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Rain and snow promise more chaos Rain and snow spark flood alerts
(about 6 hours later)
Further disruption is expected to hit the UK, with much of the country braced for heavy rain or more snow. Heavy rain sweeping across parts of England has left many councils preparing for floods, while other areas are again contending with snow.
Up to two inches of rain is expected in southern England, with six flood warnings issued across the south west. Up to two inches of rain is expected in some southern areas, where 34 flood warnings are currently in place.
More snow is due to arrive in Wales and the Midlands later, creating blizzard conditions at a time when road salt supplies are running out in many areas. Blizzard conditions are expected in Wales and the Midlands, as gale force winds whip up the snow and sleet.
It follows a week which saw the UK's heaviest snowfall for 18 years, closing schools and crippling public transport. Council emergency planning teams are on "full alert" for floods, according to the Local Government Association.
Overnight, some snow fell in Northern Ireland, southern and central Scotland, and parts of the Midlands and the north west of England. After a week which saw the UK's heaviest snowfall for 18 years, closing schools and crippling public transport, the rain has heightened the risk of flooding.
In Aviemore, Inverness-shire, the temperature dropped to -18C (-0.4F) overnight, which the Met Office said was the lowest temperature since January 2003. Monday has brought at least an inch of rain to almost all of the south of England, with some areas expected to experience twice that amount. WEATHER MAP There will be heavy-lying snow by tomorrow morning Matt TaylorBBC weather forecaster class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/forecast/10209">BBC Weather site: UK forecast
Monday has brought at least an inch of rain to almost all of the south of England, with some areas experiencing twice that amount. There will be heavy-lying snow by tomorrow morning Matt TaylorBBC weather forecaster class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7865477.stm">Map: UK snowfall The Environment Agency has issued 34 flood warnings affecting homes and businesses near some rivers across southern England.
Where it is falling on areas that have already seen snow, the rain is adding to the threat of flooding. A further 123 areas are on flood watch, meaning low lying land and roads could be affected.
The Environment Agency has issued flood warnings affecting homes and businesses near parts of the rivers Axe and Coly, near Axminster in Devon; along with the Wey, Char and upper Frome, in Dorset; and the River Cam and Doniford Stream in Somerset. Elsewhere, the agency is warning of flooding in coastal areas of north-eastern England.
A further 24 areas in the south west are on flood watch - meaning low lying land and roads could be affected - along with 16 more in southern England and the Anglia region. Flooding closed the southbound exit of the M1 at junction 2, north of London, on Monday evening.
Elsewhere, the agency is warning of flooding in coastal areas of north-eastern England, while Gloucestershire County Council is warning residents to be prepared for localised problems. The Highways Agency was warning drivers to check routes across the south before travelling.
BBC forecaster Matt Taylor said the rain will turn to snow over eastern Wales and the west and southern Midlands on Monday evening, spreading north as far as Nottinghamshire overnight. The A303 in Wiltshire was closed after a crash at Mere, where police reported water "coming off the fields like a river", while snow was blocking the A44 at Broadway, near Evesham in Worcestershire.
Up to six inches (15cm) could fall in some areas. Gale force winds will cause drifting where snow is falling and exacerbate already freezing temperatures. There were also problems on the rail network, with flooding causing delays to South West Trains and Cross Country services between London Waterloo and south coast destinations.
Container ship Virgin services to Manchester and the Midlands were subject to cancellations and delays.
Many local authorities are preparing sandbags, water pumps and generators in case of flooding.
'Be prepared'
Local Government Association Environment Board chairman, Cllr Paul Bettison, said: "Emergency planning teams are on full alert and ready to help people before flooding hits.
"If the floods are going to come in the middle of the night, when it's freezing cold outside, elderly and vulnerable people need to be moved early."
He urged people living by a river, coastal or flood-risk area to prepare themselves by moving valuables upstairs and signing up to the Environment Agency's automated warning system.
Rain has begun turning to snow over the west and southern Midlands and is forecast to spread north as far as Nottinghamshire overnight.Some councils are switching focus from clearing snow to flood planning
BBC weather forecaster Matt Taylor said up to six inches (15cm) could fall in some areas, with gale force winds causing snow to drift and exacerbating already freezing temperatures.
"There will be heavy-lying snow by tomorrow morning - up to 5cm (2in) of snow generally but we could see 10cm in some places and 15cm on higher ground," he said."There will be heavy-lying snow by tomorrow morning - up to 5cm (2in) of snow generally but we could see 10cm in some places and 15cm on higher ground," he said.
Localised sleet and light snow in the north of England should have less of an impact, while Northern Ireland and Scotland should escape further significant snowfall.Localised sleet and light snow in the north of England should have less of an impact, while Northern Ireland and Scotland should escape further significant snowfall.
However, it will be another freezing night in the Highlands, Mr Taylor added.However, it will be another freezing night in the Highlands, Mr Taylor added.
Some councils in England have already been running out of road salt, with the Highways Agency saying supplies were "very limited". Sunday night saw temperatures drop to -18C (-0.4F), which the Met Office said was the lowest UK temperature since January 2003.
For those councils facing further snowfall, a lack of road salt is a concern, with the Highways Agency saying supplies are "very limited".
There was some relief in Scotland as a ship unloaded 6,000 tonnes of salt from Tarragona in Spain at Aberdeen harbour. The city's council said it was a scheduled delivery.HAVE YOUR SAYWe had a further two inches of snow overnight, on top of the four inches of ice that has been accumulating since last MondayBrendan, East YorkshireSend us your commentsThere was some relief in Scotland as a ship unloaded 6,000 tonnes of salt from Tarragona in Spain at Aberdeen harbour. The city's council said it was a scheduled delivery.HAVE YOUR SAYWe had a further two inches of snow overnight, on top of the four inches of ice that has been accumulating since last MondayBrendan, East YorkshireSend us your comments
Another container ship is travelling from Spain, laden with a further 40,000 tonnes of salt, and a third is also heading to the UK with salt from Germany. Both are expected to dock on Wednesday.Another container ship is travelling from Spain, laden with a further 40,000 tonnes of salt, and a third is also heading to the UK with salt from Germany. Both are expected to dock on Wednesday.
Monday saw far fewer schools closed across Britain, although 55 were shut in Aberdeenshire. There were 13 closed across Wales and eight in Bedfordshire, with just a handful shut in other local authority areas across southern England. Monday saw far fewer schools closed across the UK, although 55 were shut in Aberdeenshire.
There were 13 closed across Wales and eight in Bedfordshire, with just a handful shut in other local authority areas across southern England.
Meanwhile, the debate continues over whether last week's snow caused Britain to grind to a halt too easily.Meanwhile, the debate continues over whether last week's snow caused Britain to grind to a halt too easily.
The leader of Devon and Cornwall Business Council Tim Jones said too many schools and businesses "panicked", costing the region's economy £40m. The leader of the Devon and Cornwall Business Council, Tim Jones, said too many schools and businesses had "panicked", costing the region's economy £40m.
In London, Tube workers are angry at being told they will not be paid if they failed to turn up for work during last week's heavy snow.In London, Tube workers are angry at being told they will not be paid if they failed to turn up for work during last week's heavy snow.
They have accused Mayor Boris Johnson and Transport for London of hypocrisy, given that all bus services in the capital and much of the Tube network were withdrawn last Monday. They have accused Mayor Boris Johnson and Transport for London (TfL) of hypocrisy, given that all bus services in the capital and much of the Tube network were withdrawn last Monday.
TfL says it recognises the snow prevented some employees from getting to work that day but that the 100 who failed to arrive must provide a good reason for their absence or take annual or unpaid leave to compensate.
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