Ice and snow warnings across UK after major flooding disrupts travel Magic Post

The UK is under a series of weather warnings as temperatures plummet following major flooding, with an ice warning in place for much of the country.

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for ice across Scotland, Northern Ireland and parts of Wales, extending to the Midlands, in force until 10am on Thursday.

Additionally, the north of Scotland is under a snow and ice warning, with travel disruption expected due to rain turning to snow.

The Met Office and National Rail have urged travelers to plan ahead, advising drivers to expect difficult conditions, particularly in areas subject to yellow weather warnings.

Passengers using public transport are also advised to check timetables for possible delays or cancellations, as bad weather is expected to impact rail services across Britain, including those run by Northern, TransPennine Express, Transport for Wales and ScotRail.

As well as ice and snow warnings, two flood warnings were issued early on Thursday morning for the Lower River Wharfe and Lower River Ure systems in North Yorkshire.

These areas, as well as surrounding tributaries, remain at risk of flooding. Affected areas in the Lower River Ure system include low lying land and roads around Masham, Boroughbridge, Aldborough and Bishop Monkton. For the Lower River Wharfe, the risk of flooding extends from Otley upstream to Ulleskelf, including Tadcaster.

Photo: Reuters

However, the Met Office expects water levels to begin to fall soon, with no forecast of significant further rainfall for Thursday.

Travelers and local residents are advised to avoid low lying footpaths and bridges near watercourses and to refrain from attempting to walk, drive or cycle through floodwaters.

The continued bad weather follows major flooding in Greater Manchester, which led to a major incident being declared on Wednesday. Homes were evacuated and roads and rail lines were closed after heavy rain caused widespread flooding.

Greater Manchester Police reported that floodwaters had affected areas including Didsbury, Stockport, Trafford and Wigan. Around 450 people were evacuated from a hotel in Didsbury, while another 400 homes were deemed lower risk and did not require widespread evacuation.

Rescue teams, including mountain rescue units, were deployed to help fire and rescue services evacuate residents and help those trapped by flooded roads. An apartment block in Stockport was also evacuated due to flooding.

In response to the severe weather conditions, the City of Bristol has activated its severe weather emergency protocol until January 8. This includes increased outreach teams and additional accommodation to ensure no one has to sleep rough during the current conditions.

The heavy rain also caused extreme water levels, with Marsden recording 101.2mm of rain, more than the usual monthly rainfall in West Yorkshire, and Capel Curig in Wales also reporting 101.2mm.

The situation is expected to worsen with the arrival of more snow and ice.

Looking ahead, a three-day yellow snow warning has been issued for almost all of England, Wales and parts of Scotland this weekend, from midday Saturday until 9am Monday.

Rural communities could be isolated and schools could close. Power outages, road closures and delays to flights and trains are also possible. The Met Office is forecasting up to 5cm of snow in most affected areas, with up to 20-30cm expected over higher ground in Wales and the Pennines.

With further disruption expected, local authorities and residents are urged to stay informed and take precautions in the coming days.