2 days Ago By Matthew Dooley
An ice warning has been issued across the UK as temperatures plummet following a major incident declaration due to severe flooding. The Met Office's yellow warning, indicating potential travel difficulties, spans Scotland, Northern Ireland and North Wales, reaching down to the Midlands until 10am on Thursday. A further snow and ice warning is in place for northern Scotland until 10am, with rain turning to snow likely causing travel disruption and hazardous driving conditions, according to the Met Office .
Despite the wintry weather, those planning to travel have been urged by both the Met Office and National Rail to prepare ahead of their journey on Thursday. Drivers should anticipate challenging conditions, especially in areas under a yellow weather warning, and are advised to allow extra time for potential delays or diversions. Public transport users are encouraged to check timetables and services before setting off due to possible delays or cancellations caused by the adverse weather.
According to National Rail, the harsh weather will affect trains across Great Britain, impacting Northern services, TransPennine Express services, Transport for Wales services and ScotRail services. Two new flood alerts were issued just before 6am on Thursday, with river levels peaking for both the Lower River Wharfe system in Yorkshire and Lower River Ure waterway in North Yorkshire. The UK is bracing for potential flooding as water levels peak in the Wharfe and Ure river systems, including their surrounding tributaries.
The areas most at risk within the Lower River Ure system include low-lying land and local roads around Masham, Boroughbridge, Aldborough and Bishop Monkton. Meanwhile, areas from Otley to upstream of Ulleskelf, including Tadcaster, are at risk within the Lower River Wharfe system. Despite no further significant rainfall expected on Thursday, Britons are advised to avoid using low-lying footpaths or bridges near local watercourses and not to attempt to traverse flood waters.
This warning comes after a major incident was declared in Greater Manchester on Wednesday due to flooding that forced home evacuations and closed train lines and roads. Mountain rescue teams assisted the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service with damaged properties and stranded vehicles. Areas still under monitoring include Didsbury, Stockport, Trafford and Wigan.
Approximately 450 people were evacuated from a Didsbury hotel on Wednesday evening, while 400 homes remain at lower risk with no widespread evacuation needed. Residents were forced to evacuate a block of flats in Meadow Mill, Stockport, due to severe weather conditions. The North West and Wales experienced heavy rainfall on Wednesday, with Marsden recording 101.
2mm of rainfall, surpassing West Yorkshire's January monthly average of 85.1mm. Capel Curig in Wales also measured 101.
2mm, less than a third of the monthly average of 327mm. Train services across the North West of England, including Northern services, TransPennine Express services, Transport for Wales services, and South Western Railway services, faced disruptions due to flooding. ⚠️ Yellow weather warning issued ⚠️ A risk of snow across parts of Scotland, England and Wales Saturday 1200 – Monday 0900 Latest info ?????? https://t.
co/QwDLMfRBfs Stay #WeatherAware ⚠️ pic.twitter.com/38go97OR7a National Highways reported that a section of the A628 Woodhead Pass between Woolley Bridge and Flouch was closed due to flooding, as was the westbound M56 between Junction 6 for Manchester Airport and Junction 8 for Bowdon.
In Bristol, the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol has been activated by Bristol City Council and homeless charity St Mungo's until January 8, increasing outreach shifts and making more accommodation available to ensure no one has to sleep on the streets during such extreme weather conditions. Temperatures were predicted to drop on Wednesday evening, potentially reaching minus 7C or minus 8C in Scotland overnight. The Met Office forecasted maximum temperatures on Thursday to be in the low- to mid-single figures.
Marco Petagna, a senior Met Office meteorologist, has issued a stark warning for the UK's road users: "Most roads will be treated, there's a chance on untreated roads that ice will still be an issue." He also cautioned, "On Friday I think we will see further snow and ice warnings issued." Amid these chilling predictions, a three-day yellow warning for snow encompasses nearly all of England and Wales, alongside parts of Scotland.
The Met Office cautions that rural communities risk isolation due to the impending wintry conditions this weekend. School closures loom large, as do potential power cuts, not to mention likely road, rail, and air travel disruptions. The yellow alert, spanning from noon Saturday until 9am Monday, excludes only the South West of England, covers most of Wales, and brushes southern Scotland.
Forecasts suggest approximately 5cm of snow could blanket the Midlands, Wales, and northern England, with up to 20-30cm possible on higher terrain in Wales and the Pennines. For those hoping for a mild Thursday, it may look deceivingly calm, but temperatures are set to feel significantly chillier than actual readings, the Met Office advises. This frosty spell is predicted to press on into Friday, bringing with it the potential for overnight ice, which could even extend down to the South West of England as the week concludes.
Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan has issued a stark warning, saying: "At the moment we've issued a very large snow warning for Saturday until Monday but it doesn't mean that everywhere within that warning could see snow, it's just a heads-up there could be some impacts.".
