Heavy snow and ice, coupled with flooding, have caused significant travel chaos, school closures, and multiple major incidents across the UK. Freezing temperatures continue to impact daily life, impacting commuters and communities.
Flooding Declarations and Rescue Efforts: Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) declared a major incident due to widespread flooding, receiving over 200 calls for assistance. Crews responded to freeing trapped vehicles, evacuating residents, and rescuing 17 people. Similarly, Lincolnshire Resilience Forum declared a major incident, with emergency services rescuing children stranded at a school in Edenham. Tragically, a man's body was recovered from floodwaters in North Yorkshire.
National Weather Warnings Remain in Effect: The Met Office has issued multiple yellow warnings for snow and ice, affecting extensive parts of the UK. Warnings are in place for Monday and Tuesday, with another yellow snow warning for Wednesday. The forecast warns of further potential icy conditions and snow accumulation, particularly at higher elevations.
Transportation Disruptions: Travel disruptions are pervasive. Numerous major roads are closed due to snow and flooding, impacting commuters. Manchester Airport temporarily closed runways, and flights were delayed or cancelled. Significant delays and closures are reported on the M25 in Surrey following a lorry crash. Rail lines are also affected, with services between Derby and Nottingham/East Midlands Parkway, Peterborough and Leicester, and other routes experiencing reduced speeds or disruptions due to flooding.
Schools and Communities Impacted: Hundreds of schools across Lancashire, Yorkshire, and northeast Scotland are closed, affecting the start of the school year for many pupils.
Further Disruptions Anticipated: The severe weather is anticipated to continue, with more disruptions possible as icy stretches and potential snow accumulation pose further challenges to commuters and transportation networks. The Met Office emphasizes the need for preparedness given the uncertain nature of the weather patterns.
