London, January 8, 2024 – The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for ice, cautioning residents across southern England and South Wales to prepare for more snow flurries and freezing temperatures. This weather warning will be in effect from 3 pm on Monday, January 8, until 3 am on Tuesday, January 9.
While parts of southern England, including London and Kent, witnessed snowfall on Monday morning, the Met Office reported that not much of the snow had settled, with most areas experiencing a “dusting of maybe one centimetre or two of snow.
Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan indicated that Tuesday would bring drier conditions with limited snowfall, except for some wintry showers in Cornwall.
Despite the expected decrease in snowfall, the biting cold will persist, with a significant wind chill factor making temperatures feel as low as minus 3°C in the South West of England.
Mr. Morgan emphasized, “We’re not expecting much in the way of further snowfall on Tuesday. It will be much sunnier than today, particularly in the south compared to Monday.”
However, there is a risk of ice forming in some areas due to the ground being wet from several weeks of wet weather. Mr Morgan noted that icy patches are expected, particularly in South Wales and southern parts of England.
The Met Office also warned of a blast of cold air coming down from the north, which is likely to affect Scotland and bring more cold conditions over the weekend, accompanied by some snow showers.
These weather conditions follow Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s visit to flood-affected areas in Oxford, as the Environment Agency continues its efforts to address the aftermath of Storm Henk, which brought heavy rainfall and high winds last week.
The Environment Agency cautioned that “significant” floods are expected to continue along parts of the lower River Trent on Monday, with minor impacts anticipated in the Thames and Severn River areas until Wednesday.
Minor groundwater flooding is predicted across parts of Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire, and potentially other southern regions, as well as Yorkshire.
An amber cold health alert is in place for the North West of England, the Midlands, the South West of England, and the South East of England until noon on Friday. Additionally, a yellow cold health alert covers the North East of England, Yorkshire and the Humber, the East of England, and London.
The cold weather can elevate the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and chest infections, and poses particular dangers to the elderly and individuals with underlying health conditions.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), urged vigilance and stated, “With the Met Office forecasting drops in temperature across the United Kingdom into next week, it is important to check in on the well-being of those most vulnerable to the cold.
