DRIVERS are bracing for icy chaos on the roads with up to 12 inches of snow expected to fall over the weekend.
An ice warning is in place for much of the UK today as temperatures plummet after a major flood incident was declared that left cities across the country under water.
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Flooding this morning in the village of Naburn near YorkCredit: LNP
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Louise Deason walks her dog Tilly in the snow near Inverness this morning Credit: Northpix
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A vehicle wades through floodwater at Allerton Bywater near LeedsCredit: PA
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Car owners return to their vehicles in Timperley today to inspect the damageCredit: Zenpix
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An ice warning is in place for much of the UK todayCredit: Met Office
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Traffic returns to work on the M25 in Kent at the start of the New YearCredit: i-Images
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Flooding in central York this morningCredit: LNP
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Snow has settled on the ground in west AberdeenCredit: PA
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Drivers clear ice from their car windows in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, this morningCredit: NNP
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An amber cold weather health warning has been issued for the whole of EnglandCredit: UKHSA
Millions of Britons returning to work and school on Monday could face difficult travel conditions.
A Met Office yellow warning has been issued for the whole of Scotland, north-west England and Northern Ireland until 10am on Friday.
A snow and ice warning is also in place for northern Scotland as rain turning to snow is likely to lead to some travel disruption and difficult driving conditions.
While a health warning for amber cold weather has been issued for the whole of England until January 8.
For those intending to travel despite the current wintry weather, the Met Office and National Rail have issued warnings to remind Britons to plan ahead if they are on the move on Thursday.
Difficult driving conditions should be expected, especially in areas for which a yellow weather warning has been issued.
Additional time is also advised in case of delays, detours or difficult conditions for road users.
For those using public transport, passengers are advised to check timetables and services before traveling in case of delays or cancellations due to bad weather.
The bad weather will affect trains running across the UK, affecting Northern services, TransPennine Express services, Transport for Wales services and ScotRail services.
Two new flood warnings were issued shortly before 6am on Thursday with river levels peaking for both the Lower River Wharfe system in Yorkshire and the Lower River Ure waterway in North Yorkshire.
Met Office weather report for the first week of the New Year
Water levels mean the Wharfe and Ure river systems and surrounding tributaries are at risk of flooding.
Areas most at risk within the lower River Ure system include lowland land including farmland and local roads in the areas around Masham, Boroughbridge, Aldborough and Bishop Monkton.
For the Lower River Wharfe, flood risk areas extend from Otley to upstream of Ulleskelf including Tadcaster.
No further significant rainfall is expected in the area on Thursday, and the water level will begin to drop in the coming hours.
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A Yellow Warning for Snow and Ice is in effect from noon Saturday until midnight Sunday
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Parts of Scotland are under a yellow snow warning from midnight on Sunday until midday on MondayCredit: Met Office
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A dog walker wrapped up due to freezing temperatures near the village of HalkynCredit: Alamy
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Fire crews check a car stuck in floodwater in central York this morning Credit: LNP
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A drone view shows abandoned cars in ManchesterCredit: Reuters
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Those caught in the downpour use makeshift waterproof shoes to brave the elementsCredit: SWNS
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Residents of Meadow Mill were rescued from flooding in Stockport yesterday morningCredit: SWNS
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Firefighters rescued drivers trapped in submerged vehiclesCredit: Reuters
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Commuters brace for chaos on the road after severe weather warnings Credit: Reuters
Britons in the area are advised to avoid using low-lying footpaths or any bridges near local watercourses and not to attempt to walk, drive or cycle through floodwaters.
It came after Greater Manchester was declared a major incident on Wednesday after flooding forced homes to evacuate and closed train lines and roads following heavy rain.
Mountain rescue teams have been deployed to help Manchester Fire and Rescue Service deal with damaged property and stranded vehicles.
Police said the affected areas that are still being monitored include Didsbury, Stockport, Trafford and Wigan.
Around 450 people were evacuated from hotels in Didsbury on Wednesday night, while 400 homes were at lower risk and no widespread evacuation was required.
Residents were also evacuated from a block of flats in Meadow Mill, Stockport.
Heavy rain fell across the North West and Wales on Wednesday, with Marsden receiving 101.2mm of rainfall – more than West Yorkshire’s monthly average for January of 85.1mm.
Capel Curig in Wales measured 101.2mm, less than a third of the monthly average of 327mm.
A number of rail routes were disrupted or blocked due to flooding on Wednesday, mainly in the north west of England, with some northern lines, TransPennine Express services, Transport for Wales services and South Western Rail services also affected.
National Highways said a section of the A628 Woodhead Pass between Woolley Bridge and Flouch was closed due to flooding, as was the westbound M56 between junction 6 for Manchester Airport and junction 8 for Bowdon.
In Bristol, Bristol City Council and homeless charity St Mungo’s have activated the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol which will run until 8 January.
UK weather forecast for 5 days
Today:
It will be a cool but mostly sunny day across the UK. Winter showers for coasts exposed to northerly breezes and the North Sea.
It remains windy in the north and east, weaker wind elsewhere.
Tonight:
This is followed by a cold and frosty night for all with icy sections possible.
In the north, wintry showers will persist, and in the west, ice fog is possible in places.
Friday:
Cold again with plenty of winter sun on offer, especially in the south and east.
Winter showers affecting the north and west coast, winds are generally weak.
Outlook from Saturday to Monday:
Possible rain and snow that will arrive in the south on Saturday, and on Sunday will move north to central areas where it will be milder.
On Monday, colder, drier with wintry showers.
Temperatures were forecast to drop on Wednesday night and reached -7C or minus -8C in Scotland overnight.
Maximum temperatures on Thursday are expected to be in the low to mid-single digits.
Marco Petagna, senior meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology, said: “Most roads will be treated, there is a possibility that ice will continue to be a problem on untreated roads.
“I think we will issue further snow and ice warnings on Friday.”
And a three-day yellow snow warning was issued for almost the whole of the UK this weekend as the Met Office warned that rural communities could be cut off.
Schools could potentially be closed, and there is the possibility of power outages and road closures, as well as flight and train delays and cancellations.
The yellow warning is in effect from midday Saturday until midday Monday and covers most of the country.
Around 5cm of snow is expected across the Midlands, Wales and N England with as much as 20-30cm above sea level in Wales and/or the Pennines.
Thursday will otherwise be fine and dry for most, although the temperature will appear to be much cooler than the actual mercury figure.
The cooling will continue on Friday.
With the end of the week comes the danger of overnight ice that will spread south as far as south-west England.
Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan said: “At the moment we’ve issued a heavy snow warning from Saturday to Monday, but that doesn’t mean there could be snow everywhere within that warning, it’s just an announcement that there could be some impacts.”
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A P&O ferry arrived in stormy conditions in Kent after warnings of high winds Credit: Gareth Fuller
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Rough waves and storms continue along Brighton Beach, with Cornwall Coastguard issuing safety warningsCredit: Getty
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Emergency crews arrive to help outside the flooded newly refurbished Meadow Mill factory in StockportCredit: SWNS
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Pick-up truck stuck in floodwater in Carleton found in North Yorkshire on New Year’s DayCredit: Guzelian
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Cars caught trapped in water on the A555 in CheshireCredit: MCPIX
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Lancashire residents saw roads closed after downpours on New Year’s EveCredit: Alamy
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The Met Office has issued a series of weather warningsCredit: LNP
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Waves cause a storm in Dover, KentCredit: PA
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Members of the Ocean Springs High School Marching Band gather before the parade in London Credit: DESTINATION EVENTS
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Brighton beach walkers battling the coastal winds Credit: Alamy
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Cars make waves on the road in Abersoch, Wales
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A driver battled through floodwater as heavy rain fell in Burnage, ManchesterCredit: LNP
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