Revised: Countless additional individuals in Britain have received recommendations to prepare for a period of cold weather, following the release of new warnings about potential ice.
The Met Office has released a yellow alert for ice in the southern regions of England and Wales, effective from 3pm on Monday until 3am on Tuesday.
After visiting flood-affected individuals in Oxford, Rishi Sunak, the wintry weather arrived. Despite the efforts of Environment Agency (EA) workers, who are still attempting to clean up after the strong downpours and gusty winds of Storm Henk last week.
Residents of London and the surrounding area were greeted with icy conditions, as well as sleet and snow showers, on Monday morning.
The temperature dropped to -8C in Altnaharra, located in the Scottish Highlands. It is predicted that temperatures will remain below average for this time of year throughout the week.
The southern regions of the United Kingdom may experience “freezing conditions and light snowfall,” which could result in hazardous ice patches on roadways and increase the risk of slipping on slick surfaces for individuals.
The EA announced that there will be “significant” flooding in certain areas along the lower River Trent on Monday, with minor effects also expected along the Thames and Severn until Wednesday.
There is a possibility of minor flooding of groundwater in some areas of Dorset, Wiltshire, and Hampshire, as well as other southern regions and Yorkshire.
According to Stephen Dixon, a representative from the Met Office, the abrupt shift in weather is attributed to the arrival of cold air from the northern and eastern regions, replacing previously damp air from the west.
Partly cloudy skies and mild temperatures are predicted, with a possibility of 1-2cm of snow accumulation on elevated areas like Dartmoor.
According to Dixon, the current weather pattern is chilly and will persist throughout most of the week. Temperatures are expected to stay lower than usual for this season.
If you must travel in icy conditions, make sure to plan your route and check for any delays or road closures.
“When operating a vehicle, be mindful of any potential dangers and maintain a lower speed. Utilizing a higher gear may be advantageous.”
Temperatures in the Scottish Highlands may reach as low as -9C on Tuesday evening, while daytime temperatures in the south are predicted to remain below 6C and in the north, below 8C.
A cold health alert for the north-west, Midlands, south-west, and south-east regions of England will remain in effect until noon on Friday.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has released an amber alert, indicating that the entire health service may experience prolonged effects from the cold weather.
A yellow cold health alert is currently in effect for the north-east of England, Yorkshire and the Humber, the east of England, and London.
Low temperatures can increase the likelihood of heart attacks, strokes, and respiratory infections, posing a greater threat to older individuals and those with pre-existing health issues.
The cold weather forecasted by the Met Office for the coming week in the United Kingdom has prompted Dr. Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA, to remind people to check on the well-being of those who are most susceptible to its effects.
The EA reported that approximately 2,000 properties were affected by flooding.
As of Monday morning, there were 149 flood warnings for areas where flooding is anticipated, and an additional 149 flood alerts for the southern regions of England, extending to the Midlands and Yorkshire.
Sunak addressed the media on Sunday near the Thames to defend the government’s actions in protecting against floods. He stated, “We have more than 1,000 Environment Agency staff assisting in local areas and have deployed over 200 pumps.”
“We have allocated a total of £5.2 billion towards flood prevention during the specified time frame – this is the largest amount ever invested and surpasses our previous efforts. This has resulted in safeguarding over 300,000 homes.”
“Additionally, the events of the past week have impacted numerous individuals, but it’s worth noting that over 49,000 people were safeguarded from flooding.”
Source: theguardian.com
