FLOODING is expected to hit Britain in the coming days as an Arctic blast edges closer – bringing with it heavy rain, gale force winds and freezing overnight temperatures.
Yesterday saw torrential rain sweeping across the country, with more wet weather set for this evening as a dreary January well and truly sets in.
And the bookies now make it just 5/2 for this month to enter the record books as the wettest January ever after flood alerts were today issued across the UK.
Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said: "There's every chance this month breaks January records for all the wrong reasons, with more miserable weather on the way."
For today, a Met Office forecast says: "Mostly cloudy, cloud thick enough for some rain or drizzle at times, mainly in the north and west. Mostly dry in the southeast where some brighter spells. Milder than Sunday."
.Read our weather live blog for the latest news and forecasts
- Joseph Gamp
Pictured: Water cascades down Derwent Dam in Derbyshire
Water cascades down the face of Derwent Dam this morning in Derbyshire after recent snow fall melted & raised water levels.
The Dam was used by 617 Squadron the "Dam Busters" to practise low level flying in preparation for Operation Chastise during the Second World War.
The Met Office forecast states today there will be a few foggy or frosty spots in the east at first.
NINTCHDBPICT000704364047Credit: LNP - Joseph Gamp
Brits in for some colder nights, says forecaster
Annie Shuttleworth a Met Office forecaster said: "It will be a largely cloudy day across the UK on Monday as rain and mild air pushes eastwards throughout the day.
"Further west, in central and western areas, quite a cloudy night with outbreaks of rain and drizzle across western areas. That could be quite persistent on Monday morning, with some hill snow in the far north of Scotland.
"We're in for some drier weather, but some colder nights and some foggy nights too."
- Joseph Gamp
What can we expect from this weekend's weather?
Frost and fog are also predicted for the end of the week, with freezing fog rolling across the nation, causing severe disruption for commuters, a spokesperson for The Met Office said.
Meanwhile, there are three flood alerts in place across England across the southwest, after eleven flood alerts were originally issued over the weekend.
- Joseph Gamp
Met Office: Freezing conditions to come round quickly
The Met Office said conditions are surprisingly mild for the time of year but that Brits should expect freezing conditions to come around very quickly.
Met Office forecasters are predicting dull and dreary days before the brutal drop in temperature heading into next week, with London temperatures lower than Scotland.
While mild spots are expected across the UK, with London and Edinburgh peaking at 10C, the sudden plummet will leave people feeling frosty this weekend.
But the big freeze will hit the whole of the UK from Wednesday onwards with temperatures dropping as low as 0C in London.
- Joseph Gamp
10 dead in South African coastal city from flooding
Floods around South Africa's eastern coastal city of East London have killed at least 10 people and left hundreds homeless since the weekend, national media reported on Monday, as rivers burst their banks and roads were inundated.
Footage on state broadcaster SABC showed cars trying to drive through torrents of water that had submerged highways. Several media reported that hundreds of homes had been washed away in the iron-roof informal settlements just outside the city, especially the Mdantsane township.
Scientists suspect that climate change is the cause of worsening floods and droughts along the country's eastern coastline, where the city of roughly half a million lies.
In 2019, the Department of Environment drew up a plan for South Africa to adapt to climate change, which includes strengthening its preparedness to respond more quickly to weather disasters and help victims recover.
- Joseph Gamp
Met Office: Temperatures to fall this week
The Met Office tweeted: "It's much #milder in the north and west today
"However #temperatures are set to fall in most places this week.
"Feeling #cold in the south by Friday but remaining mild in the north."
- Joseph Gamp
Some areas could see up to 13cm of snow
The highest levels of snow will be seen in Pitlochry this morning, which could see up to 13cm, the Express reports.
Parts of the northeast of England, and in particular, the Yorkshire Dales may also see wintry showers as temperatures plunge.
The bone-chilling snow levels are expected to stay throughout the day, according to WXCharts.
And in Scotland, temperatures could drop as low as -3C, while in northern England the mercury may range from 0C to -2C.
The Midlands and south of England will be slightly warmer with highs of 4C.
- Joseph Gamp
Met Office warns of thick cloud today
The Met Office has today warned of thick cloud, rain and drizzle.
The forecast says: "Mostly cloudy, cloud thick enough for some rain or drizzle at times, mainly in the north and west.
"Mostly dry in the southeast where some brighter spells. Milder than Sunday."
- Joseph Gamp
Frost and Fog due to set in next week
Frost and fog is set for the latter end of the week, with freezing fog rolling across England and Wales, a spokesperson for The Met Office said.
The forecaster told The Sun: "We've seen pretty much an average start to the month in terms of rainfall, we're running at about 30 per cent of the average rainfall – we would usually expect to be at that value.
"But high pressure building and fog will be the main problem.
"It looks quite nice around the middle of the week, and Wednesday could be quite sunny – but there is an increasing risk developing of freezing fog on Thursday and Friday."
- Joseph Gamp
Britain saw flooding chaos yesterday
In East Sussex, three people had to be airlifted to safety after getting cut off by high tide and four-metre high waves, the BBC reports.
A spokesperson for the RNLI "strongly urged" beachgoers and water lovers to "check the weather and tides before setting out".
Yesterday, there were 12 flood alerts in place across the country, with the Environment Agency warning rivers could swell and rise – causing flooding to fields and gardens in some parts.
Today, however, the risk of flooding was reduced to "very low", with just nine alerts in place.
- Joseph Gamp
How to stay warm when outside
With the weather getting chillier and frostier, you’ll want to wrap up warm.
Here are some good tips for staying all snugly and cosy when outdoors:
- Prewarm your clothes.
- Invest in some quality thermals.
- Fleece leggings.
- Hand warmers.
- Cover every inch of skin.
- Eat fatty foods.
- Thermal flask.
- Keep moving.
- Keep hydrated.
- Keep your head covered.
- Tactical scarf-wearing – including keeping your nose and mouth covered
- Joseph Gamp
Make your car visible in poor winter weather
You can be fined up to £1,000 for failing to switch your car lights on when you’re driving.
Make sure they’re all working before you set out on your journey, and turn them on if you have to get out to clear snow.
If you use fog lights, remember to switch them off when visibility improves so they don’t dazzle other drivers or obscure your brake lights.
- Joseph Gamp
‘Icemageddon’ warning
AUTHORITIES in Alaska issued “Icemageddon” warnings as conditions swung from record heat to record snowfall in the state.
In the town of Ketchikan in the southeastern part of the state, temperatures plunged to record lows — a chilly -0.4F on December 25, BBC News reported.
“December was a wild, wacky and impactful winter month weather-wise over much of Alaska,” Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy’s Rick Thoman said on Twitter.
“From unusual cold to unprecedented warmth, excessive snowfall to record dry. Plus severe blizzards, crippling freezing rain and damaging winds.”
The “Icemageddon” warnings stemmed from dangerous conditions brought on by ice, as hard as cement, covering roads.
- Joseph Gamp
Manchester weather forecast for today
Generally cloudy throughout with some rain and drizzle from time to time.
Becoming murky over the hills with some mist and fog in places.
Light winds and feeling mild. Maximum temperature 10 °C.
- Joseph Gamp
London weather forecast for today
Cold, cloudy morning.
A few spots of light rain or drizzle possible, becoming slightly more widespread and persistent across western parts through the afternoon.
Some eastern parts staying dry, however. Maximum temperature 9 °C.
- Joseph Gamp
Met Office outlook for today
Mostly cloudy with some rain or drizzle at times, particularly in the northwest where some heavier rain likely.
Much milder than recently with some strong winds in the far north.
- Joseph Gamp
Weather outlook for Tuesday to Thursday
The Met Office has offered a short summary into the weather for next week.
It predicts how there will be “cloud and rain for England and Wales Tuesday, clearing southeast; sunny spells elsewhere with a few showers far northwest”.
The agency added it will be “settled and mostly dry Wednesday onwards, with overnight frost and fog”.
- Joseph Gamp
Coldest January on record in the UK
Leading bookmaker Coral has slashed the odds to 6-4 (from 3-1) for this month to end as the coldest January on record in the UK, as the latest forecasts point to falling temperatures from Wednesday.
The firm go 2-1 for this winter to be the coldest ever in the UK.
“We’ve enjoyed some unseasonable mild temperatures over the last few days but that is set to come to a crashing end later this week. With snow and freezing temperatures on their way, we have slashed the odds in half on this month ending as a record cold January,” said Coral’s John Hill.
- Joseph Gamp
Cold weather payments
Here is the full list of postcodes that qualify for the payments.
Aviemore
- AB37
- IV13
- PH19-26
Braemar
- AB35-36
- PH10-11
- PH18
Aboyne
- AB30-34
- AB38
- AB51-55
- DD8-9
Loch Glascarnoch
- IV4
- IV6
- IV7
- IV14
- IV16
- IV23-24
- IV63
Three tips to know before driving in snow and ice
Driving expert Jack Cousens, head of roads policy at the AA, has some useful advice.
He said drivers must take it slow and leave plenty of space for the car ahead in case they skid off the road.
And with motorways expected to be busier than ever as Brits rush to celebrate a family Christmas for the first time in two years, staying out of danger is extremely important.
Here are Jack’s top tips:
- Make space, it’s not a race
- Slow and steady
- Beware of ‘black ice’
End of January outlook
Through the rest of January, a continuation of the rather changeable regime is expected with spells of wet and windy weather interspersed by drier, brighter periods.
Temperatures are likely to remain close to or slightly above average due to a mixture of mild spells and shorter-lived colder periods.
These shorter-lived colder periods may still allow for some snow, but this will typically fall over hills in the north.
Towards the end of this period, there is a tentative sign of more settled spells developing, particularly across the south which would increase the chance of overnight frost and fog here.
- Joseph Gamp
Make your car visible in poor winter weather
You can be fined up to £1,000 for failing to switch your car lights on when you’re driving.
Make sure they’re all working before you set out on your journey, and turn them on if you have to get out to clear snow.
If you use fog lights, remember to switch them off when visibility improves so they don’t dazzle other drivers or obscure your brake lights.
- Joseph Gamp
How to stay warm when outside
With the weather getting chillier and frostier, you’ll want to wrap up warm.
Here are some good tips for staying all snugly and cosy when outdoors:
- Prewarm your clothes.
- Invest in some quality thermals.
- Fleece leggings.
- Hand warmers.
- Cover every inch of skin.
- Eat fatty foods.
- Thermal flask.
- Keep moving.
- Keep hydrated.
- Keep your head covered.
- Tactical scarf-wearing – including keeping your nose and mouth covered
- Joseph Gamp
This month will see drop in temperatures, says Met Office expert
Met Office forecaster Craig Snell said the average temperature in December and the beginning of January is usually around 7C or 8C, with the warmer weather due to a south-westerly wind making its way across the country.
The higher temperatures are usually localised, but “plenty of places” have seen highs of 15C over December.
However, he added that January could see a drop in temperatures because of an Arctic chill sweeping through from next week.
- Joseph Gamp
What is a Thundersnow?
It is essentially a thunderstorm in cold weather.
If it’s cold enough then instead of rain, the thunderstorms produce snow.
This, along with the usual thunder and lightning is called a thundersnow.
It is often very atmospheric.
Th snow dampens the sound of the thunder and reflects the lightning making it even brighter.
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