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UK Set To Freeze Amid Fears Of More Floods

Motorists and flood-hit communities have been warned of ice, sleet and snow as well as further downpours, as temperatures are expected to plummet.A Met Office severe weather warning for icy conditions is in place across most of the UK, while some parts of the country have been told to brace for snow.UK Set To Freeze Amid

The chief forecaster said on its website: “A colder, westerly, air stream will follow Sunday’s frontal band bringing heavy wintry showers and wet surfaces to many areas during Sunday evening and night.

“Clear skies between showers are expected to allow temperatures to fall to or just below freezing at times resulting in a risk of icy stretches forming on untreated surfaces.

“Some areas of the United Kingdom will also see a covering of snow. Snow amounts will generally be small, mostly accumulating on vegetation, however more persistent and heavy show is expected over the higher ground of western and central Highland and the southern Grampians.”

The warning was issued for Sunday evening up until 10am today.

Fourteen serious flood warnings are in place for parts of the South East and South West, with the Environment Agency telling people in affected areas to take immediate action.

The Somerset Levels, which run south from the Mendip Hills to the Blackdown Hills, are particularly vulnerable, as further heavy rain falls on already saturated ground.

There is also potential for further river flooding across the South West and southern counties including parts of Wiltshire, Dorset, Hampshire, West Sussex, West Berkshire and Surrey into next week.

The Environment Agency is running more than 60 pumps around the clock to drain an estimated 65 million cubic metres of floodwater from the Levels.

A temporary pontoon has been erected near the village of Langport to allow residents to get to their homes and a boat service is ferrying people to and from work and school.

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson is expected to visit Somerset today to speak to the communities affected.

As well as the flood alerts, parts of Scotland have been told to brace for strong winds gusting up to 80mph.

On Sunday, light snow flurries affected parts of northern England, including in Cumbria, where snow ploughs were used to clear sections of the A66.

A “mini tornado” was reported in parts of the Midlands and southern Britain, where trees were brought down, power supplies knocked out and outbuildings damaged.

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