Opening summary
Good morning and welcome to the Guardian’s live coverage of the UK’s freezing weather.
A fresh weather warning is set to come into force as it is revealed that 300 properties have flooded across England since New Year’s Eve, reports the PA news agency.
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for snow covering southern counties of England from 9am until midnight on Wednesday, which could prove disruptive.
Between two and five centimetres of snow could accumulate fairly widely and as much as 10cm over higher ground, with the warning stretching as far as south London.
Weather warnings issued on Tuesday for snow and ice covering the Midlands, parts of north Wales, the north-west of England, west and northern parts of Scotland as well as Northern Ireland remain in place until midday on Wednesday.
Some roads and railways are likely to be affected, and there could be icy patches on untreated roads, the forecaster said.
The coldest nights of the year are expected this week, with temperatures potentially reaching -14C on Wednesday night and -16C on Thursday night, in the north-east of England and Scotland, the Met Office said.
Since New Year’s Eve, the Environment Agency estimates that more than 41,000 properties have been protected across England, but at least 300 properties have flooded.
Snowmelt has brought further disruption to parts of England, particularly in the Midlands, following the heavy rainfall over the New Year that saw significant river and surface water flooding across the north-west of England and Yorkshire, the Environment Agency said.
More on that in a moment, but first, here’s what else has been happening:
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Dozens of people have been rescued by firefighters across Leicestershire since Monday, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said. Homeowners on Belton Road in Loughborough were stranded on the first floor of their semi-detached houses on Tuesday after rising water from the nearby Grand Union canal flooded the street.
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Patients have been urged to attend A&E alone as NHS hospitals grapple with high demand amid rising flu cases. Several NHS trusts declared critical incidents due to “exceptionally high demands” in emergency departments.
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Hundreds of schools were closed across the UK on Tuesday, with road and rail links blocked. Manchester, Bristol and Liverpool John Lennon airports were forced to suspend flights because of the conditions.
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The RAC said Monday was the busiest day for breakdowns this winter. Rod Dennis, RAC spokesperson said: “Anyone unfortunate enough to break down should expect a longer wait than normal this week. It’s therefore more important than ever that drivers ensure they have an emergency breakdown kit in the boot.”
Key events
Jessica Murray
As Cimi Kazazi stood in the middle of his flood-damaged bar and restaurant in the Leicestershire village of Great Glen, he struggled to find the words to describe the devastation.
“I can’t even talk about it. I can’t even bear to look at it,” said Kazazi, 50. “I don’t want to say a number [for the cost of the damage], I can’t, I’m scared to say it. I just hope the insurance will cover it.”
Thick mud has coated every surface of the Italian Greyhound, with furniture and glass bottles scattered across the room as if blown there by an explosion.
All the electrical appliances, including fridges, freezers and cellar pumping equipment, had been destroyed.
“There were bottles of whisky found floating in the car park. Thousands of pounds has gone,” said Kazazi, originally from Albania, and who has lived in the UK for over 20 years, mainly working in the hospitality business.
It had been a tumultuous 48 hours for Kazazi, who made national headlines after dramatic footage emerged showing him rescuing a woman from a submerged car.
He had been sat in his office upstairs in his flooded pub when he heard his neighbours shouting for him: “Cimi, Cimi, we need your help.”
He said he quickly waded across the chest-high water to rescue the woman and bring her to safety – despite the risks wading in such deep water and not being able to see steps and drops.
“I just walked out, I knew that it was dangerous but I was only concerned about the person,” he said. “It was so cold, really bad. But because I wasn’t thinking for me, I was thinking for them, I didn’t feel the cold.
“If she had been there for 15 more minutes, I think she could have died. It was scary.”
Floods minister, Emma Hardy, said:
My sympathies go out to the people, businesses and communities impacted by the recent flooding across the country.
I want to express my heartfelt thanks for the vital work that the Environment Agency and emergency services are doing to keep people safe. People must continue to follow their advice and sign up for flood warnings.”
On Tuesday, more than 100 flood warnings were in force across England with people urged to remain vigilant over the coming days.
A danger-to-life warning was issued on Tuesday morning but was later removed for the River Soar near Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire, where people living in caravan parks were urged by the Environment Agency to act, with a large-scale evacuation needed to save lives.
Opening summary
Good morning and welcome to the Guardian’s live coverage of the UK’s freezing weather.
A fresh weather warning is set to come into force as it is revealed that 300 properties have flooded across England since New Year’s Eve, reports the PA news agency.
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for snow covering southern counties of England from 9am until midnight on Wednesday, which could prove disruptive.
Between two and five centimetres of snow could accumulate fairly widely and as much as 10cm over higher ground, with the warning stretching as far as south London.
Weather warnings issued on Tuesday for snow and ice covering the Midlands, parts of north Wales, the north-west of England, west and northern parts of Scotland as well as Northern Ireland remain in place until midday on Wednesday.
Some roads and railways are likely to be affected, and there could be icy patches on untreated roads, the forecaster said.
The coldest nights of the year are expected this week, with temperatures potentially reaching -14C on Wednesday night and -16C on Thursday night, in the north-east of England and Scotland, the Met Office said.
Since New Year’s Eve, the Environment Agency estimates that more than 41,000 properties have been protected across England, but at least 300 properties have flooded.
Snowmelt has brought further disruption to parts of England, particularly in the Midlands, following the heavy rainfall over the New Year that saw significant river and surface water flooding across the north-west of England and Yorkshire, the Environment Agency said.
More on that in a moment, but first, here’s what else has been happening:
-
Dozens of people have been rescued by firefighters across Leicestershire since Monday, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said. Homeowners on Belton Road in Loughborough were stranded on the first floor of their semi-detached houses on Tuesday after rising water from the nearby Grand Union canal flooded the street.
-
Patients have been urged to attend A&E alone as NHS hospitals grapple with high demand amid rising flu cases. Several NHS trusts declared critical incidents due to “exceptionally high demands” in emergency departments.
-
Hundreds of schools were closed across the UK on Tuesday, with road and rail links blocked. Manchester, Bristol and Liverpool John Lennon airports were forced to suspend flights because of the conditions.
-
The RAC said Monday was the busiest day for breakdowns this winter. Rod Dennis, RAC spokesperson said: “Anyone unfortunate enough to break down should expect a longer wait than normal this week. It’s therefore more important than ever that drivers ensure they have an emergency breakdown kit in the boot.”
