The Met Office warned of continued travel disruption caused by ice and snow in parts of the UK as a major flood emergency was declared in Somerset following heavy rain in recent weeks.
Weather warnings for snow and ice are in place for four parts of the UK until midday on Thursday, including northern Scotland and the Orkney Islands, Northern Ireland and north-west England, Wales and parts of the West Midlands.
Meanwhile, the yellow ice warning for Cornwall, Devon and parts of Somerset will expire at 10am on Thursday.
Temperatures could reach -9 in Scotland, -6 in Wales, -6 in Northern Ireland and -5 in England on Wednesday night.
The cold will continue into the weekend before becoming milder and drier next week as the jet stream weakens and moves north, according to Met Office meteorologist Alex Deakin. The UK’s Health Safety Agency has issued a level 3 cold weather warning for the whole of England, in effect until 9am on Friday.
Flooding surrounds the A361, which is closed to vehicles due to widespread flooding on the Somerset Levels. Boroughbridge, England. Photo: Matt Cardy/Getty Images
In Somerset, the Environment Agency said declaring a major incident was a “precautionary measure” after the Somerset Levels flooded. He added that no immediate flooding of properties was expected, but said there would be a risk for another week.
Workers began a pumping operation last week to try to get rid of some water from the area, and extra pumps were brought in on Tuesday at Northmoor after Currymoor, a drainage site, reached capacity.
A total of 56 flood warnings are in place across England, including Somerset, with no warnings for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland currently active.
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South West England has been hit hard by the weather this week, with more than 80 schools closed due to heavy snow on Tuesday.
Ian Withers, from the Environment Agency, said: “The sight of water on Somerset’s fields and moors is obviously worrying for those who have suffered floods before. Our staff continue to do their best to protect people and property, install pumps and engage with communities.”
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