‘Risk to life’ warning as cold snap continues to grip UK
The Met Office has extended a “risk to life” weather warning to cover today as the so-called mini Beast from the East ushers in more heavy snow and freezing temperatures. Motorists have been urged to stay off the roads as an amber warning was extended for the south west, with a yellow severe weather warning in place elsewhere in the UK.
Travel chaos has ensued, with cars stranded overnight in parts of Cumbria and Yorkshire. Airports have also been shut and hundreds of flights have been cancelled. Three snowploughs were dispatched to the M62 yesterday after bad weather brought traffic to a standstill. Greater Manchester Police’s traffic unit
said conditions were “bleak” on the trans-Pennine route, with a video showing blizzard-like conditions.
The Met Office said snow showers were expected to continue until the early hours of Monday and a chilling wind factor will make the below zero temperatures feel even colder. “Travel delays on roads are likely, stranding some vehicles and passengers. Delays and cancellations to rail and air travel are likely,” the Met Office said in a statement. “There is a good chance that some rural upland communities could become cut off. Disruption to power supplies is possible.”
The M25 was gridlocked on Saturday between junctions 17 and 18 anti-clockwise after an air ambulance attended a crash, while a collision also closed the westbound junction of the M4 in Wiltshire between junctions 14 and 15.
Meanwhile, 11 people were rescued or made their own way to safety after two rowing boats and an accompanying safety boat capsized in the River Stour in Bournemouth. Local media reported that most of the group were teenage girls, along with one adult in the safety vessel.