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UK weather: snow and rain force closure of 250 schools Flood risk from swollen rivers across England as more rain expected
(about 11 hours later)
Yellow warnings for snow for most parts of Scotland as further flood warnings issued Environment Agency issues warning as snow and rain force closure of 250 schools
More than 250 schools have been closed across northern England due to heavy snow and rain as warnings of further flooding were issued. Serious flooding from swollen rivers will threaten parts of England for several days, the Environment Agency has warned, as adverse weather continues to cause disruption.
The warnings came as more than 250 schools were closed across northern England on Monday because of heavy snow and rain.
Rainfall is expected to continue along the rivers Severn, Wye, Ouse and Trent, while two severe danger-to-life flood warnings were issued for Ironbridge and Shrewsbury in Shropshire, both along the Severn.
There were 105 warnings, meaning that flooding is expected, and 207 alerts meaning flooding is possible, also in force across England after a third weekend of downpours that started with Storm Ciara and continued with Storm Dennis.
In Wales, there were 14 flood warnings in force and 28 alerts. The railway line between Bridgend and Cardiff Central remained blocked on Monday after flooding, with trains also unable to tun between Aberdare and Pontypridd due to track damage to a three-mile section. No public transport was running to the mid-Wales town of Welshpool.
The Met Office warned of ice in Scotland, Northern Ireland and much of northern England on Tuesday morning.
Caroline Douglass, the director of incident management at the Environment Agency, said: “Groundwater levels across parts of Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire and Sussex are continuing to rise and will lead to more flooding impacts later in the week.
“We have seen our third weekend of exceptional river levels and stormy weather. With the effects of climate change, we need to prepare for more frequent periods of extreme weather like this. People need to be aware of their flood risk, sign up to flood warnings, make a flood plan and not to drive or walk through flood water.”
The wet weather was contributing to record-high river levels, and England had endured more than 141% of its average February rainfall so far, the Environment Agency said. It warned the country needed to brace itself for more frequent periods of extreme weather because of climate change.
The Met Office has forecast a week of widespread showery weather, while a warning for ice covering Scotland, Northern Ireland and much of northern England, remains in force until 10am on Tuesday.
Downing Street defended Boris Johnson’s continued absence from flooded areas, with officials insisting it was important not to “distract” from the ongoing effort to deal with the problem.
The prime minister has been receiving “regular updates” about the situation, while the environment secretary, George Eustice, is “rightly” leading the government’s response, said No 10.
Across County Durham more than 150 schools, colleges, nurseries were shut on Monday due to inclement weather. In North Yorkshire, 52 schools either started late or remained shut until Tuesday, while in Cumbria 39 did not open. In Northumberland, 27 schools were closed and in Leeds, 14 schools started late to allow students and staff more time to get in.Across County Durham more than 150 schools, colleges, nurseries were shut on Monday due to inclement weather. In North Yorkshire, 52 schools either started late or remained shut until Tuesday, while in Cumbria 39 did not open. In Northumberland, 27 schools were closed and in Leeds, 14 schools started late to allow students and staff more time to get in.
Roads were blocked across the region as vehicles got stuck in the snow. Cumbria county council said “significantly more” snow than predicted had fallen in parts of the county but that gritting crews were out in challenging conditions to clear roads.Roads were blocked across the region as vehicles got stuck in the snow. Cumbria county council said “significantly more” snow than predicted had fallen in parts of the county but that gritting crews were out in challenging conditions to clear roads.
In Bishop Auckland, Durham police asked local residents not to join a search after reports that a person may have gone into the River Wear near the Newton Cap Viaduct. “Conditions near the river are particularly hazardous and we would request people stay away from the area for their own safety,” the force tweeted.In Bishop Auckland, Durham police asked local residents not to join a search after reports that a person may have gone into the River Wear near the Newton Cap Viaduct. “Conditions near the river are particularly hazardous and we would request people stay away from the area for their own safety,” the force tweeted.
Further south, a severe flood warning – meaning an imminent danger to life – continued for the River Severn in Shrewsbury, as the Environment Agency (EA) warned of the continuing danger of flooding across England.
The EA said in a statement that heavy rainfall had caused the Severn’s levels to rise and “flooding of property is expected to continue”.
A yellow weather warning has been issued for snow across all but the most northern areas of Scotland and Aberdeen until 10pm on Monday. The Met Office said: “Here, two to five centimetres of snow is likely above 100 to 200 metres whilst above 300 metres 10 to 20cm snow may build up.”
Yellow warnings for rain and snow have been issued for Northern Ireland and northern England.
The Met Office forecaster Marco Petagna warned commuters to monitor the conditions for hazards, saying: “At the moment we’re seeing ice and frost overnight most nights, and there are going to be a lot of icy patches around this morning. People need to keep an eye out.”
The forecaster said there would be a temperature disparity on Monday as the mercury hovered around a “quite mild” 11-12C in the south of the UK and dipping to -6C in northern Scotland.
Rain and snow were expected to push north and east across the country “before giving way to some brighter weather” across the south and west of Britain later in the day, Petagna said.
As well as the severe flood warning for Shrewsbury, the EA had issued 93 flood warnings and 189 flood alerts as of Monday morning. Warnings and alerts were in place from Cornwall to the Norfolk coast and from Dorset to the Scottish border.
An EA spokesman said flooding was possible for parts of the West Midlands, along the Severn and Wye and also in parts of the north of England, including in the lower River Aire in Yorkshire.
The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency said four flood warnings were in force on Monday morning with one further flood alert.
In Wales, there were nine flood warnings in force and 19 alerts. The railway line between Bridgend and Cardiff Central remained blocked on Monday following flooding, with trains also unable to tun between Aberdare and Pontypridd due to track damage to a three-mile section. No public transport was running to the mid-Wales town of Welshpool.
While the extreme weather should settle down over Tuesday and Wednesday – accompanied by a notable dip in temperatures – the Met Office said further heavy rain was expected on Friday.While the extreme weather should settle down over Tuesday and Wednesday – accompanied by a notable dip in temperatures – the Met Office said further heavy rain was expected on Friday.
The bleak outlook follows more than a fortnight of downpours and flooding that started with Storm Ciara, continued with Storm Dennis and kept going with the weekend’s storms, which – contrary to some reports – have not been named by the Met Office. The bleak outlook follows more than a fortnight of downpours and flooding. Contrary to some reports, the weekend’s storms have not been named by the Met Office.