Severe weather warnings for snow, ice, and rain remain in effect across large parts of the UK, with southern England facing significant flooding risks from heavy rainfall and melting snow. Milder temperatures over the weekend have exacerbated flooding concerns, with swollen rivers on the brink of overflowing.
Flood Warnings and Alerts
The Environment Agency has issued over 100 flood warnings for southern England, signaling that flooding is “expected” in these areas. Additionally, more than 260 flood alerts, indicating flooding is “possible,” are in place across England and Wales. Officials are closely monitoring rivers and water levels nationwide.
Weather Warnings in Effect
The Met Office has issued a series of warnings as the weather continues to disrupt travel and daily life:
- Amber Warning for Snow: Northern England, including Cumbria and the Lake District, remains under an amber warning until 06:00 GMT Monday.
- Yellow Warnings for Snow and Ice: These cover most of Scotland, Wales, northern England, and the Midlands, in effect until midday Monday in some regions.
- Yellow Warnings for Rain: Southern England and south Wales are under rain warnings until Monday morning.
- Yellow Warning for Ice: Northern Ireland remains under an ice warning until 11:00 GMT Monday.
Amber warnings are particularly severe, indicating a potential risk to life and significant travel disruptions.
Travel Disruptions and Delays
The adverse weather has caused widespread cancellations and delays across the transport network:
- Several airports, including Manchester, Liverpool, and Birmingham, temporarily closed runways over the weekend. Most have since reopened, but delays persist.
- Gritting operations are underway nationwide, with 500 lorries deployed and over 240,000 tonnes of salt stockpiled, according to National Highways.
Snow Accumulations and Cold Temperatures
Heavy snow blanketed much of the UK over the weekend:
- Up to 15cm of additional snow is forecast for northern England by Monday.
- Some rural communities face the risk of being cut off due to deep snow.
- Temperatures are expected to dip below average from Monday, with widespread frost and ice continuing to pose hazards.
Sports and Events
Despite the conditions, the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield went ahead on Sunday following safety assessments.
Health Alerts Remain in Place
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has maintained amber cold weather health alerts across all of England.
Residents are urged to remain cautious, monitor updates from local authorities, and prepare for further disruptions as severe weather continues to impact the UK.
