Snow let-up! Icy blast will last three days
BRITAIN faces three days of snow and ice misery as huge swathes of the country are plunged into shivering sub-zero temperatures by a new Beast from the East.
Several Covid vaccination and testing centres had to shut after heavy snowfall yesterday.
But many people tried to make the best of it. Two of the hardest hit areas were Essex and Kent – where fun-seekers took to snowboards and sledges.
Disruption is expected today as Storm Darcy moves across Britain driven by “bitterly cold” 50mph easterly winds originating from Ukraine and the Black Sea.
There are also fears of flash flooding as torrential downpours on Friday and Saturday pushed many river levels across northern and central Britain to bursting point.
County Durham and areas of North Yorkshire saw sudden flurries yesterday while London and the South-east have amber warnings of further snow.
These could cause widespread travel problems and possible power cuts. Further warnings for snow and ice perils stretch the length of eastern Britain until Wednesday. BBC forecaster Billy Payne said: “Temperatures will remain below freezing by day for some, with snow showers most frequent in the east where significant accumulations are likely, and a risk of ice with a severe wind chill too.
“It qualifies as a Beast from the East in my view – although it’s not Beast from the East Two since we’ve had a number of cold easterly spells over the years.”
The Met Office said the “significant disruptive snowfall” and galeforce winds hitting the South-east, raised the potential of up to a foot of snow in the North Downs stretching from Surrey to Kent.
The low pressure of Storm Darcy, named by Dutch forecasters, has had northern Europe in its grip for the past week.
Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk and Kent are set to experience “areas of widespread, persistent and occasionally heavy snow” through to later today, according to a Met Office amber warning.
Forecasters also confirmed the potential for significant snow across
eastern areas of Britain, with up to six inches at low levels or a foot over some hills.
They added: “Very strong easterly winds with gusts of 40-45mph inland and 50-55mph along northeast facing coasts will also lead to drifting of lying snow.”
The Met Office’s Sarah Kent said: “The air will be cold but not as bitingly cold as it was back in 2018.”
Several Covid vaccination centres in the east of England have been forced to close because of the snow.
They included sites in Clacton, Essex, and in Suffolk, where test centres were also hit.
Public Health England has issued a cold weather alert for the whole country through to Wednesday.
A spokesman urged people to check on frail or older neighbours and relatives.