Weather warnings remain in place across the UK as Brits brace for the mercury to drop to minus 16C. Yellow warnings for snow, ice and fog are in place across the UK on Thursday after snow and sleet caused disruption on Wednesday. Snow caused snow in Devon and Cornwall on Wednesday, with some roads closed and motorists stuck for “long periods”, according to a joint statement from Devon and Cornwall Police and Devon County Council. Snow plows were stuck in traffic queues caused by “minor incidents”, the statement added. Plows were mounted on sandblasters that were working Thursday morning to clear routes in the area, police and highways officials said. Temperatures fell to minus 12 degrees at Tallock Bridge in Scotland on Wednesday night, while the mercury dipped below zero across much of England and Wales. On Thursday night, the minimum temperature may reach minus 16 degrees, the Meteorological Service reported. On Thursday, road and rail traffic disruptions are possible in the warning areas, as well as possible accidents on ice, the forecaster said. A yellow snow and ice warning is in place for northern Scotland until midnight on Thursday, while another snow and ice warning is in place for Northern Ireland until 11am on Thursday as sleet and showers continue. A yellow warning for fog is in effect for Northern Ireland until 9am on Thursday. Another yellow warning for snow and ice affecting Cornwall, most of Wales and parts of north-west England was issued until 11am on Thursday. And a yellow ice warning was issued for parts of southern England and south-east Wales until 10.30am on Thursday. In connection with the preservation of ice, motorists are urged to stick to the main roads, which are likely to be covered with sand. Motor insurer RAC said it has seen its highest level of demand for three-day rescues since December 2022. “The cold conditions will continue until at least the weekend, so we are urging drivers to remain alert to the risks associated with ice and snow in some areas,” said RAC accident spokeswoman Alice Simpson. “Black ice on rural roads can be hard to see, leaving very little time to react when driving at speed. It is strongly advised to stick to the main roads, which are likely to be covered.’ Ollie Claydon, a spokesman for the Bureau of Meteorology, told the PA news agency that it would be “bitterly cold” on Thursday night. He said the coldest temperatures would be recorded in rural Scotland and rural northern England with snow, clear skies and very cold air flow. A temperature of minus 14C would equal the lowest temperature recorded for this month last year, which was recorded at Dalvin in the Highlands on January 17, 2024. But a temperature of minus 16C would be the lowest recorded January in the UK for 15 years after minus According to the Met Office, January 8, 2010. Altnaharra in the Highlands recorded a temperature of 22.3 degrees. Britain’s health agency has extended a cold weather warning for the whole of England until Sunday. The Amber Alert has been extended and will now be in effect until January 12, meaning an increase in deaths is likely, the agency said. Dr Agostino Sousa, UKHSA’s head of extremes and health, said: “We are extending our cold weather warning as the Met Office predicts that the low temperatures we are seeing will continue this week, with snow and ice likely “Such weather can have a serious impact on the health of some people, including people aged 65 and older, as well as those with pre-existing conditions, so it is vital that we continue to check friends, family and neighbors who are most vulnerable. “These people may be at greater risk of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections as a result of cold temperatures.” .The country has been hit by widespread flooding in recent days and a life-threatening warning was issued in Barrow-upon-Soar in Leicestershire when firefighters had to rescue dozens of people trapped in rising water.Dozens of flood warnings and alerts remain in place across England, but hundreds have been lifted and the weather will be drier over the next few days.
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