‘Beast from the East II’ hits UK with ice and snow
Wintery conditions look set to stay for most of the UK as the Beast from the East II lingers on into the start of the week.
The Met Office have warned of potential travel disruption in parts of England, with amber weather warnings in place for London and the southeast, as well as the area surrounding Sheffield and Nottingham.
Several vaccination centres were forced to shut in Suffolk and Essex, with the Essex Partnership University NHS Trust advising people: “If you would prefer not to travel in poor weather conditions, you can rearrange your appointment.”
Meanwhile, Public Health England (PHE) have issued a cold weather alert, in place until Wednesday, and are urging people to check on frail or older relatives and neighbours, especially those living alone.
The bitterly cold conditions are a result of easterly winds coming in from Scandinavia, Russia and Ukraine. These have combined with a weather front named Storm Darcy and are now causing freezing temperatures in the UK.
These include in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire.
Meanwhile in Cupar in Fife, Scotland, the River Eden burst its banks, flooding a park.
Eleanor Sly8 February 2021 10:45
Several vaccination centres have been affected by the snow in Suffolk, Essex and Kent.
These include Clacton Hospital, Colchester United’s stadium, Gainsborough Sports Centre in Ipswich, and Chevington Close in Bury St Edmunds.
Centres in Debenham, Haverhill, Ipswich (Trinity Park), Stowmarket and Woodbridge were also shut as a result of the wintery weather.
Other testing centres, for people without symptoms, are closed today. These are in Bury St Edmunds, Lowestoft and at the University of Suffolk in Ipswich.
Meanwhile in Kent, a testing site at the Guildhall in Sandwich has also been shut.
(PA)
Eleanor Sly8 February 2021 10:13
The Met Office has warned that the UK could see travel disruption, including the possibility of “long delays and cancellations on bus, rail and air travel.”
They added: “There is a good chance that roads may become blocked by deep snow, with many stranded vehicles and passengers likely.”
The forecaster has released two amber weather warnings for the UK, one for London and the southeast, the other stretching from Nottingham to Sheffield and out to Lincolnshire.
Southeastern railways also issued a warning against travelling on its trains on Monday. The railway company tweeted saying: “We strongly advise that you do not attempt to travel on our network today.”
Many of their services will not be operating today and there will be no alternative transport, such as buses, supplied.
Eleanor Sly8 February 2021 09:20
UK weather: Storm Darcy to bring snow as cold snap batters Britain
Heavy snow and ice are set to continue through the week as the UK endures a cold snap, brought by the so-called “Beast from the East II.”
The majority of England and Scotland are under snow and ice warnings, with Met Office severe amber snow warnings in place for London and southeast England.
Eleanor Sly has more here:
Eleanor Sly8 February 2021 08:55
Good morning
Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage on Storm Darcy…
Eleanor Sly8 February 2021 08:33
