Travel warning as strong winds set to batter icy Britain
FIERCE winds and sub-zero temperatures will hit Britain this week causing travel chaos and coastal flooding, forecasters warned yesterday.
The Met Office issued an extreme weather warning for parts of the UK and predicted the mercury will fall to -3C by midweek.
Gale force winds of up to 75mph are due to batter northern and eastern Scotland today and tomorrow as low pressure sweeps across the Highlands.
Commuters were warned to expect disruption on roads and transport networks as fierce winds could knock out power lines.
Met Office spokesman Steven Keats also warned that tomorrow the eastern coast of England will be hit with fierce winds, which could lead to flooding.
Floodgates and seaside promenades are likely to be shut as a safety precaution. He said: “Strong winds and high tides on Tuesday mean we could see some coastal flooding with parts of Norfolk and Suffolk most at risk.
“When you get strong north-westerly winds down the North Sea it can cause a tidal surge. Cromer will certainly be very cold and windy and the sea rough.” Temperatures in the UK will drop even lower near the end of the month as a “polar vortex” sweeps across Europe.
It can cause the milder jet stream to move southward, bringing the cold polar air down with it. The Met Office said there would be “an enhanced risk of frost, fog and snow”.
Bookmakers have cut the odds of a “Beast From The East 2” striking. John Hill at Coral said: “It won’t be long before snow falls in a number of regions of the UK and the betting suggests that it will come next week.”
Heavy snow caused mayhem in mainland Europe at the weekend. Roads, train and airports were closed.
In Greece a woman died and two men are missing in snow storms. The Greek Island of Corfu was covered in snow for the first time in 13 years and Munich airport grounded 120 flights.
The avalanche danger in the southern Alps is at level 5, the second highest warning level. The Foreign Office urged those going to Alpine ski resorts to call their travel firms for advice.
Meanwhile, swimmers braved the cold sea in Brighton on Saturday.