BEWARE BEAST FROM EAST.. IT WILL KILL
Warning as heavy snow, ice and brutal -15C winds sweep in to cause chaos
AN icy blast dubbed the Beast from the East threatens death and chaos across the country as the big freeze sweeps in today.
Gales roaring in from Siberia will make temperatures feel as low as -15C which could be fatal to the vulnerable.
Heavy snow is expected to bring travel chaos and power cuts. The Met Office said: “It’s going to be historic.”
We could see blizzard conditions... be prepared for some seriously cold weather CHARLIE POWELL MET OFFICE FORECASTER
THE worst of the winter will lash Britain this week in the bitterest run-up to spring in over 30 years.
A Siberian blast dubbed the Beast from the East is forecast to dump up to eight inches of snow with the possibility of blizzards, bringing chaos to roads and services and cutting off communities.
Snow was forecast to sweep in last night and spread across the country today, with most of the UK hit by the middle of the week.
Vulnerable people could be at risk as the freezing blast makes temperatures as low as -8C feel more like –10 to -15C – colder than forecasts for parts of Norway and Iceland within the Arctic Circle.
Alex Burkill of the Met Office said: “This weather event is probably going to be historic. The theme is very, very cold. We’ve an extremely cold east polar continental wind that’s going to bring even lower temperatures than we’ve got at the moment and some significant snow.”
There are fears for the elderly and the homeless as temperatures plunge.
The latest cold spell has already claimed at least one life as homeless Rob O’Connor was found dead in Chelmsford, Essex, on Friday as temperatures plunged to freezing.
Emergency shelters have been opened and charities are appealing for urgent donations of warm outdoor clothes for those in need.
Professor James Goodwin of Age UK said: “Every time it gets cold we have thousands more avoidable deaths.
“It is likely the number of deaths from the forthcoming cold spell will lead to a scandalously higher number of deaths compared to other European countries.” The Met Office has issued nine weather warnings for snow – six yellow alerts and three more serious amber “be prepared” notices. The first yellow warnings are today in London and the South East, the East and Northeast of England, East and West Midlands and Yorkshire and Humber. Tomorrow there are amber warnings for East Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, East Midlands and Kent.
Simon Partridge of the Met Office said: “This is going to be the most significant cold spell of this winter.”
Charlie Powell, also of the Met Office, added: “By Thursday evening, there are growing signs there could be some significant snowfall across southern England.
“Unusually for Britain, the snow is going to be quite dry, so it will blow around and gather in drifts and we could see some blizzard conditions. We don’t want to scare people, but people should make sure they are prepared for some seriously cold weather.”
Lows of -5C recorded over the weekend marked the lowest temperature in the week leading up to March 1 – the first day of spring – since 1986.
The Met Office has warned of possible travel delays and power cuts, and said some rural communities could be cut off.
Health bosses are urging communities to look out for the most vulnerable people as temperatures plunge.
Dr Thomas Waite of Public Health England’s extreme events team said:
“Cold temperatures, indoors and out, pose real health risks to many. Every winter we know that thousands of people get ill and even die following exposure to cold conditions.”
Already thousands have died unnecessarily in cases related to the cold this winter, according to figures from campaign group Intelligent Health.
There have been 33,464 avoidable deaths – including from infections such as pneumonia and hearts attacks and strokes which can be triggered by very cold conditions – between December and mid-February. This is predicted to rise to more than 45,000 by the end of March – the highest number recorded in 18 years. Commuters have been warned Southern Rail may “be running a reduced or altered services from Tuesday morning” due to the weather forecast. Roads are expected to be hit by the conditions too. Rod Dennis, traffic spokesman for the RAC, said the breakdown organisation had assisted in 10,000 incidents on its busiest day in December during the snow.
It predicts an increase of 25% on its usual daily call-outs, and urged people to check their cars before any journey.
Mr Dennis said: “The end of winter has got a sting in its tail.
“It looks like it’s going to be the most prolonged spell of cold weather that drivers have had this winter.
“If there are previous problems with your car this weather could be what brings those problems out. Preparation is key this week. It doesn’t take long to do basic checks on your vehicle before you head off anywhere.”
But for some it was business as usual. Hardy swimmers in Brighton refused to be put off their daily plunge in the sea as bright sunshine lured them out at the weekend despite the cold temperatures.
The record low for UK temperatures is -27.2C, recorded in Braemar, Aberdeenshire, on 10 January 1982.
LAST winter claimed 34,300 “excess” deaths in England and Wales alone, so the freezing Beast from the East weather poses a very real threat.
Wrap up well and keep an eye on vulnerable family, friends and neighbours. Let’s prove our country is still a caring community.