THE MET Office has warned of snow and ice warnings, as temperatures could drop as low as -8C for parts of the country today.
Brits have been advised to take care when driving in "difficult conditions" as forecasters warn that "chopping and changing" weather is set to stick around for up to five days.
Meteorologist Alex Deakin said the weather will “remain pretty lively over the next certainly four or five days, chopping and changing day-on-day”.
Saturday is expected to be breezy, while people in the north west have been told to brace for further strong winds and heavy rain on Sunday.
Maps from WXCharts show that temperatures could dip to as low as -8C in western Scotland and be bitterly cold around the country with the mercury close or below zero.
Read our weather live blog for the latest on Storm Eunice…
- Joseph Gamp
Weather will 'remain pretty lively over the next four or five days'
Meteorologist Alex Deakin said the weather will "remain pretty lively over the next certainly four or five days, chopping and changing day-on-day".
Saturday is expected to be breezy, while people in the north west have been told to brace for further strong winds and heavy rain on Sunday.
After a spell of rain across the UK on Monday, calmer weather is forecast from Tuesday, though clear skies could bring frosty mornings, the Met Office said.
- Joseph Gamp
Winds to pick up again this weekend
A cold start on Friday, with frost in places – especially the north west, was set to make way for a drier and brighter day with sunny spells.
Met Office chief meteorologist Frank Saunders said: "A ridge of high pressure builds on Friday resulting in a fine, bright day for most.
"However, the winds pick up again as we head into the weekend with weather fronts bringing rain to the north and west and milder air spreads back in here".
The Met Office said the unsettled blustery weather will stay around over the coming days, especially in the north west, although conditions are not expected to be as severe as during the past week.
- Joseph Gamp
Icy conditions for rush hour motorists
Motorists faced icy conditions during rush hour as forecasters warned people to travel with care following low overnight temperatures.
The Met Office issued yellow weather warnings for most of Scotland, Northern Ireland, and north-west England, valid until 9.30am on Friday, which said icy stretches were likely to form on untreated roads amid near-freezing temperatures.
Perth and Kinross Council tweeted that there were "very icy conditions this morning throughout all domains" and said that crews were out treating carriageways and footways.
Elsewhere the snow gates were closed at Braemar and Spittal of Glenshee while further north Bear Scotland North West Trunk Roads said that gritters were "out working round the clock".
The Met Office urged people not to cycle and to take extra care when driving or walking in icy conditions, and warned of possible longer journey times on roads and railways.
- Joseph Gamp
Sunny across England and Wales this afternoon
It will be sunny across England and Wales this afternoon, the Met Office says.
The weather agency tweeted: Friday afternoon will be sunny for many across England and Wales.
"Cloudier with spells of rain for Northern Ireland and Scotland."
- Milica Cosic
Driving in sun glare during the winter
Here are our tips so you can drive safely in the Winter sun.
If you're not properly prepared, it can cause serious accidents, and if the sun is in your eyes, you may not see pedestrians, cyclists or fast breaking traffic.
To improve vision and reduce the risk of accidents when there is sun glare:
- Keep a pair of sunglasses in the car, preferably polarising ones
- Use the sun visors to provide better contrast for your eyes
- Clean your windscreen thoroughly, both inside and out
- Check and replace your windscreen wiper blades if they’re worn, damaged, or more than a couple of years old
- Slow down if you’re dazzled
- If the sun’s in your eyes it’s likely to be blinding drivers behind you too, which means you need bigger gaps to allow for delayed braking reactions
Demisting your windscreen properly
Start the heater off cold and then slowly increase the temperature, this will stop the car becoming full of hot "wet" air.
Make use of the air-con if you have the feature as this will prevent condensation.
Similarly with a clever climate control system, these features will automatically adjust to achieve the best results.
If you do not have air-con or climate control leave your windows slightly open to clear the windscreen faster.
Never drive away until your windscreen is clear.
Driving safely on ice: what do you do if your car is sliding?
If your front wheels begin to slide, take your foot off the accelerator and allow the vehicle to slow.
If you still do not have control of your vehicle after a few seconds, lightly press the brake.
However, if your back wheels are the ones causing the sliding, gently turn your wheel in the direction you are sliding while taking your foot off the accelerator, but do not brake.
Generally, the key for not sliding is gradually slowing down.
SUBZERO 'polar airstream' to blast Britain
Following the Met Office issuing a yellow weather warning for snow and ice, a subzero "polar airstream" is set to blast Britain.
According to Netweather forecaster Nick Finnis, the "cold and showery" airstream will bring with it "significant accumulations" of snow, strong wind, hail and thunder.
Mr Finnis said the snow could settle "even at lower levels".
He said: "A cold and showery polar airstream has moved in from the west across many areas overnight behind a cold front clearing SE England at breakfast time.
"Frequent snow showers are piling in across Scotland, N. Ireland and northern England…settling even at lower levels."
Warning of snow & ice
THE MET Office has warned of snow and ice warnings, as temperatures could drop as low as -8C for parts of the country today.
Brits have told to take care when driving "difficult conditions" as forecasters warn that "chopping and changing" weather is set to stick around for up to five days.
Yellow weather warnings are in place for Northern Ireland, Scotland and north-west England until around 9.30am on Friday, with icy stretches likely to form on untreated roads.
Maps from WXCharts show that temperatures could dip to as low as -8C in western Scotland and be bitterly cold around the country with the mercury close or below zero.
- Milica Cosic
UK weather outlook for Sunday and Monday
On Sunday outbreaks of rain will spread eastwards across Scotland. Mainly dry further south with variable cloud and a chance of showers.
It will be an unsettled day on Monday as a band of thick cloud and rain will track south-eastwards across the country and will be locally heavy and persistent.
- Milica Cosic
Tomorrow's forecast (Saturday)
Much of southern and central England and Wales will be dry during the day with spells of sunshine however there will be variable cloud cover in the west.
Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England will be mainly cloudy with a chance of showers or some spots of light rain and drizzle expected.
- Milica Cosic
Tonight's weather
A cloudy evening across Scotland and Northern Ireland with spells of rain across northern Scotland.
England and Wales will be dry with clear spells which will continue overnight although patches of mist will form.
It will continue cloudy across Scotland and Northern Ireland with a few showers.
- Louis Allwood
Tips to avoid freezing and bursting pipes
- Make sure you know where your stop tap is and check it’s working
- If you are leaving your house during the freezing temperatures, leave your heating on and set the thermostat to 14 C
- Make sure all roof and vulnerable pipes are insulated and your boiler is serviced
- Make sure you have the name and telephone number of your nearest WaterSafe qualified plumber to hand. Keep it by the boiler or stop tap
- Get a neighbour to look in occasionally if you go away
Massive sinkhole forces locals to flee their homes
A MASSIVE sinkhole forced locals to flee their homes after swallowing up a garden as the terrifying Storm Eunice battered Britain.
The garden in Keighley, West Yorkshire was obliterated by the treacherous weather, as flood warnings were put in place across the country.
Horrifying footage shows the huge hole which suddenly appeared outside the home on Sunday, consuming the entire contents of the outdoor area.
Four million households can claim £25 a week energy bill help
AROUND 4million households are eligible for a £25 cold weather payment when temperatures drop below zero.
The benefit is to help struggling Brits pay for energy bills during spells of freezing weather.
The latest government figures show that 3.9million Brits are eligible to receive the £25 grant as energy bills rocket.
However, they’ll only get it when the temperature falls below zero for seven days in a row.
There have been six triggers in Britain since November last year.
All of the payments have been in Scotland so far, with 394,000 eligible recipients.
The data shows that five of those were in December 2021, with another payment made in January.
You can check whether you’re owed a payment by searching for your postcode on the Department for Work and Pensions website.
- Louis Allwood
Environment Secretary quizzed over flooding
Environment Secretary George Eustice said 40,000 homes had been protected by flood defences, as he was quizzed on flooding and the lack of permanent defences on the River Severn at the National Farmers’ Union conference.
He said: “The Severn has had some issues particularly around Bewdley and Ironbridge and also some issues as well around Shrewsbury, but actually the defences that we have put in place have been very successful, as they were two years ago, protecting those communities.
“We know there are around 40,000 homes that have been protected by the flood defences put in place and on the Severn in particular we have these rather innovative demountable barriers that enable you to use the river normally most of the year.
“And then when the flood risk arises, we put up temporary barriers alongside the river, and those have been remarkably successful at reducing the flood risk particularly along the Severn, and have been again this time.”
- Louis Allwood
Drivers warned about this mornings weather warning
A second warning for snow and ice has been issued – stretching from the north of Scotland to Manchester.
Drivers are urged to watch out for icy patches on some untreated roads in the affected area.
The Environment Agency (EA) said people living in parts of the West Midlands and Yorkshire – especially those along the Rivers Severn, Aire and Ouse – should prepare for significant flooding following high rainfall from Storm Franklin.
- Louis Allwood
Manchester will see plenty of cloud and rain this weekend
A cold start on Saturday but dry with hazy sunshine.
Turning windier with spells of rain possible heading into Sunday.
Cloudier, with more persistent rain for a time on Monday.
- Louis Allwood
Manchester outlook for today
Showers soon easing on Friday morning to leave a fine and dry day with plenty of sunny intervals.
Winds also easing, allowing it to feel more pleasant than recent days with maximum temperatures of 9 °C.
- Louis Allwood
Weekend outlook for Edinburgh
Saturday milder, mainly dry but cloudy, strong to gale southerly winds.
Sunday starting windy with some rain then becoming dry and sunny, winds easing.
Monday bright, breezy, a few showers.
- Louis Allwood
Edinburgh forecast for today
A dry day with some good spells of sunshine and light winds for much of the day.
Cloudier later in the day for the west with a thaw of lying snow where maximum temperatures will be 8 °C.
- Louis Allwood
RAC: Lives were saved by drivers staying home during Eunice
Millions of drivers heeded warnings to stay off the roads when Storm Eunice hit, new figures show.
The RAC said “lives were saved” as the Department for Transport revealed that car traffic in Britain fell to 69% of pre-coronavirus pandemic levels on Friday February 18, down from 91% during the previous day.
Strong winds caused by Storm Eunice caused dangerous conditions on the roads, with three people killed in incidents involving fallen trees and other debris.
Several major road bridges were closed, including both crossings over the River Severn between England and Wales, and the Queen Elizabeth II bridge, which is part of the Dartford Crossing linking Essex and Kent.
RAC spokesman Simon Williams believes the reduction in traffic limited the number of fatalities.
He said: “These statistics show that lives were saved as millions of motorists heeded the warnings to only drive if absolutely essential.
“It seems like all the developments around working from home in the pandemic made a massive difference in an extreme weather event like Storm Eunice as many employees clearly were able to stay off the road and continue being productive away from their workplaces.”
- Louis Allwood
UK weather outlook for Friday and Saturday
Early showers on Friday will soon clear. It will then be fine and dry with long spells of winter sunshine and just some patchy cloud cover.
Saturday will be mostly dry and sunny across England and Wales however cloud will build across Scotland and Northern Ireland bringing spots of rain and drizzle.
- Louis Allwood
Drivers warned to be careful
A second warning for snow and ice has been issued – stretching from the north of Scotland to Manchester.
Drivers are urged to watch out for icy patches on some untreated roads in the affected area.
The Environment Agency (EA) said people living in parts of the West Midlands and Yorkshire – especially those along the Rivers Severn, Aire and Ouse – should prepare for significant flooding following high rainfall from Storm Franklin.
- Louis Allwood
Schools close in Scotland
SEVERAL schools were closed yesterday after heavy snow blasted Scotland overnight.
Storm Gladys has swept in, just days after deadly Eunice and Franklin.
Commuters faced difficult conditions and many schools opted to close as a result of the snow, with more forecast overnight.
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