UK & World News
- 13 January 2013, 15:56
Weather Warning: 'Severe' Ice And Snow Ahead
Forecasters have issued a new severe weather warning, with a high chance of disruptive ice and snow in England for much of next week.
The Met Office has raised its alert level to three - one step below a national emergency - and said icy conditions could last until Friday morning.
Snow is expected in the North and East of the country, where downpours will build up on the ground as temperatures remain below zero.
Some snow is also expected in the South East and South West, along with central areas.
All of Britain is already feeling the effects of winter as temperatures continue to linger at zero or just above.
Commuters have been warned to expect difficult journeys on Monday, when several centimetres of snow is expected across large swathes of the UK.
Snow has already begun to fall in Scotland and will slowly spread south today and overnight delivering a light dusting, but a heavier dump is expected to land over north Wales, central England and northern England tomorrow.
On Saturday, temperatures in some areas were between 2C and 5C (36F-41F), but in Inverness and Aviemore in the Scottish Highlands they never got above -1C (28F).
Temperatures were low across the UK overnight into Sunday, with the lowest reading -6C (21.2F) at Shap in Cumbria at 3am.
The AA has warned that 75% of drivers are not prepared for conditions on the roads, and urged drivers to carry an essential winter kit and check their cars before getting behind the wheel.
The RAC is expecting up to 56,000 breakdowns and widespread disruption.
It has placed extra patrols on stand-by to help stranded motorists and said call-outs are expected to rise by 20% or more.
The Highways Agency said it is "well prepared" for winter conditions, adding that a fleet of 500 state-of-the-art winter vehicles were on standby.
A spokeswoman said: "Our roads will be treated whenever there is a risk of ice or snow. However, even when roads have been treated, drivers should still take care, especially on stretches where the local road layout or landscape means there could be a greater risk of ice forming."
what do you think?
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Michael Hawkins
Cold enough to keep the naked ramble at home I presume
Andy Sillitoe
Oh no its going to snow no bread in the shops people panic buying this crap country can't cope with nothing
movvi
I see we're expecting a "heavier dump" here in north Wales. Lovely! ;-)
Louisa Gieldon
Good luck with the heavy dump Movvi!!!
Valerie Wood
Just started snowing where I am in the north. No wonder William didn't move up here LOL
Michael Hawkins
A bit harsh, I have always found north Wales quiet nice, but I have not been back for a few years How things change
Michael Hawkins
No wonder William didn't move up here LOL Possible has more to do with......................... no I will stop there, do not wish to ruin your sunday
jane cumming
Heavy dump.sounds like you got constipation
Adrian Wagstaff
It seems a bit cold. I wouldn't say it's extremely cold. I've been through winters where we have winds from the north pole AND from Siberia and when it gets to -20C. At the moment ... it doesn't seem like that. Looking at the maps, there are some quite warmish areas and some cold areas. I'm not expecting much snow. I could be wrong like I sometimes am. See, the thing is, the areas where it's really cold, there are saying is on the hills and mountains, like in Yorkshire and Scotland, where it does get cold, anyway? I think last year we got blizzards a bit later on, about February, I'm not too certain about that. I think they need to warn people if it might snow, which it might. I don't think there'll be much yet. Not in most areas. That's what I think.
Juliet Williams
why don't the government and councils just prepare properly for this season....winter happens every year, its not a new concept!! we had much worse winters many years ago and people just got on with it...as someone said, just look out of the window and that should tell you what the weather's like...the AA has warned that 75% of the population are not prepared for the conditions on the roads; that's a massive assumption and i'm sure that most people are aware of the fact that its winter and to take extra care...but it would help if they taught the people who grit the roads how to drive properly so that it actually ends up on the roads and not just sprayed everywhere and then we could drive on the roads and carry on as normal..
Martin Anderson
My goodness, it's going to snow.....in winter? Surely not??? :O) I am 60 years young and have survived quite a few white winters...my mum is 84 and she said our winter weather over the last 10-20 years isn't a p[atch on what she used to get, so don't panic people, snow happens in winter, oh and summer too because in June 1972 or 1973 it snowed for two days then less than a week later we had a really great heatwave....take it all with a pinch of salt folks, it will soon be Spring !!
Andrea Hill
this is nothing like we used to get. i live in wales.
d and d Phillips
Will this wind?
heather
Has the Met Office got their seaweed hung up again, they have spent huge amounts of money on this new Met Office in Exeter, and still they can't get it right, it is beautiful here today that is Exeter and way above freezing
parlane83
Lol why does this country go into panic mode when snow comes....other countries in Europe take it in there stride so why cant we???
jane cumming
Dont say that heather otherwise everyone called william will move here
Valerie Wood
Ha ha - nice one Jane LOL
gypsy56
Errr, May I remind the Met Office - it IS winter time; -6C is not cold for winter Snow is NORMALLY expected in Winter. When I was homeless (mid 70's to mid 80's), it went down to -10C with windchill of -15C FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, I don't remember panic buying or mass hysteria from the press or TV. Certainly nobody came to 'rescue' the homeless from it; in fact then like now they didn't give a toss about the homeless!
Robert Hare
Sounds like you've had it really tough being in that situation,and yes I don't suppose anyone gave you a thought. seeing as your posting on here I assume things are much better for you now and I hope your warm and comfortable. Best wishes
Alan Crabtree
Its on the the way guys
Marc Yorkie Rowsby
I live in York and I can report it's not snowing and it will not lol
Vladtheinhaler .
I live in Liverpool, and it was snowing earlier, and it looks likely , tomorrow.
stevegs850
hope they can deice the plane and clear the runway,off to egypt! seee ya!
Mark Ashpole
Shock-horror! Snow in winter?!
denisparsons
It's forecast for next week not this week muffleheads.
shaun spencer
Yippie here comes some snow.cant wait to make snowman and snowlady and new to the tradition a snowdog.the kids love it and so do i a little.lol
Mark Hussey
Do local gov highways grit roads aneymore?
jane cumming
Yes main roads are.however in the country lanes where i live the councils dumped sacks of salt here and there where weve got to help our selves
Martin Peacock
Be aware that if you have a newish car which is a low carbon model, it will have low rolling resistance tyres.These offer limited traction in snowy conditions. I got caught in a sudden snowstorm in late 2009, and my tyres couldn't get enough grip to get me up a gentle slope. It was most embarrassing when the older vehicles were charging straight past me up the slope with no difficulty at all !
fish41
They got the bit about freezing temps right up here on Merseyside- had alovely frost last night and this morning. also had a little flurry of snow. Warmed up now and just raining. Is it just a ploy by the physops division of govt to get us to go out and buy up all remaining stocks of deicer, rock salt, snow shovels etc to try and stimulate the economy. The snow and freezing temps were threatened to come from Russia----that old communist enemy. Oh well me may all be eating a bit of humble pie in a day or two
Fran Duggan
OMG! Snow in winter!!! Almost as unnerving as that wind and rain in Autumn! I mean, it was so strong it blew the leaves from the trees!!
Name witheld
1:04pm on 13/1/2013
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the massons
1:20pm on 13/1/2013
Correct, bad snow was coming Fri, then Sat, then Sun, now it will be here tomorrow!!
ListenToTeacher
4:02pm on 13/1/2013
Piers corbyn has ;-)
Vladtheinhaler .
5:58pm on 13/1/2013
Snowed in Liverpool , today. Just a bit.
Diane Rogers
6:20pm on 13/1/2013
Snowed in Shrewsbury yesterday and today. Did not stick yesterday a light dusting on roofs at moment
Juliet Smith
6:22pm on 13/1/2013
I agree with you thereI wait & see what it's doing myself.It did try to snow here earlier but it soon stopped again.
endofastorm
8:54pm on 13/1/2013
Its the declaration that the situation is a level 3, one step below a national emergency, that makes me laugh my * off. The people distributing these sensational statements must be a very fragile lot. Its truly ridiculous.