UK weather forecast today – Stay off 'TREACHEROUS' roads on Christmas Eve, drivers warned amid wild conditions in west
DRIVERS in parts of the UK have been urged to stay off the roads today as wild weather has led to 'treacherous' conditions.
Those planning to take to the roads in Devon and Cornwall have been urgednot to after a yellow weather warning was put in place for most of southern England and a fallen tree blocked traffic on the busy A30.
Last night wild winds and torrential rain resulted in a series of crashes in the south west, giving police a busy night.
Devon and Cornwall Police South Devon Specials tweeted “A busy, wet and windy evening. Lots of logs coming in for road traffic collisions and broken down vehicles due to standing water, potholes and unfortunately drivers not adjusting their driving to the conditions. #StaySafe #TakeCare".
Northern parts of Scotland were slapped with a Met Office yellow weather warning yesterday for snow and ice, while at the other extreme of the country a rain warning covers most of southern England and Wales.
Follow our weather live blog for all the latest news and updates from around the country…
- Shayma Bakht
DRY XMAS EVE, WITH SUNNY SPELLS
Today, in festive cheer, we can expect a brief break from the rainy spells that have persisted throughout this week.
The Met Office said: "Christmas Eve will be a dry day with sunny spells for many.
Showers are expected for some coastal areas, more especially for North Sea coasts which could fleetingly turn to sleet or snow with the greatest chance of any accumulations over the North York Moors."
- Shayma Bakht
RAIN TAKES A BREAK FOR FROSTY XMAS TOMORROW
The showers will take a brief break just in time for Christmas day tomorrow.
The Met Office have forecasted a cold, frosty and mostly dry start to Christmas day, before a return to wet and windy weather on Boxing Day.
- Ellie Cambridge
SNOW AND ICE
Scotland has a weather warning in place for today.
Wintry showers will give a risk of icy patches and snow overnight and into Christmas Eve, giving some difficult driving conditions.
The warning is in place until 11am today.
- Ellie Cambridge
BOXING DAY WASHOUT
In another Christmas blow Boxing Day is set to be rainy and windy for many.
Saturday will see a return to unsettled weather with outbreaks of rain and showers in the northwest gradually spreading southwards accompanied by strong winds.
Snow is likely over higher ground in Scotland.
It is expected to stay unsettled for the rest of the weekend and in the run up to New Year.
Outbreaks of rain, heavy showers and strong winds are likely, and there is an increased chance of snow down to lower levels in places.
- Ellie Cambridge
CHRISTMAS EVE WEATHER
Showers will hit parts of Northern Ireland, Wales, southwest and eastern England and northern Scotland today.
The heaviest showers will be over eastern England and over hills in the north showers will be wintry. It will feel pretty chilly today.
This evening will see cold temperatures with frost.
Showers will continue to affect parts of eastern England, showers wintry on hills. Also a few showers over Cornwall and west Wales.
- Jon Rogers
WINTER STORM IN DAKOTAS GROUNDS FLIGHTS
A storm that began with snow, strong winds and bitter cold into the eastern Dakotas and western Minnesota early Wednesday and began moving east was making travel treacherous and grounded flights on one of the most anticipated air travel days since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
Blizzard warnings were posted in the region as National Weather Service officials called for wind chills to dip to 2C below zero, pushed by gusts of more than 60mph. Numerous travel advisories urged motorists to stay off the road and several highways were shut down altogether
Winter has come to the area, said Greg Gust, weather service meteorologist in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
The storm was centred in southeastern Minnesota and was expected to track steadily toward Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and northern Michigan by Wednesday night. The heaviest snow band stretched from the Iron Range in northeastern Minnesota back toward Watertown in eastern South Dakota, Gust said.
The storm was bearing down on the Twin Cities area Wednesday afternoon, where Gust said at least 8 inches of snow was expected.
- Jon Rogers
ROSS-ON-WYE THE WETTEST PLACE TODAY
Ross-on-Wye has been named as the wettest place in the UK today.
The Herefordshire town was blasted with 50.6mm in the past 24 hours, according to the Met Office.
- Jon Rogers
YELLOW WEATHER WARNS FOR CHRISTMAS EVE
The Met Office currently has two weather warnings in place for Christmas Eve.
Northern Scotland has a warning for ice and snow.
While at the other extreme of the country a rain warning covers most of southern England south of The Wash and covering southern Wales.
- Jon Rogers
BRIGHT START TO CHRISTMAS EVE
Most Brits will see a bright and sunny start to Christmas Eve but there will also be some showers.
The Met Office said in an update: "Christmas Eve morning will be dry and cold for many, a welcome change in the south after Wednesday's weather.
"Sunshine for a lot of us but also some wintry showers in northern and eastern coastal regions and a few across Wales and the far southwest of England as well."
- Jon Rogers
CHRISTMAS EVE TO BE COLD BUT MAINLY DRY
There's going to be a respite from the very wet weather on Christmas Eve, according to the Met Office.
But it will still be very cold with some sunshine.
The Met Office said: "Wintry showers will affect some northern and eastern coastal regions with a few across Wales and the far southwest of England as well."
- Jon Rogers
IN PICTURES: WALES HIT BY FLOODING
A driver has a hard job in Roath, Cardiff, this evening The scene on the A4042 at the Old Green Roundabout, Newport, South Wales, after heavy rain The fire brigade in Newport help out clearing up after the heavy rain - Jon Rogers
RAIN MOVING SOUTH
The rain this evening will head south as the evening wears on.
Wales and southern England have been hit by downpours today with some areas seeing flooding due to the heavy rain.
Some relief is on its way though with the Met Office saying: Later this evening the rain will slowly ease and move south."
- Jon Rogers
GETTING COLDER
It's going to be much colder over the next couple of days, according to the Met Office.
It said in a message on social media: "Much colder air spreading southwards over the next 24 hours.
"Southern most areas remaining largely frost-free tonight, but a more widespread and locally sharp #frost to come tomorrow night will make for a #cold and wintry start to #Christmas Day."
- Jon Rogers
MORE RAIN THIS EVENING
Britain is expected to be lashed with more heavy rain this evening, the Met Office has warned.
It wrote in a Twitter message: "Further periods of heavy rain in England and Wales this evening but drier, clearer and colder conditions further north edging slowly southwards.
"Windy in places with severe gales possible in west Wales and Cornwall.
Wintry showers will give icy patches in northern Scotland."
- Justin Lawrence
FLOODING CLOSES ROADS AND TRAINLINES ACROSS WALES
Heavy rain is causing flooding and affecting travel across parts of Wales.
The Met Office said some areas could see up to 70mm (2.8in) of rain between 06:00 GMT on Wednesday and Christmas Eve.
Its weather warning covers most of Wales' 22 local authorities, apart from the six counties in north Wales.
A Cardiff council spokesman said it was dealing with surface water across the city, focusing on an areas where properties were at risk of flooding.
Services on four train routes have also been suspended because of flooding, including stretches between Cardiff and Bridgend and Newport and Hereford.
The line between Pontypridd and Treherbert is affected by flooding at Trehafod while problems at Eastbrook is affecting services between Cardiff and Barry.
- Justin Lawrence
TRANSPORT AND POWER WARNING ISSUED FOR ENGLAND AND WALES DUE TO STRONGS WINDS
The upcoming Christmas weekend is likely to bring with it strong winds for England and Wales, prompting the Met Office to issue a weather warning.
Wind speeds of up to 60mph are likely in many places, the forecaster said – while some places could see speeds of between 70 and 80mph.
As a result, the Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for England and Wales, meaning disruption to transport and power supplies is possible.
Rain is also expected to spread southwards from the north west of England, with the unsettled weather likely to remain in the run up to the new year.
Yellow weather warnings are also in place for parts of the country in the run up to Christmas Day, with unsettled rainy weather and a chance of flooding in the South.
The yellow rain warning covers all parts of the UK south of Birmingham, which is in place from Wednesday morning until 6am on Christmas Eve.
- Justin Lawrence
IN PICS: CHRISTMAS SHOPPERS BRAVE THE RAIN AND BAD WEATHER IN NORTHUMBERLAND STREET, NEWCASTLE
Credit: Mirrorpix - Justin Lawrence
AMBER RAIN WARNINGS
- Shayma Bakht
IN PICS: A flooded Methyr Road, Cardiff, South Wales after heavy rainfall
- Shayma Bakht
POWERFUL WINDS EXPECTED THIS WEEKEND
The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for strong winds on Saturday (Boxing Day) and Sunday.
Winds will be felt across England and Wales and the far south of Scotland
Saturday forecast Sunday forecast - Shayma Bakht
TONIGHT'S FORECAST:
Rain to be replaced with wind and frost tonight.
The Met Office says: "Rain will clear southeastwards, leaving many areas with clear spells but a few wintry showers affecting northern Scotland and some western and eastern coastal areas.
"Windy, cold, frost in places."
- Shayma Bakht
MILD MORNING TEMPERATURES
- Shayma Bakht
IN PICS: foggy, misty, damp morning in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
- Shayma Bakht
DULL START WITH BLUSTERY SHOWERS THIS MORNING
- Shayma Bakht
RAINY DAY AHEAD
Today's weather will be wet and rain could cause some disruption in places.
The Met Office says: "Rain will affect many southern and central areas, heavy in places and perhaps causing some disruption.
"Southern England will be mild but feeling chilly elsewhere as winds strengthen.
"The north will be brighter and colder, with the odd shower."
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