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Power problems remain after severe cold cuts supplies | Power problems remain after severe cold cuts supplies |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Thousands of homes around the UK remain without electricity after severe weather disrupted supplies. | Thousands of homes around the UK remain without electricity after severe weather disrupted supplies. |
About 12,500 properties in Northern Ireland, up to 10,000 in Scotland and 500 in Wales are still without power, and more than 200 in west Cumbria in England. | About 12,500 properties in Northern Ireland, up to 10,000 in Scotland and 500 in Wales are still without power, and more than 200 in west Cumbria in England. |
Weather warnings also remain in place across much of the UK after two days of wintry conditions. | Weather warnings also remain in place across much of the UK after two days of wintry conditions. |
Many roads blocked after snow on Friday and Saturday are still impassable. | |
For Sunday, the Met Office has issued a yellow "be aware" warning of ice for a large chunk of the UK from London in the south-east, across north Wales up to Northern Ireland and across northern England and southern Scotland. | For Sunday, the Met Office has issued a yellow "be aware" warning of ice for a large chunk of the UK from London in the south-east, across north Wales up to Northern Ireland and across northern England and southern Scotland. |
It says existing snow in many areas would melt on roads and pavements by day, refreezing by night to give icy patches. | |
Some places, mainly in eastern England, will continue to get light snow, possibly up to a couple of inches. | Some places, mainly in eastern England, will continue to get light snow, possibly up to a couple of inches. |
Also, snow blowing off fields in strong to gale force winds will affect some roads, especially over high ground, it said. | Also, snow blowing off fields in strong to gale force winds will affect some roads, especially over high ground, it said. |
Ice damage | Ice damage |
In other developments: | |
Northern Ireland Electricity said it could be a few days before customers were back on supply. | |
"Some roads are still impassable, access has also been restricted because of drifting snow, and abandoned vehicles, they're also causing access problems for us," a spokeswoman said. | |
At its worst on Saturday morning, 35,000 electricity customers were cut off in Northern Ireland, and up to 1,000 homes were without water. | |
Scottish and Southern Energy said 7,000 homes were without power the Isle of Arran and on the Kintyre peninsula. | Scottish and Southern Energy said 7,000 homes were without power the Isle of Arran and on the Kintyre peninsula. |
It said "severe ice loading damage" had been found on many of its wood pole lines in Kintyre and on Arran, and three steel towers had collapsed under the weight of ice on the conductors near Crossaig in Kintyre. | It said "severe ice loading damage" had been found on many of its wood pole lines in Kintyre and on Arran, and three steel towers had collapsed under the weight of ice on the conductors near Crossaig in Kintyre. |
In Dumfries and Galloway, Scottish Power said it was trying to reconnect power to 3,000 homes. | |
It said about 500 homes in north east Wales remain without electricity on Sunday. At the worst point over the weekend, around 6,000 homes in the area suffered power cuts. | |
And about 280 properties in the Workington area of west Cumbria remain cut off, with engineers unable to get to the scene to make repairs. | |
Emergency calls | Emergency calls |
On Saturday, dozens of people had to be rescued on the A595, near Bootle in Cumbria, where people were forced to abandon their cars, with 37 given shelter at local hotels. | |
On Sunday, Cumbria Police appealed for any motorists who had abandoned their cars on the road to contact them on 101. | |
They asked people not to return for their car until requested, "as there may be a significant delay and weather conditions are still challenging." | |
A spokeswoman added that some areas of the county were still being subjected to severe winds of up to 45mph, causing snow to continue to drift onto the roads even as they are being cleared. | |
"This means that many of the roads are still blocked," she said, adding that in places drifts were up to 20ft high. | |
The cold weather comes as the UK prepares to enter British Summer Time next Sunday. | The cold weather comes as the UK prepares to enter British Summer Time next Sunday. |
Forecasters have predicted that it could be the coldest March for 50 years. | Forecasters have predicted that it could be the coldest March for 50 years. |
Average temperatures for the month in 1962 were 2.8C. | Average temperatures for the month in 1962 were 2.8C. |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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