eveningstandard--2019-01-20--UK weather forecast cold snap aposcould last weeksapos as temperatures plunge to -9C

UK weather forecast: cold snap 'could last weeks' as temperatures plunge to -9C

Snow has been forecast across the UK this week as temperatures continue to plunge amid an icy cold snap which could last several weeks.  As much as 10cm of snow could fall in parts of Scotland and northern England on Monday night while flurries are expected in London and the south east by Tuesday morning.  Temperatures sunk as low as -9C in parts of northern Scotland as the weekend began, while in southern England conditions hovered a few degrees above freezing.  Forecasters said there is a chance the prolonged cold snap could last for several weeks, but weather models are currently unable to make confident predictions.  The uncertainty comes from a sudden stratospheric warming event at the end of December, causing temperatures to rapidly rise in the atmosphere, leaving open the possibility of an extended cold period.  After a crisp winter's day on Sunday for most of the country, Monday started off dry, bright and chilly for most of the UK.  Forecaster Becky Mitchell told the Standard: "The weather will start to change across the UK on Monday as a band of rain, sleet and snow moves from the north west to the south east.  "In northern areas of England and Scotland and Northern Ireland there could be widely around 5cm of snow in hilly areas, and 10cm of snow locally.  "Snow is also expected to settle in Wales.  "Further south, people could wake up to wintry flurries on Tuesday morning as the band moves across the country.  "Tuesday will be a wintry day with a mix of sun and showers across the country, a lot of showers could fall as snow and London could see some more showers in the afternoon."  Ms Mitchell added that Tuesday and Wednesday night will be particularly cold, and temperatures in parts of Scotland where snow has settled could fall below -10C.  A weather warning for ice could be issued as the mercury drops.  The lowest temperature recorded on Saturday night was -9.6C in the village of Kinbrace in Scotland, with similar tempatures expected again on Sunday night.


eveningstandard--2019-01-20--UK weather forecast Snow to sweep across country as cold snap sees temperatures plunge further

UK weather forecast: Snow to sweep across country as cold snap sees temperatures plunge further

Snow has been forecast across the UK next week as temperatures continue to plunge amid a icy cold snap.  As much as 10cm of snow could fall in parts of Scotland and northern England on Monday night while flurries are expected in London and the south east by Tuesday morning.  Night temperatures could fall below -10C in northern parts come Tuesday and Wednesday night, the Met Office said.  After a crisp winter's day on Sunday for most of the country, Monday will start off dry and bright for most of the UK.  Forecaster Becky Mitchell told the Standard: "The weather will start to change across the UK on Monday as a band of rain, sleet and snow moves from the north west to the south east.  "In northern areas of England and Scotland and Northern Ireland there could be widely around 5cm of snow in hilly areas, and 10cm of snow locally.  "Snow is also expected to settle in Wales.  "Further south, people could wake up to wintry flurries on Tuesday morning as the band moves across the country.  "Tuesday will be a wintry day with a mix of sun and showers across the country, a lot of showers could fall as snow and London could see some more showers in the afternoon."  Ms Mitchell added that Tuesday and Wednesday night will be particuarly chilly, and temperatures in parts of Scotland where snow has settled could fall below -10C.  A weather warning for ice could be issued as the mercury drops.  The lowest temperature recorded on Saturday night was -9.6C in the village of Kinbrace in Scotland, with similar tempatures expected again on Sunday night.


eveningstandard--2019-01-22--UK weather forecast Met Office warns of aposthundersnowapos as it issues ice warnings amid free

UK weather forecast: Met Office warns of 'thundersnow' as it issues ice warnings amid freezing temperatures

Thundersnow could strike the UK this week as temperatures plummet below zero and forecasters issue ice warnings for large swathes of the country.  Weather alerts for snow and ice have been issued by the Met Office for most of UK, with wintery conditions likely to cause disruption for road and rail users on Tuesday morning.  Forecasters have also warned of so-called thundersnow, which is an unusual phenomenon that normally only occurs during a few months of the year.  The western Highlands are expected to face the brunt of the snow, with some areas above 500m facing up to almost 10cm of the white stuff, the Met Office said.  Simon Partridge, of the Met Office, said: "Some snow could be seen on the lower levels, so it's not exclusively left to the high ground - but it could end up being rain, snow, rain.  "So, on and off there could be snow from now until the early hours of Wednesday for the west of Scotland, and the best part of 24 hours."  Wintry showers are on the way for northern and western parts of the country, where some outbreaks of thunder and lighting and heavy snow could be seen.  A Met Office spokeswoman told Sky News: “When thunderstorms form in wintry conditions, they can sometimes give rise to heavy downpours of snow, along with the usual thunder and lightning, so it is called thundersnow.  "It is considered unusual because it can only really occur during a few months of the year."  Temperatures in the early hours on Tuesday were expected drop to as low as minus 2C (28.4F) in Pitlochry while Southampton may see highs of 7C (44.6F).  Mr Partridge added: "The main problem is that skies become clear so there's an ice risk after midnight which could cause some big issues during the overnight period.  "There'll be further showers tomorrow with some hail and sleet along the coasts, on the hills and mountains you can see it turning into snow."


eveningstandard--2019-01-24--UK weather forecast Snow to return to Britain next week as aposwinter chillapos grips country

UK weather forecast: Snow to return to Britain next week as 'winter chill' grips country

Snow is set to return to the UK next week as a “winter chill” returns to grip the country.  Following freezing weather this week, which has seen temperatures dip below -10C in some parts of Britain, the weather is expected to be milder for many before the weekend.  The Met Office predicts temperatures of about 11C for many on Thursday and Friday.  However forecasters say this weekend will be sharply colder as strong winds and heavy rain sweeps across the UK on Saturday.  Richard Miles, of the Met Office, said: “Showers will be moving across the whole country.  "Some of the showers will be quite heavy, but that won’t get to London until the evening.”  On Sunday Mr Miles said it will feel “quite cold” as temperatures are expected to drop to about 5C or 6C during the day.  With an added wind chill, it should feel particularly brisk, he added.  Next week will start off “frosty” for many in the South East and London and could see the return of wintery showers and snow.  The Met Office said the outlook from Saturday to Monday for across the country will be: “Strong winds and heavy rain moving southeast on Saturday.  “Colder, brighter and windy with wintry showers into Sunday.  "Windy with a band of rain and hill snow moving east Monday.”  For the rest of the week, the Met Office said: “Snow remains a risk, mostly in the north, but perhaps further south too, and frosts could be quite widespread.  “There is still a chance that even colder conditions may develop later in the period with winds swinging round to the east or northeast, bringing an increased possibility of snow.”


eveningstandard--2019-01-25--UK weather forecast Arctic blast set to bring weekend freeze with temperatures plummeting to -3C as

UK weather forecast: Arctic blast set to bring weekend freeze with temperatures plummeting to -3C as Britain braced for more snow

Britain is braced for the return of freezing conditions this weekend as an Arctic blast sweeps in bringing more snow and lows of -3C.  Forecasters have warned of the return of sub zero temperatures and wintry conditions after the UK was hit by a bitter cold snap earlier this week.  The mercury plunged as low as -10.2C as parts of Britain were blanketed by snow on Tuesday.  After a mild respite on Friday and Saturday, the UK will be hit by further snow on Sunday and into next week, the Met Office told the Standard.  A cold front sweeping across the country from Ireland will bring up to 15cm of snow to Northern Scotland from Sunday afternoon, and threaten to bring snow further south later in the week.  “It is not going to be a particularly nice day on Sunday,” Met Office spokesman Steven Keats said.  “Temperatures will feel between zero and two degrees in London on Sunday, it’ll feel close to freezing because of the wind.”  “More widespread across the UK, Mr Keats said: “It’ll stay cold and showery - a mix of rain, sleet, and snow.”  Overnight on Saturday into Sunday, forecasters said to expect lows of -3C in parts of Britain.  And the cold weather will continue as the mercury could plunge even further to -5C on Sunday night.  While London is likely to avoid the snow over the weekend, Mr Keats said there is chance that could change by Tuesday.  “There’s potential of disruptive snow at the moment, there is a risk, its something we’re keeping our eye on at the moment,” Mr Keats said.  “There’s potential we could see widespread snow Tuesday and Wednesday in southern parts of England,” he said.  Mr Keats added there is a weather warning from Sunday as wind gusts could reach 60mph in spots across Northern Ireland, Wales and South West England.  It comes after freezing temperatures gripped the UK last week and dustings of snow covered the capital.  The icy weather sparked flight cancellations out of Manchester airport and Scotland, while drivers faced disruptions as roads were closed due to the conditions.  Further south, delighted Londoners shared footage of white flakes as the snow showers blanketed the city.


eveningstandard--2019-01-26--UK weather forecast Snow ice and wind warnings in force as cold snap returns

UK weather forecast: Snow, ice and wind warnings in force as cold snap returns

Snow, ice and wind warnings are in force across parts of the UK as temperatures plummet again following a brief respite from the cold snap.  Yellow ‘be aware’ alerts for snow and ice are in place for Scotland and the Highlands until 12pm on Sunday.  A wind warning from the Met Office covers north-west England, south-west England, Wales and Northern Ireland from 9pm on Saturday until 12pm on Sunday.  A separate wind warning for the East Midlands, East of England, north-east England and Yorkshire and Humber is in place from 8am on Sunday until 9pm.  An ice warning covers much of the north and the midlands until 11am on Sunday.  The Met Office said snow and ice was expected across much of northern Scotland with blizzards possible. Between 10 and 15cm of fresh snow is expected on high ground, forecasters said.  It warned the public to prepare for travel disruption and to watch out for ice that has formed on the roads.  Daytime temperatures will be between 3C and 9C across the UK with the colder temperatures in northern England and Scotland.  Forecaster Luke Miall said the weekend would be one of "two halves", with Sunday feeling noticeably colder than Saturday.  He said: "We will see quite a blast of strong, northerly winds coming down from the Arctic.  "It's going to be very windy but it's also going to turn much colder."  He added: "That northerly wind is just going to cut straight through, so its real temperature on the thermometer will probably say 4-7C, but when you add on the wind it's going to feel sub-zero."    The Met Office said: “Another cold day on Monday with bright spells and some wintry showers. “Less windy on Tuesday and Wednesday but still chilly with further wintry showers and overnight frost.”


eveningstandard--2019-01-28--Snow travel news TfL and rail companies insist London will aposkeep movingapos amid weather for

Snow travel news: TfL and rail companies insist London will 'keep moving' amid weather forecasts

Transport for London (TfL) has insisted the capital will “keep moving” as bosses gear up for this week’s expected snowfall.  The Met Office has said up to 3cm of snow could land in London between Tuesday evening and Wednesday.  It has stoked fears of travel disruption, after previous whiteouts in the capital managed to cripple Tube lines.  In February last year, at the height of the “Beast from the East”, key routes were hampered by signal failures and faulty trains caused by the snow and ice.  But a TfL spokeswoman said on Monday that all transport agencies “will be working around the clock to minimise any disruption on the Tube, bus, rail and road networks”.  She assured: “We have well-rehearsed procedures in place in partnership with all London boroughs and the emergency services to keep the capital moving during any wintry weather.”  But she also warned: “We would encourage customers to particularly check before they travel during cold and icy weather, using our website or our Twitter feeds.”  For roads and cycle paths, meanwhile, TfL said it has a fleet of gritters, with more than 100,000 tonnes of salt available.  For commuters travelling into the capital, Network Rail, which runs the UK’s rail infrastructure, said it has a fleet of 10 plough trains, which can quickly remove the snow from tracks.  It added it had other measures at hand, such as anti-icing fluid, insulation and deploying workers on the ground where necessary.  Govia Thameslink Railway, which runs Thameslink, Great Northern, Southern and Gatwick Express services into and out of London, said it would also look to run "ghost trains" to clear tracks of snow and ice.  Alex Foulds, business improvement director and deputy chief operating officer, said: “We can never guarantee to keep all our services running if the weather takes a very bad turn for the worse but with Network Rail, we are well prepared and will do all we can to keep passengers moving as much as possible.”  Meanwhile, Chiltern Railways, which runs seven services to and from Marylebone, said in a statement: “Forecasted snowfall may impact on the service Chiltern Railways is able to provide, but our teams plan in advance for winter weather to minimise disruption.  “We are intending to operate a normal timetable but advise customers to check before they travel.”


eveningstandard--2019-01-29--UK weather forecast aposWorst travel chaos since Beast from the East expectedapos as snow hits

UK weather forecast: 'Worst travel chaos since Beast from the East expected' as snow hits Britain

The worst travel chaos since last year’s Beast from East has been predicted with up to 10cm of snow expected to fall in parts of the UK today.  Weather warnings for snow and ice have been issued by the Met Office across most of the country.  Between 1 and 3cm of snow has been widely forecast while 5 to 10cm could fall on higher ground. Flurries have already been reported in northern England, Scotland and Wales.  Four separate yellow weather warnings have been issued.  Warnings for snow and ice are in place in the south east, covering East Anglia and London, from 9pm on Tuesday until 12pm on Friday; for central regions, Wales and the north east between 12pm on Tuesday and 12pm on Friday; and in the western side of Scotland and into north west England until 11am on Wednesday.  A warning for Northern Ireland, running from 5.30am until 11am on Wednesday, said ice may form causing potential problems on untreated roads.  Heavy snow had already fallen in Cumbria by Tuesday lunchtime, with one unfortunate driver getting his van stuck in a ditch.  Drivers have been told not to travel in the worst conditions.  RAC spokesman Simon Williams told the BBC: "The worst cold weather travel chaos since last winter's Beast from the East is expected.  "If you must travel, pack a blanket, shovel and food in case you get stuck."  RAC Breakdown spokesman Rod Dennis added: “Drivers face some treacherous conditions as some truly wintry weather finally descends on large parts of the UK.  “We strongly recommend drivers reduce their speed and more than double the amount of space between themselves and the vehicle in front, giving them more time to react if they need to.  “But the bigger problem for most drivers is likely to be the threat of ice overnight on Tuesday and into Wednesday morning’s commute. Roads and pavements will freeze overnight, leaving glass-like surfaces that will increase the risk of drivers, cyclists and pedestrians running into difficulties."  Andy Thomas, managing director of strategic operations at Network Rail, warned trains may be forced to slow down in adverse conditions.  “When conditions are very serious, trains might have to slow down – just as a car would on a road – this is so everyone can get where they need to go, safely,” he said.  At Heathrow Airport, the busiest in the UK, passengers have been told to check with their airline as the weather worsens.  A spokeswoman said: “Heathrow is closely monitoring and preparing for cold weather conditions forecast for the UK.  “Those travelling via Heathrow are encouraged to contact their airline for up to date flight information.”  During Tuesday morning, a band of rain will push from west to east which could fall as rain, sleet or snow, particularly at peaks in Wales and northern England and Scotland.  As the day progresses the wintry weather will move across the Midlands and into the south east.  Met Office forecaster Mark Wilson said: “We have this band of rain in the west falling as snow in places.  “This band is going to push eastwards and hit London in the late afternoon and evening.  “It will be a cold day with rain, sleet and snow for the UK as a whole.  “Tuesday night will be very cold, with more wintry showers in the west. There will be lows of around -6 or -7C in northern England but could be even colder than that.  “Wednesday will be very cold, drier and brighter for most of the UK but very cold.”  Temperatures fell as low as -7C in the Highlands overnight, while London was at just about freezing as large parts of the country woke up to frost.  Snow showers could return on Wednesday and there is a risk of further disruptive snow and ice to parts of the country towards the end of the week.


eveningstandard--2019-01-30--Prankster dupes BBC weather forecaster by sending in snow picture claiming his name is aposI C Rho

Prankster dupes BBC weather forecaster by sending in snow picture claiming his name is 'I C Rhodes'

A prankster duped a weather forecaster on the BBC by pretending his name was “I C Rhodes”.  BBC Weather’s Simon King was talking to viewers about the UK’s frosty forecast on Tuesday in front of a background which showed a road blanketed in snow in Strathaven.  However, eagle-eyed viewers noticed the picture was sent in by a prankster called “I C Rhodes”.  The windup was branded “genius” by some on social media, while another wrote: “A photo of a snowy road has been sent in by ‘I C Rhodes’. I think the BBC have been had here.”  “Someone had fun this morning submitting their weather photo,” another person wrote on Twitter, as others branded the joke “hilarious” and a “fantastic effort”.  The snow joke comes as Britain braces itself for the coldest night of the winter so far, with “significant snowfall” likely to cause further travel delays and school closures.  Temperatures of minus 10C are possible in parts of the country in the early hours of Thursday, with this winter’s record of minus 10.8C expected to be broken, the Met Office warned.  Manchester and Liverpool airports were at a standstill on Wednesday morning and several schools in the cities closed their doors because of the harsh conditions.  Flights have since resumed at Liverpool Airport and Manchester Airport has reopened one of its runways after the initial closure.  The deepest snowfall recorded by the Met Office at 9am on Wednesday was 11cm at Tulloch Bridge in Inverness-shire. Depths of 9cm were also recorded in Thomastown in Co Fermanagh and Spadeadam in Cumbria.


eveningstandard--2019-01-30--UK weather forecast snow alert until Friday as mercury to plummet to -12C and drivers warned of tre

UK weather forecast: snow alert until Friday as mercury to plummet to -12C and drivers warned of treacherous roads

Motorists driving tonight and tomorrow have been warned of treacherous conditions on roads as more snow is on the way in Britain.  Met Office forecasters said temperatures could plunge to -12C in parts of Scotland tonight after winter's first significant snowfall.  London could see its second dusting of snow of the winter as the mercury plummets, while this year's record of -10.8C is also likely to be broken.  Yellow weather warnings for ice are in place in north-western Scotland and the northern and western isles, alerting travellers to be wary of slippery roads.  A similar warning is in place for north-west England, south-west England, Wales, Yorkshire and Humber.  The Midlands, east of England, Greater London and the south of England should also beware of fog making driving on icy roads even more complicated on Thursday morning.  A yellow warning for snow is also in place across large swathes of England and is due to remain in place until late on Friday night.  Most of Scotland should also be prepared for snowfall.  Commuters are urged to check local forecasts and weather conditions before they travel.  Meteorologist Mark Wilson said: "Potentially we could be as low as minus 12 tonight over snow cover across Scotland.  "It will be exceptionally cold - what we need to beat at the moment is minus 10.8C. That was at Braemar on January 18.  "I think there is still a very good chance that could happen - obviously it's not a complete dead cert but I think it's more likely than not that we will get colder than that. Definitely that's one to watch.  "Even away from that it's going to be a cold night across the board - temperatures widely below freezing and a pretty widespread and severe frost for many."  Mr Wilson said the Met Office still expected snow overnight into Thursday morning, but at this stage it was unclear where would see the most.  "Some areas of higher ground could see as much as 10cm of snow - possibly a bit more than that over the highest ground in Wales," he said.  Even London could get in on the action.  Mr Wilson said: "There's definitely the potential for some accumulations in London - it's a tricky one but there's a risk of a light covering at least for a time."  He said elsewhere in the south east could potentially get a bit more snow coverage - particularly across higher ground.  Parts of outer London saw some light snowfall overnight on Tuesday, while other areas suffered more severe conditions as the mercury plummeted below freezing.  Snow was coming down heavily in parts of northern England on Wednesday morning including in Manchester.  Manchester and Liverpool airports were at a standstill for much of the morning and several schools in the cities closed their doors because of the harsh conditions.  Flights have since resumed at Liverpool Airport and Manchester Airport has reopened one of its runways after the initial period of closure.  The deepest snowfall recorded by the Met Office at 9am on Wednesday was 11cm at Tulloch Bridge in Inverness-shire.  Depths of 9cm were also recorded in Thomastown in Co Fermanagh and Spadeadam in Cumbria.  Gritters worked to clear roads across the North West as commuters were warned over tricky conditions and long delays.  "Significant snow accumulation" caused an avalanche on Snowdon, Wales's highest mountain, on Tuesday afternoon, according to Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team.  A climbing group was caught in the snowslide and one man broke his leg.  The disruption caused by the snow is set to deepen with a weather system arriving from the South West and pushing north on Thursday.  Councils have prepared for heavy snowfall, with more than 1.4 million tonnes of salt stockpiled, the Local Government Association said.


eveningstandard--2019-01-31--UK weather forecast Snow chaos as British Airways cancels flights from London Heathrow and whiteout

UK weather forecast: Snow chaos as British Airways cancels flights from London Heathrow and whiteout leaves 100 drivers stranded in Cornwall

A band of heavy snow has travelled eastwards across southern England and Wales bringing severe travel disruption on roads, rail and at airports.  Up to 10cm of snow was forecast in parts of the country with wintry showers hitting London on Thursday night.  British Airways cancelled a number of short-haul flights to and from Heathrow Airport due to the "adverse weather conditions", while Transport for London advised commuters to complete their journeys by 9pm.  The Met Office issued an amber “danger to life” warning mainly covering parts of the south west and south Wales, which ran until 9pm on Thursday.  Road users and air passengers were delayed by the weather and there were warnings of rail delays and cancellations, power outages and the cutting off of rural communities.  Cornwall Airport, near Newquay, was temporarily closed due to snow on Thursday afternoon.  Around 100 vehicles were stranded on the A30 near Temple, also in Cornwall, because of a whiteout, Highways England said.  An "intensive effort" was under way to help the stranded motorists, officials said.  Meanwhile a crash involving multiple vehicles closed a stretch of the M6 near Wigan, Highways England said.  Snow depths of 5cm were recorded by the Met Office by 6.30pm in Bodmin, Cornwall and Sennybridge, Powys and the weather was moving across southern England and Wales, affecting counties including Wilsthere, Hampshire, Sussex and Kent.  A spokeswoman for British Airways said: "We recognise the uncertainty that the bad weather may be causing customers, and have offered those due to travel on short-haul flights to/from Heathrow the opportunity to postpone their journey.  "Due to the adverse weather conditions predicted, we have been forced to cancel and merge a number of short-haul flights tomorrow to ensure that we protect the rest of our schedule.  "Safety is always our priority, and we're working hard to keep our operation moving. We're sorry that some of our services are being delayed by the weather conditions.  "Our flights to and from Gatwick and London City Airports are planned to operate as normal.  "We are advising customers to keep checking ba.com for the latest information about their flights."  Highways England said a plough and a gritter were sent to assist motorists in Cornwall and warned people not to travel following the "significant" snowfall.  Chief Inspector Adrian Leisk, head of roads policing across Devon, Cornwall and Dorset, tweeted: "For those stuck on the A30 in Cornwall, an intensive effort is under way to clear the carriageways of vehicles to allow the gritters through.  "Please stay with your vehicles and we will get to you."  As well as the amber warning, there were yellow snow and ice warnings in place for a wider area across southern England and Wales and for the east of the UK and northern Scotland.  The M6 was closed in the northbound direction between junctions 25 and 26.  Highways England tweeted: "Traffic officers are on scene and all emergency services are en route."  South Western Railway warned passengers that trains may be cancelled on Friday morning while work was done to check and clear the tracks.  David Dickson, chief operating officer for Network Rail's Wessex Route, said: "With snow and freezing conditions expected, we are asking passengers to please check before they travel tomorrow morning."  Met Office forecaster Steven Keates told the Standard: “What we have seen so far is a band of rain turning into snow as it pushes east.  “Some has hit Newquay already, there has been quite a bit of snow on the A30. Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and south Wales have been the worst affected.  “There is a mixture of rain, sleet and snow but the rain could turn into snow very quickly.  “Conditions have the potential to become quite tricky as we move more towards rush hour when it will hit Taunton and Bristol, Cardiff and Newport.  “10cm of snow could fall in places during the evening rush hour so it has the potential to cause maximum disruption.  “Later this evening the weather will push eastwards into Southampton, Bournemouth, Brighton and then later into London.  “We could see one or two issues with transport in the capital tomorrow morning.”  The weather warning was issued after the country had its coldest night of the winter so far.  The coldest place overnight was Braemar in Aberdeenshire where the mercury dropped to -12.9C and temperatures continued to fall into Thursday morning, with a low of -14.4C, according to the Met Office.  The lowest ever temperature in the UK in January was also recorded in Braemar when temperatures plummeted to -27.2C in 1982.  On Wednesday night, all four parts of the UK set new records for the 2018/2019 winter with Sennybridge, Powys, dropping to -9.3C, Katesbridge in Northern Ireland falling to -8.2C and Redesdale Camp, Northumberland, recording temperatures of -10.5C.  The Met Office said: "The snow could be heavy at times and around 3-7cm could settle within two to three hours, with up to 10cm in some places. The highest snowfall accumulations are likely to be in areas above 150 metres or so."  Gritters were out on the roads, with snowploughs, vehicles and more than 60 staff on standby in Somerset, where the country council urged people to look after vulnerable friends, family and neighbours.  Highways England, which urged motorists to "take care when driving", said key routes affected would include the A30, the A38 and the M5.  Met Office forecaster Mark Wilson said the cold temperatures were due to stick around.  "Saturday night into Sunday could also be very cold," Mr Wilson said.


eveningstandard--2019-02-01--UK snow and weather forecast fresh snow chaos as drivers become stranded during aposblizzardapos

UK snow and weather forecast: fresh snow chaos as drivers become stranded during 'blizzard' in Basingstoke amid big freeze

Commuters faced a second night of travel misery this evening as "flash blizzards" wreaked havoc on roads and rail in the south of Britain.  A weather warning for snow was extended for four hours until midnight as forecasters warned wintry showers affecting southern England will continue to move slowly southwards throughout Friday night.  Travellers were hit by long delays and schools closed their doors today as February began with the coldest night for seven years.  By the evening RAF Odiham in Hampshire had recorded 19cm of snow, while London City Airport was forced to close its runway due to "heavy snowfall" at 10pm.  The whiteout caused long delays on the M3 westbound between junctions six and seven, with stranded vehicles sparking tailbacks stretching to Farnborough.  Drivers reported being trapped on the motorway for more than five hours amid the heavy snowfall.  And there were challenging driving conditions and delays reported throughout Hampshire and Surrey, with the A31, A3 and A30 among major roads affected.  Hampshire Police urged motorists to "please stay in your cars" amid the adverse weather conditions.  While South Western Railway reported delays on lines between Basingstoke and Windchester as "multiple" trees were blocking the railway.  There were flurries of snow throughout the capital on Friday evening but heavy showers appeared to affect the south east of London by 10pm.  Highways England said that one lane of the M3 westbound is now open between junctions six and seven after closures due to snow and stranded vehicles including three jacknifed lorries.  The closure caused severe delays and Highways England urged drivers to consider alternative routes.  Frustrated motorists complained of tailbacks on the M3 as far as London.  Lee Evans tweeted: "The M3 Westbound (eg out of London) is now largely a car park and is not moving from junction three.  "Do not join the queue as it will be a very long delay."  James Hemming said he was driving on the A30 from Newbury down to Basingstoke and Salisbury when a “flash blizzard” suddenly struck.  He told the Standard: “Lorries, and me, are struggling with even the slightest incline.  “Pretty much came from nowhere.”  It comes after a coating of up to 14cm of snow caused havoc in the south west on Thursday, forcing motorists to abandon their cars and seek shelter as traffic stood still.  Following the snowy conditions rail commuters living in south east London and Kent were told to "travel earlier or later to avoid the busiest trains" as Southeastern's winter weather timetable came into effect today.  Most flights were cancelled from a snow-covered Bristol Airport on Friday, but normal service is expected on Saturday.  Flight disruption at airports in Cardiff and Bristol left queues of rugby fans facing a race to get to Paris ahead of Friday evening's France vs Wales Six Nations opener.  Ex-Wales captain and BBC pundit Sam Warburton was one of the passengers due to fly on the cancelled 9.30am flight from Cardiff Airport to Charles de Gaulle, while fan Leon Brown's axed flight forced him to put his two game tickets up for sale.  Salt-spreaders covered 80,000 miles of England's motorways and major A roads through the night to keep traffic moving, Highways England said.  More snow is forecast going into the weekend, and though it is unlikely to be as heavy, there is a danger of untreated, treacherous ice covering paths and roads.  A fresh yellow warning for snow and ice covering large areas of the UK took effect from noon on Friday until the same time on Saturday.  It covers northern Scotland, most of Northern Ireland, the eastern coast of England and the west coast of Wales.  A separate warning for ice is in place for the southern counties between 1pm on Friday and 11am on Saturday.  Conditions will be largely bright and cold through Saturday but a widespread hard frost and freezing fog are forecast for the early hours of Sunday.  And temperatures this weekend could drop even lower than the blisteringly cold -15.4C experienced during the latest Arctic snap across Britain.  On Thursday night the temperature hit the sub-zero figure in the Scottish highlands, the lowest recorded since 2012.  Met Office forecaster Bonnie Diamond said: “Saturday could threaten the coldest night of the year so far.”  This again would be in “very rural Scotland”, she added.  Expanding upon the weekend, Ms Diamond said the temperatures across the board are to stay low while “wintry showers” are also possible.  However, crisp winter sunshine is set to shine down in many areas.  On Saturday, she said: “Another cold day but there will be plenty of winter sunshine for many.”  She added the snow will not be as widespread but there will still be “a few wintry showers of snow”.  The areas most likely to be affected by snow are coastlines in the north and to the east, though as rain comes in from the west this could see elsewhere impacted.  New weather warnings are in place for parts of Scotland and the north west of England, which will continue in to Monday.  Throughout the days, temperatures are expected to sit around 2C to 4C, but overnight across the weekend most places will be sub-zero.  For London, there is a slim chance of wintry showers on Saturday, though the frosty downpours are not likely to spread strongly inland.  Snow beating down across Britain has already led to chaos on roads and at airports across the nation.  Highgate Hill in London saw major disruption with vehicles unable to get up the incline due to the coating across the road.  Buses were seen along the route stuck due to losing grip on the carriageway and unable to move.  Transport for London said that certain bus journeys were being cut short due to the large red wagons becoming stuck.  Elsewhere on Friday, a landslip at a village in Cornwall blocked off vehicle access to around 30 homes and kept other cars trapped inside a cul-de-sac.  Around 1,000 tonnes of hillside collapsed on to the narrow Scrations Lane, in the village of Lostwithiel, but no-one was injured and no property damaged, Cornwall Council said.  More than 100 people who left their cars on the A30 to seek shelter at a pub in Cornwall were told to pick up their vehicles "as soon as possible" by Highways England.  Councillor Geoff Brown, who handles transport at Cornwall Council, said "the actions of a few impacted on many" after abandoned cars blocked emergency services, delaying the clear-up.  Authorities asked motorists to completely clear their vehicles of snow and Wiltshire and Thames Valley police forces advised drivers to travel only if absolutely necessary.  One driver claimed he "could see perfectly well" after his car, with its side windows completely encased in snow, was stopped in High Wycombe, police added.  Meanwhile, images posted online showed firefighters working with shovels to clear a route out of their stations.  Thousands of schoolchildren were enjoying an extended weekend as hundreds of schools closed their doors on Thursday and Friday.  Friday's closures included more than half of Bristol's schools, more than 300 in Buckinghamshire, more than 150 in Cornwall and scores across Oxfordshire.  On the rail network, passengers were urged to check before they travel in case the conditions impact services and some Eurostar services were cancelled on Friday.  Transport for London also advised passengers to check their service status before setting off.  The Met Office said a low of -15.4C (4.3F) was recorded just before midnight on Thursday at Braemar in the Scottish Highlands.  Had it fallen more than 0.2C (0.4F) lower it would have surpassed the low of -15.6C (3.92F) set in 2012.


eveningstandard--2019-02-01--UK weather forecast Commuters warned of travel chaos as heavy snowfall and ice sweeps across Britai

UK weather forecast: Commuters warned of travel chaos as heavy snowfall and ice sweeps across Britain

Commuters face more travel chaos after heavy snowfall across much of southern England last night left hundreds of people trapped in their cars.  A severe snow and ice alert has been issued by the Met Office for large parts of the country, with forecasters warning drivers could become stranded on roads on Friday morning.  There have been warnings of flight cancellations at Heathrow. British Airways said some short-haul flights to and from the airport have been cancelled or merged.  Disruption for rail passengers is also expected.  Southeastern, which runs services in London, Kent and East Sussex, has put its “winter weather timetable” in place and warned travellers to expect peak times to be busier than normal.  South Western Railway warned passengers to expect delays and that trains may be cancelled while work is done to check and clear the tracks.  It comes after around 100 cars got stuck on a stretch of the A30 by Temple, Cornwall amid the freezing conditions last night. An "intensive effort" was under way to help the motorists, who had become stranded, police said.  While the southwest was worst hit by the snow, the freezing weather is moving across southern England and Wales, affecting Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and Wiltshire.  Dozens of schools in Corwall, where snow was laying at least 12cm deep, will be closed on Friday. Across Devonshire 34 schools have also said they will be closed or partially closed.  Students at a collage in the county were forced to remain there overnight due to the severe weather.  Temperatures in Braemar, Aberdeenshire, plunged to minus 14.5C (5.9F) on Thursday evening, which is the lowest temperature recorded anywhere in the UK since 2012, according to the Met Office.  The snowfall already exceeds the maximum 10cm of snowfall that was predicted when the forecaster issued a severe weather warning for yesterday.  Cornwall Airport, which is near Newquay, was forced to temporarily close on Thursday because of the snow, and around 100 cars got stuck on a nearby stretch of the A30 by Temple.  An "intensive effort" is under way to help the motorists, according to Chief Inspector Adrian Leisk, head of roads policing across Devon, Cornwall and Dorset.  Matt Argyle, 46, who got stuck on the A30 travelling eastbound near Temple, said he had been sat in the same spot for five hours.  He said: "A police search and rescue vehicle has just driven past, but that's the first service vehicle I've seen. There's no cars on the other side of the road so it must be completely blocked somewhere."  The IT specialist has managed to stay warm using a sleeping bag and extra clothes he had packed in his car.  Journalism student Georgette Beacham, 28, got caught in the snow while returning from Plymouth to Falmouth.  She said: "Everyone was driving slowly but particularly on the hills, cars were jack-knifing and people were getting stuck going up hill and skidding going down hill and having to pull over."  A plough and a gritter have been sent to help the drivers who are backed up along the snow-coated carriageway, according to images on social media.  There were also vehicles stuck on the A39 between Winnards Perch and Wagebridge, and Cornwall Council tweeted: "Please stay with your car. We have gritters on the way and they will clear the roads as quickly as possible."  Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service said motorists were stuck on the A38 near Haldon Hill and the A380 near Ideford Dip.  Emergency services have warned drivers to stay in their cars and keep warm.  The Met Office tweeted: "Snow, initially moving north and east across parts of southern and southwestern England, the Midlands and Wales, will stall and tend to fragment.  "Wintry showers will continue in northern and eastern areas. Ice is likely in many parts overnight."  There are "treacherous driving conditions in places", the forecaster added.  Snow depths of 8cm in Cumbria and 7cm in Inverness-shire were also recorded by the Met Office on Thursday evening, although this is believed to be mostly leftover from Wednesday.  Commuters in many parts of the country were warned to leave work early on Thursday to ensure they got home.  Transport for London had advised commuters to try to finish their journeys before 9pm last night, due to the adverse weather.


eveningstandard--2019-02-04--UK weather forecast Flood warnings as Brits face wet and windy week after deep freeze

UK weather forecast: Flood warnings as Brits face wet and windy week after deep freeze

Brits are facing a week of wet and windy weather as the UK recovers from the grip of a deep freeze.  Met Office forecasters have warned of rain or showers across the country for most of this week after days of wintry conditions.  A warning for snow and ice was in place across parts of Scotland from 9pm on Sunday until midday today ahead of a band of rain that is set to sweep over the nation in the coming days.  While the Environment Agency has issued five flood alerts across the south west including Somerset, mid Bristol and the River Avon and the River Dart in Devon.  Officials have warned of rising river levels due to rainfall and melting snow.  Met Office meteorologist Mark Wilson told the Standard: "It's not going to be a complete washout but there will be rain or showers around for most of this week."  He added that Brits should expect the chill to continue overnight into Tuesday before the mercury returns to the milder average temperatures of this time of year.  "Tonight is going to be a very cold one," Mr Wilson said.  Temperatures could fall as low as -9C in Scotland or -2C in the north of England and there is a chance of some freezing fog on Tuesday morning.  But on the whole the UK will be "milder than last week", said the forecaster.  He said: "Tuesday will be dry and bright for most but cold to start, with some freezing fog patches.  "Then a band of rain will move in from the west so it will be fairly wet and windy by the afternoon."  He added that Londoners should expect it to be damp later in the day.  "On Wednesday there will be some sun but outbreaks of rain towards the north and west," Mr Wilson added.  "We are looking at highs of 11C in the south, with a risk of rain in the afternoon in London."  The forecaster added that a mixture of dry and bright weather and showers looks set to continue until Friday.  Temperatures will remain mild with highs of around 10C by the end of the week, he said.  It comes after the UK was hit by days of snow, ice and plunging temperatures from Thursday into the weekend.  England recorded the coldest night of the winter so far on Saturday night.  But Mr Wilson said forecasters are not expecting the return of the freeze "for the time being".  Thousands of pupils are being affected by school and nursery closures due to snow and ice in the north of Scotland.  Head teachers made the decision to either shut or partially shut when severe weather conditions caused road closures, with one school and a nursery also left with no water, heating or power.  More than 7,000 pupils in the Highlands from a total of six secondary schools (4,226 pupils), 20 primary schools (2,486 pupils) and 15 nurseries (524 children) are affected.  In Moray, 15 primary schools, two secondary schools and three nurseries were also either closed or partially closed by conditions.  Decisions over school and nursery closures are made by teachers on a case-by-case basis.


eveningstandard--2019-02-07--UK weather forecast 80 MPH winds hit England and Wales and thereaposs warnings of more to come

UK weather forecast: 80 MPH winds hit England and Wales and there's warnings of more to come

Gusts approaching 80mph have hit England and Wales with weather warnings for further strong winds set to come into force for the weekend.  A yellow warning for wind has been issued by the Met Office for most of the UK on Friday and Saturday, meaning delays are likely to road, rail, air and ferry travel.  Tall vehicles travelling on exposed roads and bridges should also expect to be delayed by the weather, according to forecasters.  Met Office meteorologist Mark Wilson said: "Through Friday and Saturday there are going to be some more strong winds and heavy rain."  The Queen Elizabeth II Bridge at the Dartford Crossing, a major commuter route across the River Thames, was closed for around three hours on Thursday morning due to unsafe wind speeds, Highways England said.  Essex Police warned motorists to expect long delays on roads in the area.  A 76mph gust was measured on Thursday morning in Capel Curig, north Wales, as well as a 67mph gust in Aberdaron on the country's west coast.  In the south east of England, 54mph winds were measured in Langdon Bay in Kent and gusts of 52mph in Thorney Island, West Sussex.  The strongest wind measured by the Met Office overnight was 79mph on the Isle of Wight.  Winds are expected to ease off later on Thursday ahead of the blustery weekend.  Mr Wilson said on Thursday: "There is going to be a wet and windy feel this morning but through the rest of the day winds will ease a little bit.  "There will be a mixture of sunshine and showers, with the showers mainly in the west."  The yellow weather warning runs from 12pm on Friday to 6pm on Saturday.


eveningstandard--2019-02-08--UK weather forecast Driver dies as Storm Erik batters UK with 70mph winds

UK weather forecast: Driver dies as Storm Erik batters UK with 70mph winds

A driver has been killed after a tree fell on his car as Storm Erik battered the UK with powerful winds.  The storm was expected to bring gales of up to 70mph to parts of the country on Friday and will be followed by rain and more unsettled weather, forecasters said.  At about 5.30am, a tree came down on two cars in blustery conditions on the A384 in Devon.  A 50-year-old man, who was driving an Alfa Romeo, was pronounced dead at the scene. His next of kin had been informed.  The driver of a Hyundai, a woman in her 20s, had to be removed from her car by the fire service. She suffered minor injuries.  An Emirates flight from Dubai declared an emergency as it was twice forced to abandon a landing at Heathrow Airport due to wind shear, according to reports, and was diverted to Manchester Airport as it ran low on fuel.  A number of bridge closures have also been put in place as a result of the bad weather.  The Severn Bridge, which connects England and Wales, was partially closed as a result of high winds. The bridge was closed to all vehicles heading eastbound, and closed westbound to all high-sided and vulnerable vehicles.  The Tamar Bridge between Devon and Cornwall was also closed to high-sided and vulnerable vehicles in both directions.  Wet weather will follow later as rain moves in across the UK, and some of it could be heavy at times.  Met Office meteorologist Nicola Maxey said: "On Friday we've got a named storm passing through the north of the country.  "We're looking at winds of 50 to 60mph in Northern Ireland and the west of Scotland.  "But Erik could bring the possibility of 70mph gusts along more exposed coasts.  "Even away from the strongest gusts we could still have gale-force winds."  The Met Office has issued two weather warnings for Friday for strong winds across Northern Ireland and western Scotland until the evening, and for heavy rain in Scotland until Saturday afternoon.  A further wind warning is in place for Northern Ireland, southern Scotland and northern England until 3pm Saturday.  Saturday will see a mix of sunny spells and blustery showers, with the most persistent rain in the north of the country and the possible risk of hail and thunder in the west.  There will be frost and the chance of some snow in the north of the country towards the end of the weekend where rain meets cold air.  Forecasting Sunday's weather, Ms Maxey said: "There is the chance of patchy rain and this could be heavy in places.  "Because of the cold air, this could fall as snow on higher ground in Scotland and England on Sunday.  "We're expecting a widespread frost on Sunday night and into Monday, and the unsettled weather will continue into the start of next week."  Storm Erik was named by Irish forecaster Met Eireann on Thursday.


eveningstandard--2019-02-08--UK weather forecast Storm Erik to batter country with 70mph gales as Met Office issues severe weath

UK weather forecast: Storm Erik to batter country with 70mph gales as Met Office issues severe weather warnings

Storm Erik is set to batter the UK with 70mph gales with forecasters issuing severe weather warnings across a swathe of the country.  The stormy weather, which is also expected to bring heavy rain, is expected to arrive in Britain on Friday morning and will last right through until Saturday afternoon.  A man was seriously injured at about 5.30am when a tree came down on two cars in blustery conditions on the busy A384 in Devon. A woman was also injured.  The most powerful winds are forecast to hit the exposed coasts of Northern Ireland on Friday morning while heavy rain could lead to flooding in Scotland, the Met Office said.  The weather will result in some "quite nasty travelling conditions", meteorologist Sarah Kent warned.  The Met Office has issued two yellow weather warnings for Friday for strong winds across Northern Ireland, which will last between 9am and 6pm, and for heavy rain in Scotland right through until Saturday afternoon.  A second wind warning for northern England, southern Scotland and much of northern England is in place from the early hours of Saturday until 3pm.  Elsewhere, the Welsh and Cornish coasts could see winds of 55mph, while along the coast of southern England gusts could reach 50mph, Ms Kent said.  She added: "It's going to be a noticeably windy day everywhere today.  "And that is going to be in association with outbreaks of heavy rain too, so there will be some quite nasty travelling conditions out there this morning."  Winds are expected to ease off by Sunday.  Storm Erik was named by Irish forecaster Met Eireann on Thursday and overnight brought winds of 56mph to Cork.


eveningstandard--2019-02-09--UK weather forecast Storm Erik to batter UK for second day with rain and 70mph winds

UK weather forecast: Storm Erik to batter UK for second day with rain and 70mph winds

Storm Erik’s strong winds are set to bring another blustery day to Britain before snow showers hit parts, forecasters have warned.  The storm has wreaked havoc across the UK with planes struggling to land, trees being blown onto buses and thousands left without power.  Weather warnings are in place across Scotland and northern England as winds up to 70mph are expected to batter the country for a second day on Saturday.  The storm’s strongest recorded gust on Friday was 84mph at Capel Curig, in Wales, the Met Office said.  The winds have made for difficult driving - and flying - conditions.  Footage showed a British Airways plane forced to abandon its initial landing at Heathrow airport after strong winds put the aircraft off-balance seconds before it was about to touchdown.  Also on Friday, a tree fell on to a double-decker bus in Dorset, but no injuries were reported.  A driver in Belfast also had a lucky escape as a tree was blown onto their car on Friday.  Local media has reported that trees and powerlines have been brought down in South Cumbria, leaving more than 6,000 homes without power on Saturday.  “Strong winds will lead to some difficult driving conditions on Saturday morning, especially across northern England,” the Met Office said.  A weather warning for wind on Saturday has been extended to cover most of the UK, while in Scotland heavy rain is expected into the afternoon, with a risk of flooding in some parts.  Much of the country will see strong winds and rain showers, some mixed with hale and becoming thundery, meteorologist Alex Burkill said.  "It's going to be another very windy one, particularly across northern England, Northern Ireland, southern Scotland and northern Wales. They're going to have very strong winds.  "We could therefore see some further problems on roads."  As winds ease off later on Saturday, some hill snow is forecast in central and southern parts of England and into Wales, Mr Burkill said, before calmer conditions on Sunday.  "That (hill snow) will clear through Sunday morning, with blustery showers following behind. Meanwhile, in the north it's going to be a fairly bright day,” Mr Burkill said.  There will be a few showers perhaps and it could turn windy but not as windy as today by any means."


eveningstandard--2019-02-10--UK weather forecast more snow and ice to hit Britain after deadly Storm Erik

UK weather forecast: more snow and ice to hit Britain after deadly Storm Erik

Snow and ice are expected to hit the UK tonight as the country recovers from deadly Storm Erik that wreaked havoc over the weekend.  The Met Office has warned snow is expected to fall in hilly areas on Sunday evening as temperatures drop overnight to hover above freezing by Monday morning.  Earlier on Sunday, snow flurries were reported in Devon but forecasters said it had not settled.  A northerly wind will bring colder air to the country later today, meteorologist Sophie Yeomans told the Standard.  “There will be rain and hill snow arriving in Northern Ireland later today and in Scotland in the evening,” she said.  A yellow ice warning is in place for parts of northern Scotland.  “There have been a few reports of snow across parts of Devon, a few flakes in the air,” she said.  “They’re seeing it falling from sky but it's melting as soon as it hits the ground.”  The Met Office said there will be rain with some hill snow moving southeastwards across central and southern England and Wales with strong winds.  There will also be some wintry showers in the north with risk of frost and ice.  After a cold start to Monday, Ms Yeomans said temperatures are expected to become more mild, reaching double figures by the middle of the week.  The UK is recovering as 75mph winds battered the country over Friday and Saturday, killing three.  A kitesurfer died after an incident on a beach in north Devon on Saturday morning, police said.  On Friday morning, a man in Devon died after 70mph gale winds blew a huge tree onto his car as he was driving near the Dartbridge Inn.  Hours later, shortly before 10am, another man driving a van on the B4306 between Pontyberem and Llannon, West Wales, was killed by a large tree that fell across the road.  Thousands were also left without power, planes struggled to land and trees blowing onto roads caused widespread traffic delays.  Storm Erik followed a spell of freezing temperatures that gripped the UK, causing widespread snowfall across the country.


eveningstandard--2019-02-12--UK weather forecast Britain set for return of cold snap wind and rain after mild week with highs o

UK weather forecast: Britain set for return of cold snap, wind and rain after mild week with highs of 11C

Forecasters have warned a freezing cold snap and windy weather could return to Britain following a mild respite this week.  Wet and windy weather is set to arrive from the west with the chance of colder conditions next week, according to the Met Office.  And there could be further snowfall in the UK, mainly on the hills.  The colder snap is expected to hit the UK next week following a fairly mild week with temperatures reaching double figures in parts.  In London and the south east this week, temperatures are expected to reach a maximum of 10 or 11C.  Richard Miles from the Met Office told the Standard: “It’s dry and cloudy with some sunny spells. However today there will be patches of fog and some possible frost overnight."  “Tomorrow there will be some patchy fog but it will be a mild and sunny day, mild for this time of year.  Elsewhere, the northwest will be hit by some rain with heavier showers predicted in western Scotland.  The cold spell will come just weeks after the UK was hit by snow.  Earlier this month, the coldest temperatures this year were recorded when the mercury dropped to -16C in the Scottish Highlands and -10 in other parts of England.


eveningstandard--2019-02-14--UK weather forecast latest Britain to be hotter than California as tropical air stream passes over

UK weather forecast latest: Britain to be hotter than California as tropical air stream passes over country

The UK is set to bask in hotter temperatures than California this Valentine’s Day as a stream of tropical air from the Canary Islands passes over the country.  Forecasters say the mercury could reach as high as 16C in parts of Britain, with widespread sunshine expected.  It could be the warmest Valentine’s Day on record in Scotland if temperatures there rise above 16C. The warmest Valentine's Day on record in the UK was 19.1C, recorded in Somerset in 1988.  But before sunshine broke out a severe fog warning was in place across a swathe of southern England and Wales.  Met Office forecaster Craig Snell told the Standard: “This morning we are off to a fairly cold start across southern parts of the UK, there is quite a bit of fog about.  “We have a yellow fog warning out in force until later this morning.  “It is cloudier and milder up in Scotland and in northern parts.  “Later this morning we will see lots of sunshine around, it is going to be a mild day with most places into double figures.  "In some places like northern Scotland and northern parts of Wales we could see 15 or 16C. It could be the warmest Valentine’s Day on record in Scotland.  "In London it will be around 13C, still 5C higher than average for this time of year. For everyone it is going to be a very mild day this Valentine’s Day.”  On Thursday night and into Friday, the weather is expected to emulate the previous 24 hours.  “Tonight we will see the same story again. It will be a cold night with fog once again reforming but milder up north,” Mr Snell added.  “It will be a brighter day as a whole tomorrow, 15 or 16C again in some places.”  However the balmy weather is not expected to last.  “As we go into the weekend there will be a change in the weather,” Mr Snell said.  “It will be colder with more cloud and rain in the west. The temperatures will take a tumble down to normal.”


eveningstandard--2019-02-15--UK weather forecast latest Temperatures set to soar to 16C for second day as Brits bask in glorious

UK weather forecast latest: Temperatures set to soar to 16C for second day as Brits bask in glorious sunshine

Brits are set for another day of glorious sunshine with the temperatures expected to soar to 16C for the second day in a row.  Thursday saw the warmest Valentine’s Day since 1998 in the UK, with temperatures reaching 16.1C in the town of Bala in Gwynedd, north Wales.  The mercury dipped as low as -3.3C overnight but temperatures are expected to climb after a chilly start to Friday, with the risk of potentially troublesome fog across most of southern England.  The balmy conditions are being caused by a stream of tropical air which has travelled from the Canary Islands off the north-west coast of Africa.  This morning patches of dense fog are expected to cause travel disruption across a swathe of southern England.  The Met Office has issued a yellow warning stretching from Cornwall to London and Kent that will be in place from 5am until 11am.  Forecasters said not everywhere would be affected, but some dense patches could reduce visibility to as low as 50 metres in a few places.  Met Office meteorologist Craig Snell said: "It will be another mild day for many parts of the UK.  "People getting out first thing this morning might think it's a bit nippy out there and there are some fog patches in central and southern England.  "But there will be a lot of sunshine around later once that clears."  But the balmy weather is not expected to last.  “As we go into the weekend there will be a change in the weather,” Mr Snell added.  “It will be colder with more cloud and rain in the west. The temperatures will take a tumble down to normal.”


eveningstandard--2019-02-17--London weather forecast Brits warned to brace themselves for rain after balmy weekend

London weather forecast: Brits warned to brace themselves for rain after balmy weekend

Brits who enjoyed a balmy February weekend should brace themselves for more familiar weather conditions on Monday.  After a sun-soaked Saturday and Sunday, the Met Office said rain was likely in many parts of the country on Monday.  Meteorologist Helen Roberts told the Standard: “It will be breezy, and the most frequent showers will be in the north-west.  “The south-east will be less breezy, with more bright spells. But there will also be some showers around.  “There will be a band of rain pulling from East Anglia through London and towards Southampton. And the rain in some of those places will be on the heavy side.”  After the warm temperatures at the weekend, Ms Roberts added: “It will still be mild, with temperatures above average. But it won’t be as pleasant as it has been this weekend.”  On Monday, London has a 70 per cent chance of heavy rain at noon and an 80 per cent chance at 2pm. Temperatures will reach highs of 10C.  From Tuesday to Thursday, meanwhile, it will be wet and windy across the north of the country, while the south will be drier.


eveningstandard--2019-02-17--UK weather forecast Brits warned to brace themselves for rain after balmy weekend

UK weather forecast: Brits warned to brace themselves for rain after balmy weekend


eveningstandard--2019-02-18--UK weather forecast Britain set for hottest February day on record this week

UK weather forecast: Britain set for hottest February day on record this week

The UK could experience its hottest February day on record this week, with temperatures set to soar to almost 20C.  The Met Office said it “could feel like spring” from Friday, with “a lot of sunshine and warmth”.  The previous hottest February day on record was 19.7C recorded in 1988.  Last Thursday was the warmest Valentine’s Day since 1988, with the mercury reaching 16.1C in the town of Bala in north Wales.  Met Office meteorologist Bonnie Diamond said: “What we’ve got already has been mild for February, with temperatures around 10 to 12C today.  “For the rest of the week, temperatures will steadily build, with a body of high pressure moving over from the continent.  “Wind is coming from a south-south-westerly direction, which is generally quite mild, and we’ll have a lot of sunshine and warmth.  “That combination means we’re looking at temperatures around 17 or even 18 in some parts of the UK.  “The warmest February day on record was 19.7C, and there’s a possibility that could be reached by Friday or Saturday.  “We might see some places come close but that depends on the amount of sunshine.  “It will be 16 or 17C in London, and we could see an extra degree depending on the sunshine.”  Rain is likely on Monday, with frequent showers in the north-west, but with more bright spells in the south-east.  On Monday, London has a 70 per cent chance of heavy rain at noon and an 80 per cent chance at 2pm. Temperatures will reach highs of 10C.  From Tuesday to Thursday, meanwhile, it will be wet and windy across the north of the country, while the south will be drier.


eveningstandard--2019-02-20--UK weather forecast London to be hotter than Athens this weekend as mercury set to hit 15C

UK weather forecast: London to be hotter than Athens this weekend as mercury set to hit 15C

London is set to be hotter than Athens this weekend as the UK enjoys a period of balmy weather.  The mercury is set to rise to 15C over the weekend, making London warmer than the Greek capital, according to forecasters.  Met Office meteorologist Sarah Kent told the Standard that temperatures are expected to be well above average.  “Saturday in London is going to the best for sunshine. There will be sunny spells with light wind. Temperatures are looking at 15C,” she said.  It comes as temperatures in the capital on Thursday and Friday are set to reach up to 13C.  The average temperature for the capital at this time of year is 9.1C.  According to Ms Kent, there will still be a considerable amount of high pressure leading to good weather “but there will be more cloud and temperatures will reach 13C.”  She warned that because of the high pressure, air quality in the capital could deteriorate and may be at a moderate level.  The good weather is expected to extend to the entire UK over the weekend with temperatures in Scotland also expected to reach into the early teens.  Rugby fans in Cardiff are expected to bask in 12C temperatures as they watch Wales take on England for the Six Nations match.  Ms Kent said that it is unlikely that temperatures across the UK will be record breaking.  The current maximum recorded temperature for February is 19.7C set in London during February 1998.  According to the Met Office, although temperatures may not be as high as the weekend, it looks as though they will stay mild for the rest of the month.


eveningstandard--2019-02-21--UK weather forecast latest Record temperatures could sweep UK as Scotland sees all time high

UK weather forecast latest: Record temperatures could sweep UK as Scotland sees all time high

The mercury could soar to record levels across the UK this week, with Scotland already seeing its warmest ever February day.  Aboyne in Aberdeenshire hit the maximum temperature of 18.3C on Thursday afternoon, beating the previous high of 17.9C recorded in Aberdeen on February 22, 1897.  A spell of warm weather this weekend is set to bring temperatures in other parts of the UK close to their own records for February.  The current record maximum temperature measured in the UK in February is 19.7C, which was set in London on February 13, 1998.  The Welsh record temperature for February was set at 18.6C in Powys in 1990, and the highest in Northern Ireland was 17.8C in Bryansford in 1998.  Met Office forecaster Craig Snell said the mild weather is set to continue, but it is unlikely to reach such a high in Scotland again this month.  "Over the next few days it'll be very mild temperatures, today is possibly the mildest for the next few days.  "It could be early next week until it's as mild again, though whether we'll see 18.3C is unlikely.  "So the mild theme is set to continue and it will be pleasantly spring-like through early next week."  Fellow forecaster Steven Keats said the mercury is expected to reach at least 15C in London over Saturday and Sunday.  The warm weather is being caused by warm winds coming off the Canary Islands, where temperatures are in the low 20s.  “A bit of sunshine does help as well,” Mr Keats said. “Its starting to get a bit of strength now compared to middle of winter.”  While he said spring had sprung a “bit early” temperatures are expected to cool off by the beginning of March, with temperatures returning back to average or slightly above average figures.  “Certainly not expecting anything like last year,” he said, referring to the Beast from the East, which brought snow and ice to most of the UK.  “It It goes to show how different things can be at this time of year.”


eveningstandard--2019-02-22--UK weather forecast Britain set for more glorious sunshine as mercury to climb to 17C this weekend

UK weather forecast: Britain set for more glorious sunshine as mercury to climb to 17C this weekend

Glorious sunshine and soaring spring-like temperatures are expected this weekend as “exceptionally mild” conditions continue to sweep across the UK.  The Met Office said a high of 17C could be reached in northern and western Wales.  While in London, the mercury is expected to hit 14C on Saturday before rising to 16C by Tuesday.  Forecasters are expecting low lying cloud to clear overnight giving way to sunny spells and dry conditions on Saturday afternoon.  Met Office meteorologist Dean Hall said: "It's exceptionally mild for the time of year.  "It's pretty impressive bearing in mind this time last year we were talking about the Beast from the East.  Northern Ireland and west Scotland will be affected by a band of cloud and rain which will become light and patchy as it moves eastwards.  North-west Scotland could be windy and there is low risk of some coastal gales in the far north west.  Saturday night could bring some fog patches across large parts of England and Wales, with it turning chilly in places like Northern Ireland and East Anglia.  The Met Office said a touch of frost could arrive in areas across the far north and the south east of England.  But from Sunday morning areas of cloud and fog will clear, bringing what is expected to be another dry day with the best of the sunshine being across the South East.  Temperatures are expected to reach the mid-teens, particularly in sheltered parts of north and west Wales, Devon and around the Moray Firth.  The settled, sunny and generally dry weather is set to continue across England and Wales into the earlier part of next week, with some overnight fog likely.  Earlier on Friday, passengers flying to and from London airports suffered flight delays due to fog.  The conditions meant a number of planes were delayed.


eveningstandard--2019-02-23--UK weather forecast latest Temperatures set to soar to 20C after forecasters issue severe fog warni

UK weather forecast latest: Temperatures set to soar to 20C after forecasters issue severe fog warning

Parts of Britain woke up to a blanket of thick fog on Saturday with temperatures set to soar to almost 20C later in the day.  A severe yellow weather warning was issued across southern England, with forecasters warning that dense fog could cause travel disruption.  The fog is set to lift by lunchtime, making way for glorious sunshine and another exceptionally warm day ahead.  The mercury is set to stay in the mid-teens into next week, with tomorrow’s fog expected to be less severe.  Many flights were delayed on Saturday morning because of the fog.  Planes were unable to land at City Airport, with flights also delayed at Gatwick and Heathrow.  Met Office meteorologist Marco Petagan said: “This morning the fog will be clearing and the south east will get the best of the sunshine.  “There might be some rain across Northern Ireland and western Scotland, which could sink to east Cumbria and west Wales.  “It’s another very mild day to come, with temperatures in the mid-teens and 15-17C as a high.  “The north of Wales will be the warmest while the Moray coast in Scotland will also do well.  “Tonight there is a chance of the fog reforming, particularly in east Wales and the Midlands. There could be the odd patch elsewhere, but we’re not expecting warnings at this stage.  “There’s a chance of the odd pocket of frost, with temperatures falling to single figures.  “Tomorrow any fog will be lifting, with another lovely day for most, and Scotland and Northern Ireland will be brighter than today.  “It’ll be a generally dry day, with temperatures of 15-16C, and that won’t change a lot into the start of next week.  “There’s a chance of mist and fog in the mornings, but it’ll be fine and settled with temperatures in the mid-teens.”


eveningstandard--2019-02-25--UK weather forecast Brits set for more record-breaking temperatures after mercury soars to 20C

UK weather forecast: Brits set for more record-breaking temperatures after mercury soars to 20C

Britain could experience more record-breaking temperatures this week after the hottest February day on record.  Forecasters said the unusually warm weather will continue on Tuesday after a record high of 20.6C was reached at Trawsgoed in Ceredigion, west Wales, on Monday afternoon.  Although Tuesday will start with early patches of fog across the country, Met Office meteorologist Emma Smith told the Standard we could see more record-breaking temperatures during the afternoon.  “Temperatures could reach up to 20C or 21C in London at around 2pm,” she said on Monday night. “After the fog clears in the morning it will be a beautiful clear start to the day in London.”  London and north west Wales are most likely to feel the highest temperatures on Tuesday.  Temperatures of 20.4C in Northolt, west London, and 20.1C in Gogerddan, west Wales, were also recorded on Monday. The previous winter record was 19.7C at Greenwich, east London, in 1998.  Monday was also the earliest a temperature above 20C has been recorded since 20.2C was recorded in Exeter on March 2 1977.  The warmth presents a stark contrast to this time last year, when February's Beast from the East plunged temperatures below freezing and brought heavy snowfall across the country.  Cooler temperatures expected from Wednesday onwards will be "still above average" for February, Met Office said, with highs of 17C likely in the south east and London.  Wednesday is also likely to start with some fog, with forecaster Ms Smith saying the Met Office could release a fog warning for parts of the country overnight on Tuesday and into the following morning.  “It may be murky in the morning in southern parts of England before it breaks up towards lunchtime," she said.  "There will be highs of around 17C although areas in the north west will experience colder temperatures.  “After the fog breaks up around midday there will be sunny skies across the south east.”  Heavy showers are possible on Thursday as temperatures struggle to breach 11C or 12C.  Friday will then mark the first day of meteorological spring and is expected to be mostly dry with temperatures of around 14C before a wet weekend.  In London, temperatures will reach around 13C on Saturday, with some rain forecasted before a drier afternoon.  Met Office forecaster Luke Miall said: "The weekend doesn't look great, it's looking wet and windy across the country. There's lots of uncertainty over the details because it's still a long way off but wet and windy seems to be the theme through many areas."  Monday's record highs were likened to a "climate breakdown" by Green MP Caroline Lucas.  Mr Miall added: "This kind of event is what climate change would expect but we can't directly relate it to climate change."


eveningstandard--2019-02-28--London weather forecast February in UK set to be hottest on record but Met Office warns of stron

London weather forecast: February in UK set to be hottest on record... but Met Office warns of strong winds and rain

February is set to be the warmest on record but the “wall-to-wall” sunshine of recent days is about to ease off and make way for rain, forecasters have said.  Scattered showers on Thursday will bring an end to the warm spell, which saw new winter record temperatures on two consecutive days, according to the Met Office.  It said the current month is likely to be the hottest February since records began. The previous warmest was in 1998, when the average maximum daily temperature was 9.8C (49.64F).  With just one day to go before the beginning of March, this year's maximum daily average has already reached 9.9C (49.82F), the Met Office said.  Forecaster Becky Mitchell said it would be "exceptional" to beat the 1998 record given the chilly start to the month.  She said: "At the moment, the current average is 9.9C and of course we have got just one more day of February to go, so it looks like we are on track to be the warmest February on record."  Ms Mitchell added: "It was really quite cold at the start of the month - it's pretty exceptional to have caught up with the 1998 one."  Experts said climate change is heating up the whole weather system and making extremes more likely.  Amid February's exceptional conditions, fires have broken out at Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh, on Saddleworth Moor in West Yorkshire and in North Wales, Sussex and Lancashire.  The warmest winter temperatures on record were measured on Monday and Tuesday as temperatures beat the previous record of 19.7C (67.4F) in Greenwich, south-east London, in 1998  Thursday is predicted to stay mild, with cloudy skies and highs of 14C (57.2F) forecast in London. But it will be more unsettled than the previous clear days, with fog expected in the morning and "possibly heavy and thundery" showers moving east across England and Wales.  Friday will see some heavy rain in western parts of the UK, and the unsettled weather is to continue "right through the weekend", Ms Mitchell said.  The conditions will be a "big contrast" to the sunny start to the week, she said, adding: "It will be wet and windy for the whole of the UK, and very strong winds across many places, and we could even have gales in the west."


eveningstandard--2019-02-28--UK weather forecast February set to be hottest on record but Met Office warns of strong winds an

UK weather forecast: February set to be hottest on record... but Met Office warns of strong winds and rain on the way

February set to be the warmest on record but the “wall-to-wall” sunshine of recent days is about to ease off and make way for rain, forecasters have said.  Scattered showers on Thursday will bring an end to the warm spell, which saw new winter record temperatures on two consecutive days, according to the Met Office.  It said the current month is likely to be the hottest February since records began. The previous warmest was in 1998, when the average maximum daily temperature was 9.8C (49.64F).  With just one day to go before the beginning of March, this year's maximum daily average has already reached 9.9C (49.82F), the Met Office said.  Forecaster Becky Mitchell said it would be "exceptional" to beat the 1998 record given the chilly start to the month.  She said: "At the moment, the current average is 9.9C and of course we have got just one more day of February to go, so it looks like we are on track to be the warmest February on record."  Ms Mitchell added: "It was really quite cold at the start of the month - it's pretty exceptional to have caught up with the 1998 one."  Experts said climate change is heating up the whole weather system and making extremes more likely.  Amid February's exceptional conditions, fires have broken out at Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh, on Saddleworth Moor in West Yorkshire and in North Wales, Sussex and Lancashire.  The warmest winter temperatures on record were measured on Monday and Tuesday as temperatures beat the previous record of 19.7C (67.4F) in Greenwich, south-east London, in 1998  Thursday is predicted to stay mild, with cloudy skies and highs of 14C (57.2F) forecast in London. But it will be more unsettled than the previous clear days, with fog expected in the morning and "possibly heavy and thundery" showers moving east across England and Wales.  Friday will see some heavy rain in western parts of the UK, and the unsettled weather is to continue "right through the weekend", Ms Mitchell said.  The conditions will be a "big contrast" to the sunny start to the week, she said, adding: "It will be wet and windy for the whole of the UK, and very strong winds across many places, and we could even have gales in the west."


eveningstandard--2019-03-12--Storm Gareth weather forecast aposDanger to lifeapos UK warning as heavy rain and strong winds

Storm Gareth weather forecast: 'Danger to life' UK warning as heavy rain and strong winds sweep in

Heavy rainfall blighted the UK overnight with Storm Gareth set to swoop in later today amid a "danger to life" warning from forecasters.  Yellow warnings for wind and rain are in force across parts of the UK for the next four days, the Met Office said.  "Severe gales" are expected later on today as Storm Gareth hits with gales predicted to reach up to 80mph and flooding expected in some areas.  In the last 12 hours, some areas have already seen nearly 5cm of rain with Capel Curig in Wales seeing 49mm.  There have also been speedy winds hurtling through regions in recent hours with winds already hitting 52mph in the south-west and worse expected.  Yellow warnings for wind cover most of England, Wales and Ireland until 3pm tomorrow. The Met Office issued a "danger to life" warning in Ireland.  "There is a small chance of injuries and danger to life from flying debris," forecasters said. They have also warned of power cuts and delays to bus and train journeys across the UK and Ireland.  A yellow warning for rain is in place in north-west England from just after midnight on Thursday to 10am on Friday.  The worst of the storm is expected this evening.  According to the Met Office, today's weather will see: "Heavy rain across Wales and northern England, spreading southeastwards, with gusty winds.  "Brighter skies following from the north and later west, with heavy, blustery showers, wintry over northern hills. Turning very windy later, with severe gales in the northwest."  However, tonight will see the worst of it and experts predict: "Very windy with severe gales in the north. Heavy and squally showers across northern and central parts with risk of hail of thunder."  There is a large weather warning for wind covering much of the UK today, with public transport liable to be affected.  In the north-west there is an added warning for rain, with "flooding of a few homes and businesses likely".  Speaking previously, Met Office chief meteorologist Paul Gundersen said: "The strong north-westerly winds will also affect south-west Scotland late on Tuesday, spreading across much of England and Wales through Wednesday.  "Gusts of 50-55 mph are likely inland and up to 65 mph along western coasts. Winds will gradually ease during the afternoon."  Gusts could even reach 80mph along northern coasts in coming days, with warnings in place through to Friday.  The storm has been caused by a deep area of low pressure and as well as the Met Office's warnings, the Environment Agency has also stated there is a risk of floods.  It has 29 flood alerts in place and four flood warnings, two in the south west and another pair in the north west.


eveningstandard--2019-03-12--UK weather forecast Storm Gareth set to batter the country until the weekend with 37 flood alerts i

UK weather forecast: Storm Gareth set to batter the country until the weekend with 37 flood alerts issued

Storm Gareth is set to batter the country until the weekend and shows no signs of letting up, as more than 30 flood alerts have been issued for the country.  A “danger to life” Yellow weather warning is still in place for the UK, with heavy rain and strong wings predicted until 3pm Wednesday afternoon.  Forecaster Helen Roberts, from the Met Office, confirmed the western isles of Scotland were struck by 71mph winds while “many places” saw winds of up to 60mph.  Several parts of the UK were hit with heavy rain, as the Environmental Agency warned residents and business owners to “be prepared” for flooding, issuing 37 alerts.  Forecasters said 2in-2.4in (50mm-60mm) of rain was possible over higher ground in Cumbria.  Highways England said officers were dealing with severe flooding on the northbound entry slip road to Charnock Richard services off the M6 in Lancashire, while a lane was closed on the M6 southbound near junction 33, at Hampson Green in Lancashire, because of a flood.  The Environment Agency said staff had been working through the night in Cumbria and Lancashire to monitor rain and river levels.  It has issued five flood warnings across Yorkshire and Cumbria and 40 flood alerts.  It said on Twitter: "We've been out throughout the night clearing grids & removing debris in Cumbria & Lancs to reduce flood risk during Storm Gareth.  "Rain is falling on already wet catchments, therefore it's important that people do remain vigilant, be prepared & know your risk."  After the rain clears, the storm is expected to bring strong winds, with a chance of damage to buildings, power cuts and travel problems.  The Met Office predicted the winds will hit Northern Ireland at about 3pm on Wednesday, with a yellow warning for all of England and Wales and some parts of Scotland until Wednesday afternoon.  Strong winds were recorded across the UK, with coastal areas expected to be hit with gusts of more than 60mph.  Met Office chief meteorologist Paul Gundersen said: "The strong north-westerly winds will also affect south-west Scotland late on Tuesday, spreading across much of England and Wales through Wednesday.  "Gusts of 50-55mph are likely inland and up to 65mph along western coasts. Winds will gradually ease during the afternoon."  Gusts could even reach 80mph along coasts in Northern Ireland, the Met Office said.  In London and the South East, Ms Roberts said things could dry conditions were likely, but it will be “very breezy”.  Ms Roberts also confirmed parts of Scotland and the South East had seen some “wet snow”, but it did not lie in the South East because of the strong winds.  A yellow weather warning for rain is also in place in parts of northern England on Thursday and Friday.  The storm, caused by a deep area of low pressure, was named by Met Eireann, the Irish weather service, and is the third named storm this year after Storm Erik in February and Freya earlier this month.


eveningstandard--2019-03-14--UK weather forecast aposHannahapos to become second storm to hit Britain in a week with 30cm of

UK weather forecast: 'Hannah' to become second storm to hit Britain in a week with 30cm of snow set to fall

Britain is set to be hit by another storm this week with snow, heavy rains and strong winds forecast across the country.  Storm Hannah, which has not yet been named by the Met Office, is expected to bring up to 30cm of snow to northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland this weekend.  Wales and northern England also expect four inches of rain and travel disruption as the country braces for the second storm in a week.  Winds of up to 70mph are forecast across southern England and Wales, just three days after Storm Gareth wreaked havoc across Britain.  A Met Office spokesman said it is yet to call the storm Hannah but it is the next name on the list.  He said: “There is a yellow snow warning out covers areas in western most reaches for Saturday.  “What we are expecting is that the front associated with the low pressure system travelling across the UK in the south to come into contact with cold air then snow mass will form.  “In the Pennines, the Highland areas, parts of northern Ireland, and the Grampian Mountains, there is potential for those areas to get 20 to 30cm of snowfall.  “There is certainly a chance with the yellow weather warning across the southern part of the country there could be some travel disruptions.”  The latest forecast follows Storm Gareth, which swept across Britain earlier this week, bringing gusts of up to 75mph on Tuesday night.  Three climbers died in an avalanche on Ben Nevis in Scotland, whilst six fishermen had to be rescued by a coastguard helicopter in gale force winds off Land’s End on Tuesday.  The storm disrupted travel services across the country, impacting LNER, CrossCountry, Northern and Transpennine Express and some Virgin Trains services.


eveningstandard--2019-04-03--London weather forecast surprise snow and thunder aposexplosionapos in capital as rest of UK is

London weather forecast: surprise snow and thunder 'explosion' in capital as rest of UK is hit by freeze

London was hit by surprise snowfall today as parts of Britain were gripped by an icy cold start to Spring.  Wintry showers broke out in the capital at around 3pm following a "massive" clap of thunder, according to shocked Londoners on social media.  Footage showed flurries of wintry showers falling in the city centre amid the bizarre weather conditions.  It came as hill, snow and sleet hit other parts of the country today.  "Massive thunder in central London like an explosion," one person wrote as the weather hit London.  Another person tweeted: "Massive clap of thunder directly over us in London Waterloo, and it's now just started snowing hard. Weird day."  "Did anyone else just here the loudest thunder they've ever heard?" asked one Twitter user.  Another said: "Can anybody else in central London confirm that that was an enormous clap of thunder and not the world actually ending?"  It came as other parts of the capital were bathed in sunshine.  The Met Office issued a yellow severe weather warning for an area of northern England and southern Scotland, while flurries were also seen down into the Midlands in the early hours of Wednesday.  A spell of sleet and snow is expected on Wednesday morning, mostly on high ground.  Up to 5cm of snow could accumulate above 200m and up to 10cm above 400m, the Met Office said.  Parts of Cumbria, Northumberland and Durham were in the warning area in England, while north of the border it covered parts of Dumfries and Galloway, East and West Lothian, East Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire.  The warning is due to lift at 10am.  Temperatures dipped below freezing across the board overnight and were expected to remain in single figures for most of the day.  A "sudden microburst" of hail and snow caused a 24-car motorway pile-up, according to Lancashire Police.  The M55 was closed in both directions in the early hours of Wednesday between junctions one and three.  No-one was seriously injured but the crash caused "carnage", the force said.  Forecasters said a deep area of low pressure is centred over the UK, bringing with it the potential to drive showers and produce long spells of wet and changeable weather.  The band of rain and hill snow was expected to push eastwards through Wednesday, while Scotland and Northern Ireland were set for strong winds with coastal gales.  Little change in the conditions is expected for Thursday, although the focus for most of the showers will be in the south-west of the UK.  Hill snow will persist across high areas in the north, while in the south-west some drier and brighter weather is expected to arrive.  There is an improving picture towards the end of the week, with brighter, drier and warmer conditions expected for many parts on Friday and into the weekend.


eveningstandard--2019-04-03--UK weather forecast Snow hits Britain - with even more set to fall later this week

UK weather forecast: Snow hits Britain - with even more set to fall later this week

Snow and sleet have hit parts of the country with more forecast later this week as the wintry start to spring continues.  The Met Office issued a yellow severe weather warning for an area of northern England and southern Scotland, while flurries were also seen down into the Midlands in the early hours.  Temperatures dipped below freezing across the board overnight and are expected to remain in single figures for most of Wednesday.  London temperatures hovered around chilly 3C and 4C early on Wednesday, with cold weather and rain forecast for the rest of the week.  Forecasters said a deep area of low pressure was centred over the UK, bringing with it the potential to drive showers and produce long spells of wet and changeable weather.  Met Office meteorologist Mark Wilson said: "In the north of the UK there will be more persistent rain and hill snow today, particularly on higher ground in southern Scotland and northern England.  "There is a weather warning in force in those areas for until 10 o'clock. There could be some snow to lower levels, but essentially it's a high-ground feature and it could cause some localised disruption over high routes."  Parts of Cumbria, Northumberland and Durham were in the warning area in England, while north of the border it covered parts of Dumfries and Galloway, East and West Lothian, East Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire.  Up to 5cm of snow could accumulate above 200m and up to 10cm above 400m, the Met Office said.  The band of rain and hill snow will push eastwards through Wednesday, while Scotland and Northern Ireland are expected to see strong winds with coastal gales.  There will be sunshine and some rain for the southern and western parts, although showers are forecast to be heavy with hail and thunder mixed in.  Temperatures will remain on the cold side, with around 5C or 6C the maximum for many and 10C expected in the south-east.  Little change in the conditions is expected for Thursday, although the focus for most of the showers will be in the south-west of the UK.  Hill snow will persist across high areas in the north, while in the south-west some drier and brighter weather is expected to arrive.  There is an improving picture towards the end of the week, with brighter, drier and warmer conditions expected for many parts on Friday and into the weekend.


eveningstandard--2019-04-12--UK weather forecast Temperatures in parts of UK to plunge to -3C as cold air from Scandinavia hits

UK weather forecast: Temperatures in parts of UK to plunge to -3C as cold air from Scandinavia hits country

Temperatures are set to plunge as low as -3C in parts of the UK this weekend as cold air from Scandinavia hits the country.  Many areas are expected to wake up to widespread frosts, while bitter winds are also forecast as the country remains gripped by chilly conditions.  Met Office forecaster Grahame Madge said: “There will be frost overnight in some places and that will be a consequence of the colder air that will be over the UK.”  The mercury is set to plummet as low as 0C overnight in London and the South East while in the Scottish Highlands it could be as cold as -3C.  This weekend will be “mostly dry” for many across Britain, forecasters said.  The cooler air is thought coming over from Scandinavia and central Europe, Mr Madge said, although he added it is not unusual for spring to see temperatures such as these or for a brief cold burst to hit.  Conditions across the country are set to warm up again by midweek, he said.  He said: “We would expect to see temperatures of about 12C or 13C again.”  According to the Met Office, the outlook for Sunday to Tuesday will be: "mainly dry and rather cold with sunny spells on Sunday.  "[It will be] turning windier in the north and west, with patchy rain possibly arriving in the west next week. Becoming somewhat warmer."


eveningstandard--2019-04-19--UK weather forecast Britain could see hottest ever Easter Sunday as glorious spring heatwave to bri

UK weather forecast: Britain could see hottest ever Easter Sunday as glorious spring heatwave to bring highs of 27C

Brits may be set for the hottest Easter Sunday on record amid a scorching spring heatwave in the UK, forecasters have said.  The mercury could climb to highs of 27C by Monday as Britain is set for days of glorious sunshine over the Easter weekend, according to the Met Office.  And forecaster Helen Roberts told the Standard temperatures could break records by Sunday.  However it appears unlikely that the UK will break the highest ever Easter weekend temperature, which was 29.4C in 1949.  Britain will be "largely dry, sunny and increasingly warm" over the next four days, Ms Roberts said.  She added: "Temperatures will climb day by day.  "The mercury will reach a maximum of 25C today... tomorrow and Sunday will be 26C.  "By Monday we will see temperatures of 27C."  It was unclear where in the UK would see the maximum temperatures, Ms Roberts said.  But she added that it was likely Brits would see such highs in the south.  She added: "London will be sunny right the way through [the weekend], it's going to be glorious."  Ms Roberts said it is possible the UK may break records for the highest Easter Sunday.  The current record stands at 25.3C in 2011.  The only exception to the weekend's balmy weather will be in the North West on Saturday and Sunday, the Met Office said.  Northern Scotland and Northern Ireland may also be affected by some cloudier weather with outbreaks of rain.