IT’S SNOW YEAR’S DAY
More white-outs and freezing fog as Britain welcomes 2021
SNOW and freezing fog will grip parts of the country as Britons welcome the first day of 2021 today, forecasters said last night.
Met Office expert Clare Nasir said New Year’s Day would see showers in the North falling as snow on higher ground.
She added: ‘We could actually see some freezing fog lingering on into the afternoon, particularly for the south east of England, and temperatures here will struggle.
‘Elsewhere, there will be some brighter skies to end the day – and that really sets the scene for the first weekend into 2021.’
The Met Office said over the weekend winds will bring more freezing air from the Continent – meaning many areas under a blanket of snow are unlikely to see much of a thaw. The final day of 2020 brought bitterly cold conditions for much of the UK and more snow – with a low of minus 7.5C (18.5F) at Topcliffe in North Yorkshire.
Last night was bitterly cold, but not quite as Arctic as Wednesday when temperatures in Dalwhinnie in the Highlands dropped to minus 10.2C (13.6F) – the coldest so far this winter. Temperatures last night were due to plunge to minus 3C (27F) in rural areas, leading to a widespread frost. Police yesterday urged visitors to stay away from snow- covered Dartmoor in Devon after vehicles got stuck. They warned of ‘treacherous’ conditions after snowfall lured many families to the beauty spot.
Elsewhere, police in Wales said they had fined a driver for breaching Covid restrictions after travelling from England to ‘look for some snow’.
Meanwhile, rescue teams yesterday pleaded with people not to attempt walks in mountain areas in snow and ice unless they are properly prepared. The appeal came after they saved a man who tried to climb 2,552ft Dow Crag in the Lake District with no equipment in freezing conditions.
He frantically phoned 999 begging for help after getting stuck – triggering a rescue with 17 volunteers and a helicopter from 100 miles away in Wales that cost thousands of pounds. Coniston Mountain Rescue said climbers should only set out in full ‘mountain’ clothing, with phones and back-up batteries.