Icy Conditions Hit UK Commuters: Yellow Warnings in Effect
Commuters across the UK are bracing themselves for what has been dubbed ‘Ice Rink Monday’ as yellow weather warnings for ice, snow, and rain grip various regions. The Met Office has issued warnings covering much of the north of England, eastern Scotland, high ground in Wales, and the Peak District until noon on Monday.
Icy Challenges for Morning Commute:
As sub-zero temperatures persisted overnight, creating icy patches on untreated surfaces, commuters face the prospect of very treacherous conditions on their routes to work. The weekend witnessed dramatic scenes across the country, with drivers encountering snow-covered roads, leading to instances of cars being abandoned or requiring a helping hand.
Wintry Hazards and Forecast:
Forecasters predict a continuation of wintry hazards, with icy conditions giving way to milder, wet, and windy weather. While largely cloudy conditions are expected in England and Wales outside warning areas, outbreaks of rain, potentially heavy, are anticipated. Overnight snow is predicted to be concentrated in the north-east and on hills, accompanied by frost and ice in the north and north-west.
Caution Urged by RAC Breakdown:
RAC Breakdown spokesperson Simon Williams cautioned that northern parts of the country might be facing an ‘ice rink Monday.’ Urging drivers to exercise caution, Williams suggested delaying or abandoning journeys if possible. Additionally, he advised leaving extra space between vehicles, reducing speeds, and allowing more time for de-icing and de-misting vehicles.
Extended Weather Warnings:
The Met Office has extended its yellow warning, including heavy rain, which may disrupt travel across southern England, south-east Wales, the Midlands, Devon, and Somerset until 6 pm. The UK Health Security Agency and the Met Office have jointly issued amber cold health alerts in five regions, indicating prolonged impacts on the health service due to cold weather until December 5.
Power Outages and Impact:
Electricity North West reported ongoing challenges, making hot food available for customers without power in Greenodd Service Station in Ulverston. Power cuts affected 1,500 properties in Cumbria, with the electricity network operator facing difficulties in accessing all sites due to severe damage to overhead lines caused by heavy snow.
Weekend Arctic Blast:
Over the weekend, the UK experienced the coldest temperatures since last winter, with unofficial reports suggesting significant snowfall, particularly in the Windermere and Coniston area of the South Lakes. Cumbria police declared a major incident as heavy snow led to road blockages, power outages, and stranded drivers, some enduring up to 19 hours without assistance.
Conclusion:
As the UK navigates challenging weather conditions, commuters and residents are urged to stay vigilant, heed weather warnings, and take necessary precautions to ensure safety amid the wintry conditions.
Yellow weather warnings for ice, snow and rain are in effect across the UK today By Natasha Anderson Published: 01:47 EST, 4 December 2023 | Updated: 01:55 EST, 4 December 2023
Commuters could face ‘very treacherous icy conditions’ on the route to work this morning after Britain battled another night of sub-zero temperatures.A yellow weather warning for ice by the Met Office is in place across much of the north of England until noon on Monday, with further warnings for snow covering the eastern side of Scotland, high ground in Wales and the Peak District until the same time.Forecasters have warned of an ‘ice rink Monday’ after overnight temperatures, which dipped to around or below freezing in many of the affected areas, were expected to cause icy patches on untreated surfaces due to thawed snow refreezing.Today’s rush hour commute could see a repeat of the dramatic scenes seen across the country over the weekend, with drivers forced to get out and push their cars or abandon them altogether on snow-covered roads. The UK was blasted by arctic weather over the weekend as the coldest temperatures since last winter were recorded, with unofficial reports suggesting that as much as 30cm of snow descended in some areas. The Met Office has warned of wintry hazards today that it says will give way to milder, wet and windy weather. But is expected to be largely cloudy in England and Wales outside the warning areas today with outbreaks of rain, some of them turning heavy.Overnight snow was predicted to be confined largely to the north east and on hills with frost and ice in the north and north west.RAC Breakdown spokesperson Simon Williams said northern parts of the country could be facing an ‘ice rink Monday’ today.He said: ‘We’re expecting some very treacherous icy conditions in northern parts, so those who have to drive should exercise great caution. If it’s possible to delay or even abandon journeys that may well be the best option.’Those who decide to drive should leave extra space behind the vehicle in front, reduce their speeds to give plenty of time to stop.’Before setting out, it’s important to allow more time to de-ice and de-mist vehicles thoroughly.’ScotRail advised passengers to check their journey before leaving home. A yellow weather warning for ice is in place across much of the north of England until noon today. Warnings for snow are in effect until the same time in parts of Scotland and Wales.The Met Office has also issued a yellow warning for heavy rain creating disruption to travel across parts of southern England, south east Wales and into the Midlands which will last until 6pm.The warning was also extended west to include more of Devon and Somerset.The Met Office said rain and hill snow will gradually ease across England and Wales on Tuesday with brighter spells developing. It will be sunnier but cold elsewhere with a few wintry showers in the north east. Lighter winds for most.After frost and fog clears for bright spells on Wednesday, wet and windy weather is expected to arrive from the south west, pushing north and east into Thursday and Friday, with some initial hill snow.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 December 5, meaning ‘cold weather impacts are likely to be felt across the whole health service for an extended period of time’. Electricity North West said it was making hot food available at Greenodd Service Station in Ulverston this morning for customers who remained without power.On Sunday evening, they said 1,500 properties in Cumbria remained without electricity after power cuts followed heavy snow in the county.The electricity network operator said it had restored power to 7,500 homes, adding that ‘access continues to be a major issue and even specialist 4×4 vehicles cannot reach all sites’ with ‘equipment for repairs being carried on foot in some locations’.It added that Cumbria’s power network had been severely impacted by the snow with more than 35 separate damages to the network reported, including ‘severe damage to miles of overhead lines’. It comes after the UK was blasted by arctic weather as the coldest temperatures since last winter were recorded over the weekend.Forecasters said Saturday saw the coldest temperatures since last winter, with minus 12.5C (9.5F) recorded in Altnaharra in the Highland region of Scotland. Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan said unofficial reports indicated there was ‘comfortably in excess of 20cm, probably in excess of 30cm, of snow across the Windermere and Coniston area of the South Lakes and also down towards Ambleside and the far south of Cumbria’.He said: ‘It was quite an unusual situation that led to it because it became slow moving and gave the same areas of south Cumbria hour after hour of heavy snow and that’s what led to the significant disruption there.’ Cumbria police had to declare a major incident when hundreds of drivers needed to be rescued from their cars when drifts more than a foot deep blocked roads and brought down power lines.Some reported being stranded for up to 19 hours without food or water before help came. There were also reports of people abandoning their vehicles to trudge for up to six hours home through the drifts, including one man who skied for over an hour from Ings to Bowness after traffic came to a standstill.
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