UK weather forecast: Met Office issues ‘danger to life’ warning as temperatures hit seven-year low
Written by News on 31/01/2019
The Met Office has issued an amber severe weather warning for snow as all regions recorded their lowest temperatures for the winter so far.
The amber warning – for southwest England and southern Wales – means the possibility of risk to life and property, travel delays, road and rail closures and interruption to power supplies.
The warning also means some rural communities could be cut off.
“Three to seven centimetres is likely to accumulate quickly – within two to three hours – with up to 10cm (3.9in) in some places,” the Met Office said.
“The highest snowfall accumulations are likely to be in areas above 150 metres or so.”
It comes as the temperature in Braemar, Scotland, dipped to -14.4C (6.08F) this morning – the lowest UK temperature since February 2012.
Most of the UK is covered by a less severe yellow warning – which means be aware – as it prepares for more snow, ice, fog and strong winds.
England, Wales and Northern Ireland also had their coldest start of winter so far, with the temperature in Redesdale Camp, near Newcastle, dipping to -10.5C (13.1F).
Sennybridge in Wales’s Brecon Beacons recorded -9.3C (15.26F), while Katesbridge in Northern Ireland saw a low of -8.2C (17.24F).
Last year’s lowest temperature of winter was -14.2°C (6.44F) at Faversham on 28 February.
Thursday could bring “very significant” snow, Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said, with up to 10cm (3.9in) expected on higher ground.
Lower-lying areas could also get several centimetres.
Mr Burkill added: “It’s currently just a yellow warning, but it’s not out of the question that will be ramped up nearer the time.
“It’s looking like it will be a spell of persistent snow.”
Sky News weather presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar added that the evening snow would “be an added hazard for central and southern parts of the UK and Ireland. Winds will also be strong across the South West”.
The wintry conditions are expected to last well into Friday with warnings of ice and snow likely to bring travel disruption over parts of north and east Scotland and England.
Councils have stocked up with more than 1.4 million tonnes of salt, the Local Government Association said.
Thick fog has blanketed some parts of the country, such as on the M90 around the Queensferry Crossing in Scotland.
Ice on railways also caused disruption, with Southeastern Trains announcing 21 services were being cancelled or altered.
Network Rail Western advised customers to travel before 9pm on Thursday and to check services with their train provider.
Dorset County Council is cancelling transport services, including school buses, on Friday but said it was up to individual schools to decide if the opened.
Some schools across Scotland, the North and Northern Ireland closed for a second day on Thursday.
On Wednesday, Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Manchester Airport closed their runways for most of the morning as they struggled to shift snow and ice.
Roads in those areas, as well as parts of Devon and Cornwall, were badly hit, with gritters and snow ploughs unable to work quickly enough to clear the snow and ice.
The temperatures in the UK, however, pale in comparison to the Antarctic-like temperatures forecast for parts of America.
The Midwest has seen a low of -46C (-50.8F) when wind chill is accounted for.
(c) Sky News 2019: UK weather forecast: Met Office issues ‘danger to life’ warning as temperatures hit seven-year low
