UK Braces for Fresh Snow and Ice Warnings Following Weekend Alerts
The Met Office has issued a series of new yellow weather warnings for snow and ice, set to come into force across large parts of the United Kingdom on Monday. These alerts follow a weekend of similar conditions and come alongside numerous flood warnings in England.
Timeline of Warnings and Affected Areas
The first warning, covering much of Scotland, will be effective from 3pm on Monday. According to the Met Office, this period of sleet and snow may lead to icy surfaces, potentially disrupting road and rail travel.
At 6pm, a yellow ice warning will come into force, stretching from Edinburgh to Ipswich. This alert encompasses major cities including Newcastle, Leeds, Sheffield, Lincoln, Nottingham, and Norwich.
Two hours later, at 8pm, a similar warning will be issued for Northern Ireland. All three alerts are scheduled to remain in place until 10am on Tuesday morning.
Flooding Situation and Environmental Impact
In addition to the snow and ice warnings, England is grappling with significant flooding concerns. As of Monday afternoon, there were 73 flood warnings, indicating that flooding is expected, and 196 flood alerts, where flooding is possible.
Jonathan Day, flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, reported that while over 24,000 homes and businesses have been protected, approximately 330 properties have already been flooded.
Meteorological Forecast and Public Advisory
Met Office meteorologist Liam Eslick provided a detailed forecast, warning of icy conditions developing overnight. He noted that Monday would be relatively mild in the south, with temperatures around 9 or 10°C, but colder in Scotland due to northerly winds, with snow showers possible even at lower levels in the afternoon.
"As we go through this evening, much of the showers across the south will start to fade and fizzle away, and we will start to see some clearer skies overnight," Eslick said. "We are expecting those temperatures to fall away and develop some frosty and icy stretches, especially across Northern Ireland, northern England, and Scotland, so do take care first thing in the morning on Tuesday."
He added that while southern areas might stay above freezing, frost patches could appear in rural spots, and northern regions are likely to see temperatures near freezing, leading to icy stretches. However, this is expected to result in a bright and crisp Tuesday morning across many areas.
The public is advised to exercise caution during travel and stay updated on the latest weather and flood warnings from official sources.
