Dozens of motorists were forced to abandon their cars due to heavy snow in Cumbria at the weekend. More cold and wet weather is to come on Monday, forecasters say.
By Daniel Binns, news reporter
There’s a warning of treacherous conditions on roads and pavements this morning – with thawed snow expected to refreeze overnight and bring an “ice rink Monday” to some areas.
New Met Office warnings include alerts for ice across much of northern England and parts of the Midlands, as well as snow for higher areas of Wales, the Peak District and a large part of Scotland.
The forecaster said snow could once again cause travel disruption – with 2cm to 5cm possible on roads above 150m, and potentially 10cm to 15cm above 350m.
The warnings run until noon today.
RAC spokesperson Simon Williams said some areas could have an “ice rink Monday as snow refreezes overnight”.
“We’re expecting some very treacherous icy conditions in northern parts, so those who have to drive should exercise great caution,” said Mr Williams.
“If it’s possible to delay or even abandon journeys that may well be the best option.”
Much of the country was hit by freezing conditions over the weekend, including a low of -12.5C in northern Scotland
More than 1,000 homes and businesses were still without power in Cumbria this morning, Sky News understands, after heavy snow caused power cuts.
Cumbria was one of the worst affected regions, with up to 30cm of snow falling in places, and officials declared a major incident there on Saturday.
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Weather causes chaos in Cumbria
Dozens of motorists in the Lake District were forced to abandon their cars, with many forced to stay in community centres, schools and a church.
Electricity North West said 7,500 homes and businesses had been reconnected but engineers faced “treacherous conditions” and were still working on some properties on Sunday evening.
The weather also caused disruption at airports: East Midlands was forced to temporarily close its runway on Sunday, while some flights were cancelled at Glasgow and Stansted on Saturday.
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As well as ice and snow, the Met Office also issued warnings for rain across parts of southern Wales and southwest England, with the alert running until 6pm.
Forecasters said there was a risk of flooding, as well as potential disruption to train and bus services.
However, Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan said the weather would likely become milder later in the week.
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
