Freezing fog, sleet and snow: Travel disruption expected as bitterly-cold weather continues
Freezing fog, sleet and snow could bring travel disruption to parts of the UK during the coming days, the Met Office has warned.
Southeast England is covered by a yellow weather warning for snow and ice on Sunday and Monday.
The western coast of England, Wales and the north of Northern Ireland have warnings for ice on Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday weather warnings
Weather warnings Sunday
Scotland, apart from the southwest, has a yellow warning for snow and ice covering Saturday and Sunday.
Gritters have been out across the UK and the RAC said the number of breakdown callouts has been 25% higher than usual.
Met Office chief meteorologist Steve Willington said: “It is staying cold with daytime temperatures remaining only a few degrees above freezing in many places over the coming days and overnight temperatures dropping to -10C (14F) or lower in isolated spots.
“Although below average, these temperatures are not that unusual for this time of year.
“There is still a risk we could see some freezing fog in places particularly southern England, especially for Sunday and Monday mornings.
The River Avon in Warwick
“There is also a small risk of a band of sleet or snow moving into the far southeast on Sunday.
“If this happens it could potentially bring some disruption, especially to rush hour on Monday. A warning has been issued.”
Disruption could include power cuts, problems with mobile phone coverage, and some rural communities being cut off.
Snow on the tops of the Brecon Beacons. Pic: AP
Dr Agostinho Sousa, consultant in public health medicine at the UK Health Security Agency, said: “Cold weather can have serious consequences for health, and older people and those with heart or lung conditions can be particularly at risk.
“If you have a pre-existing medical condition, you should heat your home to a temperature that is comfortable for you.
“In rooms you mostly use such as the living room or bedroom, try to heat them to at least 18C (66F) if you can.
“Keep your bedroom windows closed at night.
“Wearing several layers of clothing will keep you warmer than one thicker layer.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Warm banks open as cold hits
Local councils and charities have opened more than 3,200 “warm banks” are open across the UK, to help people keep warm if they cannot afford to heat their homes.
The Warm Welcome Campaign said many of these are a third or half full and offer services including hot tea and a place to work.
Save the Children said 194 of 355 councils in England and Wales are involved in or supporting local groups to open warm spaces this winter.
Councillor Richard Wenham, vice-chairman of the Local Government Association’s resources board, said the emergency schemes “should not become the norm” and are “not a sustainable solution to bridge the gap between income and the current cost of living”.
A man has been charged with murder after 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin was killed and four people were injured near a London Tube station.
Two Metropolitan Police officers were among those hurt as they responded to reports of an attacker with a sword in Hainault, northeast London, on Tuesday.
The man charged has been named as Marcus Aurelio Arduini Monzo, a 36-year-old dual Spanish-Brazilian national from Newham, east London.
He has also been charged with two counts of attempted murder, two counts of grievous bodily harm, aggravated burglary and possession of a bladed article.
Monzo will appear at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
The families of all those affected by the incident have been informed.
Daniel Anjorin was killed as he walked to school. Pic: Met Police
Daniel Anjorin was a pupil at Bancroft’s private school in Woodford Green – also attended by Nottingham attack victim Grace O’Malley-Kumar.
Staff and pupils at the school said they were in “profound shock and sorrow” at his death.
Daniel’s family told Sky News he was “a wonderful child” who was “well loved” and “hard working” – and that his death “leaves a gaping wound in the family”.
“No family should have to go through what we are experiencing today,” they said. “Any family will understand it’s an absolute tragedy.”
Floral tributes for Daniel have been placed in Hainault. Pic: PA
Monzo is accused of crashing a van into a fence just before 7am, and attacking two members of the public with a sword.
It is alleged he then killed the 14-year-old and seriously injured two police officers as they tried to stop him – one of whom nearly lost her hand.
The suspect was initially taken to hospital after suffering injuries in the van crash.
Jaswant Narwal, chief crown prosecutor for CPS London North, said: “Our thoughts remain firmly with the family of Daniel and all those who have been impacted by this horrific incident.”
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
“We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings against the defendant are active and that they have a right to a fair trial,” she continued.
“It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”
The Met Office has issued warnings for rain and thunderstorms – with the alerts in place until Thursday morning.
The first warning began at 8pm and covers an area stretching from Portsmouth to Plymouth, and northwards to South Wales, and lasts until 8am.
Heavy rain is expected, with a chance of thunderstorms, and the Met Office said it could bring difficult driving conditions and some flooding.
The second warning kicks in at 11pm and covers nearly all of southeast England, stretching as far north as Oxford and including London. It’s in force until 6am on Thursday.
“Thunderstorms are likely at times later this evening and overnight, leading to travel disruption and some flooding,” said the Met Office.
There will be a risk of sudden flooding and power blackouts in both affected warning areas, added the forecaster.
There’s also a chance of hail and strong winds.
Flooding and lightning strikes could cause disruption on the roads, as well as delays and cancellations to rail and bus services.
Get the latest Sky News forecast for your area
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
Around 2cm to 4cm of rain is expected overnight, with 5cm possible in some places.
“Much of this rain may fall over a two or three-hour period,” the Met Office said.
Met Office meteorologist Alex Deakin said: “You may well get woken up tonight by a rumble of thunder, or some flashes of lightning across parts of the South.
“A lot of heavy rain falling in a short space of time as well.”
He said it could create a lot of spray and surface water on the roads for commuters on Thursday morning.
Read more from Sky News:
Boy arrested for attempted murder
Radcliffe comments on JK Rowling fallout
Elsewhere, it will stay dry with temperatures mostly holding up in double figures across England and Wales, or staying at around 8C to 9C in towns and cities further north.
Deakin said: “A cloudy start then to Thursday one way or another, still some heavy bursts of rain early on across the South West.
“That should tend to clear away, but always the likelihood of further showers across southern parts of England, Mid and South Wales.”
He added: “Parts of northwest Scotland, Northern Ireland, northwest England, much of the Midlands down towards East Anglia should have a fine and sunny day tomorrow.”
The Scottish government has survived a vote of no confidence at Holyrood.
Scottish Labour pressed ahead with its motion despite Humza Yousaf announcing earlier this week his intention to stand down as SNP leader and first minister.
It failed by 58 votes to 70.
The Scottish Greens voted against the motion, with party co-leader Patrick Harvie branding it “chaos for the sake of chaos”.
If it had passed, all ministers in the minority SNP government would have been forced to quit.
Opening the debate, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar thanked Mr Yousaf for his service and wished him well, but said Scotland was “crying out for change” from the UK Conservative government and the SNP Scottish government.
He said the country needed “credible and effective leadership” to deal with “twin crises” in the economy and NHS.
Mr Sarwar added: “I have no confidence in the SNP’s ability to deliver that and that is why I am bringing this motion to parliament today.”
The outgoing first minister defended his government’s record, adding that in the 13 months he has spent in charge he had not “heard a single positive idea” from Scottish Labour.
Anas Sarwar thanked Mr Yousaf for his service, but said Scotland was ‘crying out for change’. Pic: PA
Mr Yousaf added: “What I have heard is the deafening sound of principle after principle being thrown out of Anas Sarwar’s window.
“U-turning on the two-child cap, U-turning on the devolution of employment law, U-turning on the devolution of drug law, U-turning on his support for Waspi women.”
Mr Yousaf said pro-UK parties, in their “cosy Westminster alliance”, would be “terrified” of a vote of no confidence.
He added: “As I have found out only too well in the last few days, politics is definitely about the choices we choose to make.
“As a government, I am exceptionally proud of our choices.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
What comes next for the SNP?
The debate and vote has come following the breakdown of the Bute House Agreement.
Within hours of the powersharing deal with the Scottish Greens coming to an end last week, Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross announced he would be bringing a motion of no confidence in the first minister.
Angry over the way the party was dumped from government, the Scottish Greens announced its MSPs would be backing the motion.
Scottish Labour then announced it was planning a motion of no confidence in the Scottish government.
Mr Yousaf reached out to his political opponents in an effort to stem the uprising but conceded that he had “underestimated the level of hurt and upset” his actions had caused Scottish Green colleagues.
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
Speaking to Sky News earlier on Wednesday, Mr Yousaf said: “I will certainly be regretting the way it ended.”
The Scottish Tories dropped their motion following Mr Yousaf’s resignation, but Scottish Labour pressed on as the party believes the decision on the next first minister should be put to the public.
Mr Yousaf intends to remain in post until his successor is announced.
Read more:
Who could replace Humza Yousaf?
What happens now following his resignation
SNP stands at a crossroads – what direction will party take?
Former deputy first minister John Swinney and ex-finance secretary Kate Forbes have emerged as potential frontrunners to throw their hat into the ring.
Kate Forbes speaking to journalists earlier this week. Pic: PA
Mr Sarwar pointed to reports that Ms Forbes could struggle to appoint ministers and described Mr Swinney as “the finance secretary that broke the public finances and the worst education secretary in the history of the Scottish parliament”.
Mr Ross, whose party threw its support behind the Scottish Labour motion, was forced to apologise to Mr Swinney after referring to him as “not so honest John” in the Holyrood chamber.
John Swinney at Holyrood on Tuesday. Pic: PA
Mr Ross was first reprimanded for referring to Mr Swinney as “honest John”, but when presiding officer Alison Johnstone reminded him not to use nicknames, he said: “Oh sorry, I thought it was on accuracy because it would be not so honest John with some of the things we’ve heard recently.”
Douglas Ross (pictured) was first reprimanded for referring to Mr Swinney as ‘honest John’. Pic: PA
Apologising, Mr Ross said: “I will apologise. I’m very sorry for any hurt caused.”
The Scottish Tory leader added: “Whether we have a bitter battle or a cosy coronation to elect the next leader of the SNP, they will continue campaigning for independence and the Scottish people will continue to be failed by them.”
-
Sports2 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Environment11 months agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Sports3 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Sports6 months agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Environment1 year agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Technology3 years ago
Game consoles were once banned in China. Now Chinese developers want a slice of the $49 billion pie
-
Sports4 weeks agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game