Fog alert in southern England: Heathrow cancels 100 flights
Fog alert in southern England: Heathrow cancels 100 flights
(about 1 hour later)
Flights have been cancelled at London airports as a result of freezing fog covering much of southern England.
Flights have been cancelled at London airports because of freezing fog covering much of southern England.
About 100 flights have been affected at Heathrow, London City has cancelled 65 flights and Gatwick has cancelled nine flights and warned delays are likely.
About 100 flights have been affected at Heathrow; London City has cancelled 88 flights; and Gatwick has cancelled nine flights and warned delays are likely.
Neither Luton nor Stansted have yet cancelled any flights.
Nine flights have been cancelled at Southampton airport, its website says.
A Met Office fog warning for much of southern England has now been lifted, but forecasters say there could be further disruption on Tuesday morning.
A Met Office fog warning for much of southern England has now been lifted, but forecasters say there could be further disruption on Tuesday morning.
Met Office forecaster Emma Boorman said it was likely patches of dense fog would reform overnight to give "potential disruption" to parts of both England and Wales on Tuesday morning, particularly in the south.
The cold weather has also meant parts of the UK are suffering from high levels of air pollution, which is expected to continue into Tuesday, as pollutants fail to disperse in the still conditions.
On Monday morning, Heathrow, London City, Gatwick and Stansted airports - where visibility has been at 100m - all warned passengers to check flight updates before travelling.
Met Office forecaster Emma Boorman said it was likely patches of dense fog would re-form overnight to cause "potential disruption" in parts of England and Wales, particularly in the south.
A message on Heathrow's website said: "Foggy weather across London is expected on Monday 23 January and some passengers may experience disruption to their journey as a result."
On Monday morning, Heathrow, London City, Gatwick, Southampton and Stansted airports - where visibility has been at 100m - all warned passengers to check flight updates before travelling.
It added: "Heathrow advises passengers to check their flight status with their airline before coming to the airport."
Heathrow said the effect of fog on flights there could be more noticeable than at most airports because it operates at 98% capacity, meaning it is harder to space flights out.
Heathrow said the effect of fog on flights there "can be more noticeable than most airports" due to the fact it operates at 98% capacity.
Stansted has been taking some diverted flights from London City Airport, with a spokesman saying seven had landed so far, but passengers have been warned of further disruption due to the fog.
London City Airport said 35 departure flights and 30 arrivals had been cancelled and warned of further disruption due to the foggy conditions.
Flights to Amsterdam were the worst-affected due to fog at Schiphol Airport.
Gatwick said air traffic control restrictions imposed due to the fog was causing problems - which included the cancellation of five departure and four arrival flights.
Liverpool Airport also said fog and low visibility had affected them on Monday morning, despite not being covered by the weather warning.
Luton Airport has yet to cancel any flights, although a few are delayed.
On Sunday evening, freezing fog led to two flights bound for Southampton having to divert to Bristol and Bournemouth airports, but Luton has not been affected.
It said flights to Amsterdam were the worst affected due to fog at Schiphol Airport and there were some minor delays caused by late incoming flights.
Forecasters said temperatures would struggle to top 0C (32F) in the worst-affected areas on Monday, although it was a rise from the -8C (17.6F) recorded in parts of Hampshire and Essex on Sunday morning.
Southampton said it had not cancelled any flights but was monitoring the situation.
Cheshire Police tweeted a photo of Runcorn Widnes bridge and advised motorists to drive with care with their headlights on.
It added there could be problems with incoming flights landing later in the morning if the fog remained thick.
Although the Met Office weather warning for fog did not cover the North West of England, Liverpool Airport also said "fog and low visibility may affect the operation this morning".
On Sunday evening, freezing fog led to two flights bound for Southampton having to divert to Bristol and Bournemouth airports.
Airport websites
Bournemouth Airport
Bristol Airport
Gatwick Airport
Heathrow Airport
Luton Airport
London City Airport
Southampton Airport
Southend Airport
Stansted Airport
The Met Office warned there could also be "difficult driving conditions", with freezing temperatures and a blanket of frost likely to create slippery roads.
Temperatures plummeted to -8C (17.6F) in parts of Hampshire and Essex on Sunday morning, the Met Office said.
It added that temperatures will struggle to top 0C (32F) in the worst affected areas on Monday.
Other parts of the country are also warning of foggy conditions.
Cheshire Police tweeted a photo of conditions on Runcorn Widnes bridge and advised motorists to drive with care with their headlights on.
The cold weather has also meant parts of the UK are suffering from high levels of air pollution, which is expected to continue into Tuesday.
Pollutants have failed to disperse due to high pressure and the still conditions.
