UK on snow alert as mercury plunges
Severe weather warnings for almost all of the UK are in place, with heavy snow, widespread icy roads and bitter temperatures forecast.
Some 10ins (25cm) of snow is expected to fall over higher ground, while parts of the Midlands and London will not escape a dusting. Overnight temperatures across the UK plunged well below zero again, after a day when much of the country was badly disrupted by the earliest widespread snow for 17 years.
The Met Office said London and the South East, the South West, East Midlands, Yorkshire and Humber and the north east of England face widespread icy roads. The North East, Yorkshire and Humber, East Midlands and the South West were also braced for heavy snow and Wales and Northern Ireland can expect icy roads while Scotland is in line for more heavy snow and drifts thanks to a biting wind.
One of the coldest places overnight was Trawscoed in Wales, which saw minus 10.2C.
Dalwhinnie in the Scottish Highlands recorded minus 8.2C, and Glasgow minus 3.5C. In England, Chesham in Buckinghamshire was among the coldest places at minus 7C. And Preston in Lancs fell to minus 5.8C.
Forecasters said the cold snap is set to tighten its grip, blanketing swathes of the country in white by the middle of next week.
Aisling Creevey, of MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: "It's definitely staying cold and going into next week, we could see a lot more snow. There is a low pressure system across the country and if it moves the way it is looking to at the moment, it's going to be very windy, very snowy and really bitter."
Temperatures will barely rise above freezing on Saturday, with the South West set to be the warmest at around 3C.
The AA said it was called out to 16,000 breakdowns by the end of the day, with 1,220 calls coming in every hour at the busiest time. Wales and the North East were the worst-hit for breakdowns.
The unusual weather has been caused by high pressure over Greenland and low pressure in the Baltics, forcing cold winds from the north east across Europe.
Popular Stories
Money has to serve, not to rule - Pope
Video - Soldier hacked to death in...
Update 2 - Three missing women found...
Update 2: Gunman held in Rome police...
'Dramatic' flooding in Passau
Tornado chaos hits Italy
New video - Ship rams harbour control...
Italy confirms first case of new virus
Angelina reveals double mastectomy
In Discussion
Video - Soldier hacked to death in...
More than 1,200 migrants reach Italy by...
Clashes as France approves gay marriages
Men tie first gay knot in France
Anti-gay marriage march held in Paris
Shock over London killing
Rival protesters face off in London
Mother of Cleveland kidnapping suspect...
Israel says Google's "Palestine" page...
6 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Anne Howdon
Nov 28th 2010, 20:30
Totally agree Mr. Formosa!! All countries have their pros and cons (as determined by personal taste, of course and hopefully, not by anything less acceptable or fair) I have enjoyed a number of holidays in Malta and fully appreciate the warm sunshine and blue sea as well as the friendliness almosr invariably encountered., On the other hand, as an English person, accustomed to our cooler climate, I did find the very hottest days very uncomfortable!! An honesr personal observation which in no way, detracts from my high opinion of Malta and its citizens. We are all made differently with differing abilities to cope with differing climatic extremes! In response to Miriam Falzon, I can only extol the great beauty and colour of all our seasons' landscapes. Yes the sun does occasionally shine here and even winter-time has a great joy and beauty of its own. For me, Christmas has an extra magic when it is White! One only has to observe the joy of excited children playing in snow to appreciate Winter's wonders. I would not choose to insult either country by using adjectives such as 'grey' or 'morbid'. Each climate has it's own special beauty., each worthy of appreciation.
Peter Ross
Nov 27th 2010, 18:54
This is what we ahve to expect for the next 30 years or so. Solar scientists have predicted this years ao due to the sun's dormant mode. The sun has gone into a solar minimum, the oceans are getting colder and winters will be colder too.
GiovDeMartino
Nov 28th 2010, 17:24
But haven't we been assured that the world is getting HOTTER?
GiovDeMartino
Nov 27th 2010, 15:14
I have to repeat: Watch the foreign news, any time any day and thank the good Lord that we live on this blessed arid rock.
Miriam Falzon
Nov 27th 2010, 12:25
Tell me about it, i know we used to live in that horrible horrible i repeat Horrible cold, morbid grey country, but now we are back home in Paradise, blue sea, sunshine and warm winters, still swimming believe or not,a safe healthy country. I thank God everyday for fantastic islands and needless to say Maltese citizens, who wants to go to the UK or even countries such asd Spain when we all got everything on our doorstep./
tony formosa
Nov 27th 2010, 14:36
ì am particularly fond of the beautiful weather across the maltese isles, it is indeed remarkable particularly considering the weather away from our shores. Having said that i think it is quite unfair to call the uk a morbid country, what were you expecting tropical climate? Unless you were forced to go there on some galley, which i dont think is the case, the uk is not to blame for your morbid experience..one should weigh these things out beforehand.
Please choose the reason of your report below: