A drop in temperatures is set to bring snow and icy conditions to parts of England within the next 24 hours, according to forecasts by the Met Office. The weather agency has issued new warnings for Monday, indicating the likelihood of “heavy” snow showers in specific regions.
A yellow weather warning is scheduled to be in effect from 4 am and predicts that ice and snow may impact roads and train services across Greater London, Kent, Surrey, East Sussex, and West Sussex.
In addition to the snow warnings, an amber cold-health alert has been issued for the North West of England, West Midlands, East Midlands, and South West of England, effective until Friday. Meanwhile, a yellow cold-health alert remains in place for the North East of England, Yorkshire and The Humber, East of England, South East of England, and London for most of the coming week.
These warnings come in the wake of Storm Henk, which recently wreaked havoc across the country, causing extensive flooding and sadly resulting in two deaths.
The yellow weather warning specifies that temperatures will plunge to near freezing in the early hours of Monday morning as a “mix of sleet and snow showers” moves into the region, as reported by the Met Office.
Forecasters anticipate the heaviest snowfall will occur over the North Downs in Sussex. Commuters are advised to anticipate longer journey times on Monday morning and to allow extra time for their travels. Sticking to main roads when walking or cycling is also recommended.
The yellow warning is set to expire at 10 am on Monday. Dr. Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA, advised, “Temperatures are expected to turn particularly cold overnight, as we would expect at this time of year. If you have a pre-existing medical condition or are over the age of 65, it is important to try and heat the rooms where you spend most of your time, such as your living room or bedroom, in the coming days.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has visited flood-affected areas of England today to assess the impact of recent severe weather events.
