Spring weather chaos: Britain wakes up to THREE INCHES of snow as 100 flood alerts are issued, gas runs out and drivers are warned of ice on the roads
- The Environment Agency has issued 91 flood alerts across the UK
- Most of the possible flooding warnings centred in south-east and south-west
- Two more serious flood warnings have been issued for the South-west
- Engineers still working to connect 35,000 Northern Irish homes to power
- Drivers have been warned to drive carefully amid snow and sleet blizzards
- Sporting events across Britain are expected to be cancelled today
The UK is braced for another day of treacherous weather with the combination of ice, snow, sleet and rain resulting in perilous driving conditions.
After blizzards and devastating floods battered the UK yesterday, the chaos is expected to continue as large parts of Britain woke to three inches of snow and freezing temperatures.
In what is believed to be the coldest March in 50 years, forecasters warned that the unusual March weather could continue into next week.
Weather warnings are in place across the country, as the Environment Agency issued almost 100 flood alerts.
Major snow alerts are in place across much of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Travellers were warned to be cautious and motorways have been brought to a halt.
Warning: Yellow snow alerts remain in place across large parts of England, Northern Ireland and Scotland today as winter storms continue to batter the UK
More than two inches of snow is expected to cover parts of England, Scotland and Wales from London northwards, with heavy showers and sleet hitting the south-east.
While the south-west is expected to be spared the heavy downpours and flash flooding it suffered yesterday, more than 90 flood risk alerts are still in place.
In the South-west, 44 flood alerts are in place, while 29 remain in the South-east.
The Environment Agency has also issued two flood warnings, whereby flooding is expected, at the Lower Frome and River Clyst in the South-west.
Sporting events across the UK are expected to be cancelled today, with the schedule at Doncaster Racecourse an early victim.
Meanwhile, engineers in Northern Ireland are still fighting to connect 35,000 homes to power after heavy blizzards swept the country.
A landslide and floodwater in Cornwall, thought to have been triggered by torrential rain, smashed through a block of flats partially destroying the building yesterday.
Last night emergency crews and specialist investigators found a woman's body after picking through debris at the Veronica flats in Looe.
Caution: A snowplough clears the roads in Rothwell, Leeds, this mornings, as drivers were warned to be cautious on the roads
Accident: A van lying upside down in a ditch after coming off the A515 near Hartington in Derbyshire
Cold spring: A man braves the freezing conditions and deep snow to walk his dog in Endcliffe Park, Sheffield
The body is believed to be that of Susan Norman, who is in her 60s. Police said was unaccounted for, having not been heard from since returning to the flat on Thursday night.
More than a dozen residents in Sandplace Road were evacuated after most of the building's front-facing wall crumbled away, with debris and mud crashing on to the back of the property from the road behind it.
Alerts: Yellow snow warnings were in place across much of the UK today with up to four inches of snow starting
Last night, Electricity North West said about 1,500 properties in Cumbria remained without power but repair work was being held back by road closures, preventing access to some communities.
The company was considering using a helicopter to transport engineers to the areas which were unable to be restored.
Chris Hogan, a forecaster for MeteoGroup, said: 'The worst of this severe weather was yesterday, although there is still some significant snow fall to come.
'London will mark the border of rain and snow, with everywhere north looking at a covering of snow and around six cms (two inches) in the Midlands, Wales, north England and southern Scotland.
'Higher areas could see more than 10cms (four inches).
'But the rain will move across to the south-east today where it will be persistent but not as heavy as yesterday in the south-west.
'Temperatures will stay around freezing, but will feel much colder because of the bitter winds.
'The winter weather will gradually ease throughout today and tomorrow though there is no sign of any warmer weather coming through yet.'
Another weather expert warned this month could be the coldest March in 50 years, dashing any hopes of spring.
Forecaster John Lee said the average temperature expected for central England at this time of year is 6C (42.8F), but so far this month the average has been 2.2 degrees lower at 3.8C (38.8F).
This is significantly colder than last March when averages were above average at 8.3C (46.9F),
'Comparing it to similar winters, it's provisionally going to be the coldest March in 50 years, although that can't be confirmed until we reach the end of the month,' Mr Lee said.
Referring to 1962, when average temperatures were even colder, he said: 'That will take some beating.
Blizzards: Parts of the UK woke to nearly three inches of snow this morning after blizzards continued over night
On your bike: A bike left outside overnight in Leeds illustrates just how much snow fell overnight
One of the coldest: Forecasters have said that this could be the coldest March in 50 years
'But the way we are going it looks like we are heading towards being the coldest March since then.'
Yesterday several hundred schools were closed in the north following the dumping of snow.
A number were shut across the Bradford and Huddersfield areas while in Derbyshire, dozens of schools, colleges and nurseries were also closed, as were several roads, mainly in the north of the county.
Take care: Drivers have been warned to take care, with the combination of snow, ice and rain potentially causing havoc on the roads
Nearly 200 schools shut across weather-weary North Wales as a result of the heavy snow, including 61 in the Wrexham area.
Flintshire was also badly affected, with almost all the county's schools closed.
In the West Midlands, nearly 230 schools shut their doors to pupils, with many reporting burst pipes and frozen heating systems.
Staffordshire was badly hit, with 170 closing, but there was also disruption in Walsall, Dudley and Wolverhampton.
In Yorkshire, Leeds Bradford International Airport suspended all flights due to 'adverse weather conditions' and snow also caused severe traffic problems and school closures across West Yorkshire.
Drivers had to contend with snow, strong winds and floods, with a number of roads affected by fallen trees.
Roads were affected in Scotland, Cumbria, Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Lancashire as well as Wrexham, North Wales, Cornwall, West Sussex and Dorset.
The AA issued warnings to motorists that even short journeys could be difficult, and there could be a repeat of the scenes in southern England last week when hundreds of drivers were stranded in their cars overnight.
Darron Burness, the AA's head of special operations, said: 'It's going to be a real witch's brew of driving wind, rain and snow, which will inevitably cause disruption on the roads.'
Police in Cumbria established a multi-agency 'Gold Group' to co-ordinate its response after 20 calls yesterday morning asking for help after multiple crashes, impassable roads from trees falling, road signs blowing over and heavy snowfall.
Keeping control: A police vehicle on patrol in Sheffield, where heavy snow fell overnight
In Birmingham, weather woes caused gridlock after melting snow flooded the St Chad's Queensway tunnel, shutting the key road artery and leaving traffic backed up along main routes into the city centre.
Engineers spent all morning trying to pump the water out of the tunnel.
On the railways, flooding meant a house became unstable on the line near Looe in Cornwall, affecting First Great Western train services, and no alternative transport could be laid on because of poor road conditions.
There were also delays near Hatton in the West Midlands, Ilkley station in West Yorkshire, Shrewsbury and West Sussex.
The Local Government Association said council gritting and ploughing teams were out in force to try to ensure main roads remained passable.
Peter Box, chairman of the Local Government Association's economy and transport board, said hundreds of thousands of tonnes of salt had been spread this winter, but hundreds of thousands more tonnes were available in council depots and new deliveries were coming in.
He also urged people to check elderly or vulnerable neighbours to ensure they were well.
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TRAVELLERS WARNED TO BE CAUTIOUS AS SPRING STORMS SWEEP BRITAIN
Delays: The M62 (pictured near Rochdale) has been closed from junction 21 eastbound after lorries became stuck on the freezing roads
Road
- Heavy snowfall overnight has caused disruption on the roads in the Midlands and the North.
- The A628, the Woodhead Pass, is closed between Manchester and Sheffield is closed due to drifting snow.
- A66, Scotch Corner, between Darlington and Cumbria, is also closed because of snow.
- The M42, Junction 9, was closed earlier this morning after an accident involving a lorry but is now reopen.
- M61, Junction 8, briefly closed for jacknifed lorry but now reopened.
- M6, Junction 26, near Wigan, two lanes were closed because of a broken down lorry, they are now clear.
- A spokesman for the Highways Agency said snow plows and gritters battled to keep the M62 open between Manchester and West Yorkshire overnight.
- He added: 'We've been working flat out to keep the network clear. We've got 500 salting vehicles extra officers out and strategically placed recovery vehicles and snow plows to keep traffic moving. We've no major incidents and it's going very well so far.'
- 'We are expecting more snow from midday. Our advice to motorists is to be vigilant. Keep checking the weather before you travel.'
Rail
- Snow is causing disruption between Kilmarnock and Dumfries. Trains are unable to run between Kilmarnock and Carlisle and there is no estimate when they will resume. No replacement road transport is available because of the poor road conditions. Passengers are advised not to travel between Kilmarnock and Carlisle.
- Flooding is causing disruption between Liskeard and Looe. Following heavy rain, a house has become unstable on the line near Looe and trains are unable to run past the site.
- There are no trains running between Liskeard and Looe, there is limited alternative transport available not calling at Coombe, St Keyne, Causeland or Sandplace. This will continue until further notice.
- Snow is causing disruption between Ardrossan South Beach and Largs. Buses are replacing trains between Ardrossan South Beach and Largs, with journey times extended by up to 30 minutes. This will continue until further notice.
- There is further disruption in the Kirkby Stephen area, where a snow plough was sent to clear the line. Trains between Leeds and Carlisle are currently unable to run. No replacement road transport is available due to the poor road conditions in the area.
- The Maybole and Girvan areas have also been hit with travel delays. The Glasgow Central - Stranraer service has been suspended and there is no alternative transport between Ayr and Stranraer due to poor road conditions. There are trains running between Glasgow Central and Ayr.
- Fallen trees are blocking the line between Wrexham Central and Bidston. There are no trains running between Wrexham Central and Bidston. There is no alternative transport available because of poor road conditions. There is no current estimate for when a normal service will resume.
- Poor weather conditions are expected to cause disruption to Merseyrail services, with an amended timetable in place.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2297946/Spring-weather-chaos-Britain-wakes-THREE-INCHES-snow-100-flood-alerts-issued-gas-runs-drivers-warned-ice-roads.html#ixzz2OM5wfk5e
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