at Buttsbury near Billericay in Essex today
High river levels and flooding in the St Ives area of Cambridgeshire is pictured this morning
A car is driven through floodwater at Dunsden in the Oxfordshire countryside this morning
The Environment Agency issued 68 flood warnings (in red) and 311 alerts (amber) for England
He wrote: ‘The youngsters gathered behind to try to shove the struggling vehicle, showing again the caring community spirit that the snow brings out in this city.
‘Finally, the bus gained some grip, and made it to the top of Selbourne Road, where it turned right, as though to head back into the city centre.’
Another witness, Chris Mann, posted a photograph of the incident on X, saying: ‘School kids pushing their own bus #snow #sheffield.’
The post has now had more than 35,000 views – with one person asking: ‘What in the health and safety is going here?!’
Another area badly hit by snow yesterday was Buxton in Derbyshire, where a woman was killed in a crash involving a car and lorry on the A515.
While Met Office warnings for snow and rain in England have now expired, roads and railways in Scotland could still face disruption along with possible power cuts and mobile phone signal outages.
Scotrail warned of disruption on its West Highland Line which was blocked between Arrochar and Tarbet and Ardlui stations due to a fallen tree.
Elsewhere a landslip near Baidon in West Yorkshire was impacting Northern trains between Bradford and Ilkley.
Great Western Railway said flooding was causing disruption on routes between Bristol Parkway and Swindon, and between Plymouth and Newton Abbot.
Ferry operator Calmac said severe conditions were causing cancellations between Kennacraig and Islay; Lochranza and Claonaig; and Mallaig and Armadale.
Yesterday, dozens of schools were closed in northern England and North Wales and travel disruption was reported throughout the day as amber warnings were issued.
Flooding around St Ives in Cambridgeshire today after the River Great Ouse burst its banks
Alconbury Weston in Cambridgeshire is flooded today after the local brook burst its banks
A group of schoolchildren push a stranded bus out of the snow in Sheffield yesterday
The River Great Ouse burst its banks, leading to flooding at St Ives in Cambridgeshire today
Alconbury Weston in Cambridgeshire is flooded today after the local brook burst its banks
Flooding around St Ives in Cambridgeshire today after the River Great Ouse burst its banks
Alconbury Weston in Cambridgeshire is flooded today after the local brook burst its banks
The River Great Ouse burst its banks, leading to flooding at St Ives in Cambridgeshire today
Alconbury Weston in Cambridgeshire is flooded today after the local brook burst its banks
Flooding around St Ives in Cambridgeshire today after the River Great Ouse burst its banks
The River Great Ouse burst its banks, leading to flooding at St Ives in Cambridgeshire today
The Met Office measured 3.9in (10cm) of snow at Kirkwall in Orkney yesterday, and 3.5in (9cm) was recorded in Bingley, West Yorkshire.
A total of 1.7in (43.2mm) of rainfall was measured at Harbertonford in south Devon, almost half the average for the area in February.
Met Office operational meteorologist Dan Stroud said: ‘We’ve still got rain and many have snow making its way northwards, we have got further weather warnings in force.
‘Temperatures are recovering a little, across the far south it’s generally mild. We’ve got a second band of cloud and rain moving northwards, it makes for challenging driving conditions.
‘We’ve had the worst of it but it’s still not completely clear.
Where we have falling snow we see there is a risk of a few icy patches on roads.
‘The focus is probably starting to shift more towards ice, people should still be cautious.’
Heavy snow at Allenheads in Northumberland today after weather warnings were issued
A snow plough clears the road in the Northumberland village of Allenheads this morning
A snowboarder makes the most of the conditions at Allenheads in Northumberland today
Heavy snow covers rooftops in the Northumberland village of Allenheads this morning
A man clears snow outside The Allenheads Inn in the Northumberland village this morning
Heavy snow covers rooftops in the Northumberland village of Allenheads this morning
A snowboarder makes the most of the conditions at Allenheads in Northumberland today
A snow plough clears the road in the Northumberland village of Allenheads this morning
Heavy snow covers rooftops in the Northumberland village of Allenheads this morning
A man clears snow outside The Allenheads Inn in the Northumberland village this morning
Heavy snow at Allenheads in Northumberland today after weather warnings were issued
A snowboarder makes the most of the conditions at Allenheads in Northumberland today
A man clears snow outside The Allenheads Inn in the Northumberland village this morning
Heavy snow covers rooftops in the Northumberland village of Allenheads this morning
A snow plough clears the road in the Northumberland village of Allenheads this morning
A snowboarder makes the most of the conditions at Allenheads in Northumberland today
A snow plough clears the road in the Northumberland village of Allenheads this morning
School closures were reported yesterday in Wales, Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Cumbria.
Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, urged older people to do all they can to keep warm and safe as the temperature drops.
She said: ‘High energy bills and food prices mean it is understandable that some may think they have to cut back on food and turn their heating off, but prolonged exposure to cold temperatures can have a serious impact on their health, especially if they are already managing existing illnesses.
‘As we get older our bodies find it harder to adjust to big changes in temperature, particularly if we are also coping with ill health or mobility issues.
The cold raises blood pressure, which in turn increases the risk of a heart attack or stroke.’
The charity gave a number of tips including plenty of hot food and drinks, wrapping up warm outside and sleeping with the windows closed at night.
It also advised people to keep an eye on older relatives, friends and neighbours.
References
- ^ Perkin Amalaraj (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Northern Ireland (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Met Office (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ London (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ The Star (www.thestar.co.uk)