England Braces for Snow Storms Following Coldest Night of the Year, London Issues Flood Warning

Blizzard Conditions and 40cm of Snow to Hit Central and Northern England, Amber Warnings Issued by Met Office

The Met Office has issued two amber warnings for “strong winds bringing blizzard conditions” and up to 16in (40cm) of snow for an area stretching from Stoke-on-Trent to Durham, and North Wales as an Arctic blast continues to sweep the UK. The warning covers major cities including Liverpool, Sheffield, Bradford, and Leeds and is expected to cause “significant disruption” to transportation, flights, power lines, and phone network coverage.

In addition, London is facing heavy rain and flooding warning along the River Thames as snow has turned to rain in the capital. The Environment Agency has issued five alerts for locations on the south coast of England.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has placed all regions of England under a level 3 cold weather alert until midnight on Thursday, with daytime temperatures in the low single figures and sub-zero temperatures overnight for much of the UK, and slightly warmer conditions in the south.

The Queen Consort has canceled engagements in Newmarket due to weather disruptions, and the RAC Breakdown reported an increase in breakdowns along the M4 corridor and into Wales amid the cold weather. National Highways has warned drivers in the West Midlands and the east of England not to travel unless their journey is essential.

The Met Office has said an Arctic air mass from the north meeting mild air from the south is causing the turbulent weather over central areas. A yellow warning for “heavy snow” also covers Northern Ireland, most of Wales, and a large area between Glasgow and Birmingham until 2 pm on Friday.