17/12/2010

Big Freeze Returns To British Isles

All part of the UK and the Irish Republic are today heading for a blanket of heavy show as the Met Office predicted night-time temperatures will drop to -5C in some parts of the country.

Snow began to fall in central London today and in Essex, and there were even fears that grit supplies nationwide have not been replenished since the cold snap in January, raising the prospect of further difficulties for motorists.

In Northern Ireland motorists are being warned of treacherous conditions and asked only to travel if absolutely necessary and the Met Office has a weather warning in place until 6pm on Friday amid warnings of more heavy showers.

Flights are suspended at Belfast City Airport until noon while City of Derry Aiport and Belfast International Airport are also currently closed.

In the mainland, the coldest weather will occur between Wednesday and Friday, with up to 10cm (4in) of snow forecast across the east of Scotland and England, raising the prospect of disruption to travel on rail and roads.

The areas likely to be worst hit are Kent, East Sussex, and East Anglia. Snow is also expected to settle in the northeast of England and on the North York Moors.

Later in the week, western parts of the UK will bear the brunt of the low temperatures because of limited cloud cover, with temperatures falling as low as -6C overnight. Eastern parts of the country will experience temperatures as low as -3C, the Met Office said.

In the Republic of Ireland, a government briefing has been arranged as another bout of severe weather hits there too.

In response to the influx of freezing conditions, the Inter Agency Co-ordination Group on Severe Weather was meeting this morning in Dublin to discuss the matter.

A weather warning from their Met Office said very cold wintry weather would continue into next week with ice by day and by night.

Further snow showers are expected today, mainly in Connacht, Ulster and West Munster, while total accumulations up to lunchtime were predicted to reach five to ten centimetres over Ulster and Connacht with the worst of the snow is expected for high ground, with the possibly some drifting, but totals of 2-5 cm were recorded elsewhere.

(BMcC/GK)

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