A yellow ice warning has been issued for large parts of the UK, including Scotland, Northern Ireland, North Wales and the Midlands, as temperatures plummet following severe flooding. The Met Office warning remains in effect until 10am on Thursday, with icy conditions expected to cause travel disruption.
In northern Scotland, a separate snow and ice warning is in place until 10am, with rain turning to snow and creating hazardous driving conditions. This follows a major incident declared in Greater Manchester on Wednesday after heavy rainfall led to home evacuations and road and rail closures.
Around 450 people were evacuated from a hotel in Didsbury, and residents were also moved from a block of flats in Stockport. Mountain rescue teams assisted fire services in dealing with damaged properties and stranded vehicles. Parts of the North West and Wales were submerged, with Marsden in West Yorkshire recording 101.2mm of rain, equalling its January average.
Train services across the North West faced line blockages affecting Northern, TransPennine Express, Transport for Wales and South Western Railway. Motorways including the A628 Woodhead Pass and westbound M56 were closed due to flooding. In Bristol, a Severe Weather Emergency Protocol was enacted to provide accommodation for the homeless until January 8.
Met Office meteorologist Marco Petagna warned that ice could still be an issue on untreated roads. Another meteorologist, Tom Morgan, said further snow and ice warnings are likely on Friday. A three-day yellow snow warning covers nearly all of England and Wales, plus parts of Scotland, from noon on Saturday to 9am on Monday, with up to 20-30cm possible over higher ground.
