Storm Darcy is set to bring SIX more inches of snow today amid -7C chill
Trafalgar Square fountains freeze over for the first time in three years: Met Office issues weather warnings until FRIDAY as Storm Darcy causes havoc on Britain’s roads and forces vaccine centres and schools to close again
- Snow warnings are in place across most of the England and Scotland, with delays to road, rail and air routes
- Freezing 50mph gales from Russia and Ukraine dubbed ‘mini Beast from the East’ are tearing across Britain
- Towering snowdrifts described by road clearance teams as ‘higher than our snow ploughs’ seen in Suffolk
- In Norfolk alone, around 400 schools are closed, while Southeastern railway is urging people not to travel
London’s Trafalgar Square transformed into an icy spectacle today as the fountains froze over for the first time in three years, and weather experts warn Story Darcy could bring six more inches of snow this evening along with a bitter chill of -7C.
Treacherous conditions caused by Storm Darcy today saw some schools and Covid vaccination centres in the south east shut as police warned people not to travel due to the dangerous road conditions.
The cold snap is due to last for some time yet, with minus temperatures expected to continue into the weekend and even dropping to -8C on Thursday morning, in what could be the coldest morning in a decade.
A yellow weather warning remains in place across eastern parts until 11am tomorrow, with up to 15cm (6in) of snow forecast to fall, the Met Office has warned.
There have already been depths of 30cm in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, 23cm in Andrewsfield, Essex and 14cm in Manston, Kent.
A man takes a photograph of an ice covered mermaid statue in Trafalgar Square, London, as bitterly cold winds continue to grip much of the nation
A seagull sits on a frozen over water fountain at Trafalgar Square in London, February 9, as much of the UK is hit by sub-zero temperatures, ice, snow and strong winds due to storm Darcy that has swept in from the east
For the first time since 2017 the fountains have frozen over, creating a stunning display of icicles hanging from the dolphins
A man takes a photo of the fountain covered in icicles at Trafalgar Square, as Storm Darcy affects large parts of the country
The dramatic profile of frozen merman, surrounded by dolphins. The fountains last froze in December 2017
A view of the frozen mermen and mermaids in the Trafalgar Square fountain, with The National Gallery seen behind
Stirling and Perth in Scotland remains under an an amber warning this evening, putting the area at a higher risk of power cuts, while rural communities could be cut off with delays on roads likely.
Icy conditions in Glasgow overnight were captured by passers-by, as they filmed cars losing control at the top of the hill before skidding down toward other crashed vehicles.
Temperatures dropped to -8C on Monday as a ‘bitterly cold’ weather system swept in from Ukraine and the Black Sea.
They are expected to reach -7C today, before dropping as low as -12C overnight in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
There were temperatures as low as -15C in some parts of Scotland overnight.
Covid vaccine centres in parts of Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk shut their doors.
Hundreds of schools, which had previously been open for the children of key workers, shut yesterday due to snow and will remain shut today.
Meanwhile one headteacher suggested scrapping home school lessons for a ‘snow day’ for students.
Clare Greene, principal of Eastcote Primary Academy in Bexley, on the edge of Kent and Greater London, said: ‘Looking forward to a snow day. Online learning tasks include making a snowman and having a snowball fight.
‘The remote learning tasks will be: make a snowman, go sledging, have a snowball fight and show me a pic of a snow angel. I’m sure one parent will complain, I just don’t care.’
A spokesperson for the Leigh Academies Trust told MailOnline the school did not close and remained open as usual, including for online lessons.
In Norfolk, 349 of its 422 schools stayed shut, along with schools in Stowmarket and Norfolk.
Disruption has also hit rail services, with Southeastern advising passengers not to travel and Greater Anglia expecting disruption.
A foot of snow has already been reported in Tendring, Essex, while drifts of up to three feet have been reported in parts of East Anglia.
Jonathon Gittoes skis past snow covered beach huts at Thorpe Bay in Essex as bitterly cold winds continue to grip much of the nation
The Calor lorry which crashed on an icy road in Cretingham, Suffolk (left) and people walk up an icy Gardner street in Glasgow
A farmer uses a snow plough to clear a country lane in Wye, south-east England as wintry weather continues to sweep across the country
Two walkers carry Pret coffees during snow flurries in the Docklands, east London, in another wintry image taken today
Snowy fields in Colchester, Essex. England’s snowiest place was Andrewsfield, Essex, with accumulations of 26cm (just over 10 ins)
The Crompton family have a snow ball fight at Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland (left to right) Ottilie aged 9 , Reuben aged 6, mother Sian and Innis aged 3
A Sentry of the Scot’s Guards stands on duty in the snow outside Buckingham Place
Families enjoyed a snowy walk in Dunning, Scotland. A further warning for tomorrow and into Friday morning covers the North East coast, from eastern Scotland to the Yorkshire Wolds, where up to 8cm (3.2ins) of snow could fall
Snowy fields around St Aidan’s Church, Bamburgh in Northumberland. Temperatures will widely be below freezing overnight across the country and in low single figures in the daytime on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Met Office says
In Suffolk, police helped after a white van driver crashed into a tree near Stowmarket after coming off the road in the snowy conditions
A crashed car on the A68 near Castleside in County Durham as Storm Darcy lashes Britain
Scotland was particularly badly hit with snow. This picture shows a bus carefully driving through the snow in Kirkliston, West Lothian
Though London was not badly hit, the capital did see a a small sprinkling. Pictured: A commuter wearing wellington boots walks across London Bridge
A gritter makes it’s way along Holmfirth road near Dove stone reservoir, Saddleworth moors, Greater Manchester
Blizzard in Kirkliston, West Lothian as the country is hit by heavy snow
The M80 motorway near Glasgow was blanketed in snow today as drivers continued to cut a difficult path through the dangerous conditions
Yellow Mini drives down snow covered road in Kirkliston, West Lothian
Traffic struggles through heavy snow on the M8 motorway in West Lothian this morning
Traffic struggles through heavy snow on the M8 motorway in West Lothian this morning
Yellow and amber weather alerts remain in place across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland today, after temperatures dropped to -8C yesterday
But that didn’t stop swimmers taking a dip in the sea today, despite the freezing temperatures. Early morning swimmers were seen jumping into the sea in just swimsuits and swimming caps while snow covered the beach.
In the east of England, several Covid-19 vaccination centres were closed, including; Clacton Hospital, Colchester United’s stadium, Gainsborough Sports Centre in Ipswich, and Chevington Close in Bury St Edmunds.
Five Covid-19 vaccination centres closed in Suffolk at Debenham, Haverhill, Ipswich (Trinity Park), Stowmarket and Woodbridge. This meant 10 were shut in total, LBC reported.
Police forces in parts of Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex told drivers not to travel as roads became ‘impassable’ due to settled snow.
A hardy jogger runs through a snow-covered Green Park in central London this afternoon
Simbrrrrr! Big cats prowl through the snow at wildlife park
Moto the white lion in the snow at Paradise Wildlife Park in Hertfordshire. Right, Aleena the amur tiger
Big cats enjoyed their second snow day in a fortnight at Paradise Wildlife Park in Broxbourne, Herts.
The park has been closed to the public since December 20 due to the Covid-19 pandemic but that has not stopped its animals having a great time frolicking in the snow.
The park’s big cats look particularly striking as they prowl along a white, wintery blanket of snow underfoot – with a dusting of snow standing out starkly against the black stripes on top of a Siberian tiger’s head.
Elsewhere in the wildlife park, a stag looked shocked as it rested its chin on a cushion of the white stuff. And even a Brazilian tapir – used to warmer natural habitats – appeared to have a smile on its face as it padded over the snow.
Paradise Wildlife Park shared the photos online, writing: ‘Another snow day in Paradise.’
The zoo, a fully registered charity, is still taking donations to ensure it can keep running after the pandemic restrictions ease.
Siberia the Amur tiger in the snow at Paradise Wildlife Park in Hertfordshire
People jogging during a snow shower on Wimbledon Common this morning in Wimbledon, London
A snow-covered street in Sheffield, as bitterly cold winds continue to grip much of the nation
Earlier this morning a car skidded off the road in Kikliston, West Lothian as snow and icy conditions continue to plague Scottish roads this week
Leicester has woken up to a blanket of snow this morning, with temperatures expected to drop as low as -7C later today, amid continuing weather warnings across Britain
Freezing temperatures and bitter winds have made for difficult conditions around London Bridge this morning amid weather warnings last until tomorrow
Early morning swimmers take a dip in the water, which is 1.4C, at Thorpe End, Essex
A yellow weather warning for up to 15cm (6in) of snow in eastern parts of the country today follows depths of up to 30cm in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, 23cm in Andrewsfield, Essex and 14cm in Manston, Kent. There was a thick layer in Leicester today
Locals in Bermondsey today headed out for some early morning shopping after hundreds of schools shut for a snow day in the East yesterday
Temperatures are expected to reach -7C today, before dropping as low as -12C overnight in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Commuters were out braving freezing temperatures in Bermondsey, London, this morning
A hardy walker wrapped up for a stroll through the snow in Victoria Park in Glasgow this morning
There were picturesque snowy scenes in Glasgow’s Victoria Park this afternoon
Snow covers a row of multi-coloured beach huts in Southend, ahead of more freezing temperatures to come this week
A family ride sledges in the snow at Thorpe Bay, Essex, as bitterly cold winds continue to grip the area
Children made the most of the snow day in Dunning, Scotland, where the temperature has plummeted
A Covid-19 vaccination centre at Gainsborough Sports and Community Centre in Ipswich which remains closed
Members of the public take photographs of an ice covered mermaid statue in Trafalgar Square, London
A man walks through Victoria Park in Ashford, Kent as Storm Darcy continues to lash Britain
A woman jogs through a snow-covered Hyde Park in London as Storm Darcy lashes Britain
A person walks through Hyde Park as it snows in London as Storm Darcy lashes Britain
Scotland saw around a foot of snow fall in Aberdeenshire yesterday, while snow and ice made for treacherous conditions in West Lothian, where a car skidded off the road and nearly hit a house overnight
A man walks down a snow-covered street in Sheffield, as bitterly cold winds continue to grip much of the nation
Weather warnings for snow are in place for the East of England and Scotland until Wednesday night, with bitter winds blowing in from eastern Europe
A woman walks a dog along a snow covered beach at Thorpe Bay, Essex as Storm Darcy lashes Britain
A foot of snow has already been reported in Tendring, Essex, while drifts of up to three feet have been reported in parts of East Anglia. Pictured: Early morning swimmers take a dip in the sea despite the freezing temperatures
Early morning swimmers were seen jumping into the sea in just swimsuits and swimming caps while snow covered the beach
Roads and footpaths are blanketed in snow in Larbert, central Scotland, as eastern winds blow wintry conditions further inland
Strong easterly winds will make it feel very cold across southern UK, with further snow showers feeding westwards. London woke up to temperatures around freezing this morning
Disruption has also hit rail services, with Southeastern advising passengers not to travel and Greater Anglia expecting disruption until midday. Commuters are braving icy streets in Bermondsey this morning
Police forces in parts of Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex told drivers not to travel as roads became ‘impassable’ due to settled snow. Roads have been gritted in Bermondsey for traffic this morning
While London, pictured Bermondsey this morning, has been able to operate as normal, snow in the East caused 10 Covid-19 vaccination centres to close yesterday
Road closures were announced in Norfolk, Lincolnshire, Cumbria, Derbyshire and Hertfordshire.
Suffolk Highways said conditions were ‘worsening’, comparing the recent weather to the ‘Beast from the East’ of 2018.
People in Kent were told to expect slower traffic, with police echoing many forces around the country in warning drivers only to travel ‘if necessary’.
The AA said the ‘treacherous driving conditions’ led to ‘numerous’ accidents on UK roads today.
Spokesman Ben Sheridan said: ‘Roads will be lethal where snow and ice has hit the UK.
‘If you must travel, reduce your speed to account for the conditions and leave plenty of space behind other vehicles.
‘Don’t forget to clear snow from the windows, lights and roof of the car so you can see and be seen, and watch out for black ice and compacted snow, especially in rural areas.’
Gritters and snowploughs have tit the roads today in a bid to keep traffic moving. Approximately 150 vehicles have been deployed in Scotland to keep the roads safe.
The gritters are often given comical names, with the newest names including ‘Snowcially distanced’ and ‘Han Snow-Lo’. Others have been called Brinestone Ploughboy, CalvinHarrIce and Grittin On Wae It.
A recent appeal to name the 50-strong fleet of gritters – which cover 400 miles of roads – received more than 1,200 entries.
The appeal, which ran from December 23 to January 15, was moved online due to the pandemic.
Speaking on Good Morning Scotland, Transport Scotland manager Stein Connolly said: ‘We had 146 gritters out last night.
‘All the trunk roads are open, but there are some places where it’s just passable.
‘There has been a couple of accidents – police are working to get these clear, but it’s maybe better to leave it until a safer point in the day (to travel).’
Meanwhile, National Rail has told train passengers that services across the country are likely to be affected by the conditions.
Council workers have been out clearing streets for pedestrians this morning amid a bitterly cold start to Tuesday in London
The coronavirus vaccination centre at Gainsborough sports centre in Ipswich, Suffolk, which was closed today due to the snow
Snow covers fields near Castleside on the A68 in County Durham as Storm Darcy lashes Britain
Snow covers fields and rooftops near Castleside on the A68 in County Durham, with Hownsgill viaduct in the distance
Snow covers houses in Hollow Meadows, South Yorkshire, as bitterly cold winds continue to grip much of the nation
People walk their dogs in Rockford Common in the New Forest, as bitterly cold winds continue to grip much of the nation
The firm said ‘it may be necessary to close some routes’, and urged customers to travel ‘later in the morning’.
Southern Rail announced service cancellations in south-east London, while networks in Kent and Essex have closed train lines.
Walkers warned as huge fissure opens up near cliff face
Coastguard teams have warned people to stay away from cliff edges after a huge crack emerged due to freezing temperatures.
A 50ft wide by 40ft deep stretch of land at the top of Seaford Head in East Sussex had to be fenced off on Saturday.
The massive fissure ruptured through the clifftop ‘close to where a huge collapse’ occurred at the picturesque Birling Gap on Friday morning, according to Newhaven Coastguard.
A 50ft wide by 40ft deep stretch of land at the top of Seaford Head in East Sussex had to be fenced off on Saturday
Several Covid-19 vaccination centres remain closed, including: Clacton Hospital, Colchester United’s stadium, Gainsborough Sports Centre in Ipswich and Chevington Close in Bury St Edmunds.
A number of schools were closed across the south-east of England and Lincolnshire.
Yellow snow and ice warnings are also in place for much of the rest of the UK, with people told to expect ‘frequent’ wintry showers that ‘may lead to travel disruption in places’.
The warnings, stretching across northern England to Belfast in Northern Ireland and down to the south-east of England, says ‘rural communities could become cut off’.
Temperatures are expected to plummet below 0C (32F) for most of the UK.
The Met Office said: ‘Strong easterly winds will make it feel bitterly cold across much of the UK, with further snow showers feeding westwards.
‘These showers merging into some longer spells of snow over some eastern areas, whilst always drier and brighter further west.’
The warnings will run into Wednesday.
Between 10cm (4in) and 15cm (6in) of snow is ‘plausible’ in areas where showers ‘merge into more organised and prolonged spells’.
Public Health England (PHE) has issued a cold weather alert for the whole of the country, saying it could have ‘a serious impact on health’.
Dr Owen Landeg, of PHE, said: ‘For older people and those with heart and lung problems, it can increase the risks of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections.’
Yesterday a man who is thought to have been kite-surfing died at a beach amid the stormy weather.
RAC Breakdown spokesman Rod Dennis said: ‘With heavy snowfall affecting many parts of the south and east, we are asking drivers to think extremely carefully before setting out today.
‘Where roads remain open, conditions are challenging and unless you can be confident both you and your car are up to the task of some seriously wintry driving, staying at home is definitely the best option.
‘Our expert local patrols are working extremely hard to attend all drivers who are running into problems.’
Suffolk Police said the death of the man, who was found by passers-by on the shore at Walberswick beach, is not thought to be suspicious.
Police said it is believed the man, who was in his 50s, had been kite-surfing.
