Met Office announces another yellow weather warning as temperatures plummet

The Met Office issued further weather warnings yesterday with three yellow alerts in force for all of Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England until 11 am today. They also issued warnings for ice in Scotland, after temperatures were expected to drop to -8C in the Highlands overnight.

Forecasters warned that rain, sleet and snow would ease up leaving surfaces wet as temperatures dropped below zero, as per BBC News.

Travel warning

Ice is expected to form widely on untreated roads and pavements as further sleet or snow showers are possible in the west. Gritter trucks have been treating roads around the country today though conditions could still be dangerous.

In the Met Office’s latest update they have announced that heavy rain will continue in Scotland until around Wednesday 6 am.

Scotland's Railway network will only have a very limited service across 12 routes in the central belt, Fife and the Borders. There will be no services north of Carlisle and the line is not expected to reopen until at least Friday 6 January, though replacement bus services are in place.

Meanwhile, further disruption is expected across the country due to ongoing strikes, with Network Rail staff set to walk out again this week on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, as per BBC News.

Flood warning

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) had 10 regional flood alerts in place last Friday, as well as 29 local flood warnings and a severe flood warning for Dumfries. They have warned people to be wary of receding flood water in southern and central Scotland. It is also reported that levels at the River Nith have reached the highest ever recorded.

Meanwhile, in England 16 flood warnings have been in place since early Monday morning, including in York, East Sussex, Bournemouth, Bristol and the Lake District.

It will remain cold in the North and West of the country, with the Met Office commenting, as per Sky News:

Rain in northeast and southeast is clearing during the evening, though lingering over the Northern Isles. Cold in the north and west with some frost. Icy stretches in the north. Ice remains the main hazard.

Sources used:

- BBC News 'Weather: Travel warnings for ice and rail disruption

- Sky News 'UK weather: Met Office issues ice warnings as plummeting temperatures and rain hit Britain'