The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for ice across multiple regions of the United Kingdom, including South West England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. These alerts caution that hazardous icy patches may develop on untreated surfaces, potentially leading to injuries from slips and falls on slippery terrain.
Specific Warning Details and Timing
One significant warning covers nearly all of Wales and the South West of England, remaining active from 10pm on Sunday through to 9am on Monday. A separate alert for Northern Ireland is in effect from 7pm on Sunday until 9am on Monday. The forecaster has indicated that untreated roads, pavements, and cycle paths are particularly vulnerable to forming icy patches during these periods.
Context of Recent Severe Weather
This ice warning follows weeks of exceptionally wet and stormy conditions across the UK. The Met Office had previously issued a yellow weather warning for rain covering the South West from midday Monday to 9am Tuesday. Official rainfall statistics for January are scheduled for release on Monday, but preliminary data suggests it has been an unusually wet month for large parts of the country.
The recent severe weather has already caused significant disruption. In Somerset, a major incident was declared earlier this week when approximately 50 properties experienced flooding due to Storm Chandra. As of midday Sunday, there were 58 flood warnings indicating expected flooding and 116 flood alerts signalling possible flooding across England.
Forecast for the Coming Days
Sunday is expected to bring outbreaks of rain moving eastwards across most of the UK. Monday will see outbreaks of light rain and showers, with more persistent rain developing later in the day and overnight before gradually easing into Tuesday. The Met Office has warned that accumulations of 10-20mm of rainfall are possible fairly widely in the South West, with potentially 30-50mm over Dartmoor in Devon.
Additional Weather Concerns
The weather warning for rain indicates a small chance of homes and businesses flooding, with fast-flowing or deep floodwater potentially posing danger to life. Given the already saturated ground from recent rainfall, there is a heightened risk of further flooding and disruption in affected areas.
For the remainder of the week, conditions are expected to remain unsettled with showers or longer spells of heavy rain affecting most regions, accompanied by brisk winds at times. Below-average temperatures are forecast for northern areas, with snow likely on northern hills.
Residents in affected regions are advised to exercise caution when travelling, particularly on untreated surfaces, and to stay informed about local weather conditions and flood warnings.
