Cornwall, Dorset, Devon and Somerset face power cuts as a Met Office amber weather warning is issued. Sleet and snow is expected to continue this afternoon and evening with accumulations of 2-5 cm on high ground above 150 m, and up to 10 cm above about 250 m, leading to some travel disruption.
The sleet and snow will ease from the west during the first part of Wednesday night. The amber alert warns: “Travel delays on roads are likely, stranding some vehicles and passengers. Power cuts are likely and other services, such as mobile phone coverage, may be affected.
“There is a chance that some rural communities could become cut off. Some delays and cancellations to rail and air travel are likely.” The warning, which covers south west England, is in place until 9pm this evening (Wednsday January 8).
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Floods minister Emma Hardy said: “My sympathies go out to the people, businesses and communities impacted by the recent flooding across the country. I want to express my heartfelt thanks for the vital work that the Environment Agency and emergency services are doing to keep people safe. People must continue to follow their advice and sign up for flood warnings.”
The BBC forecast for Wednesday night and into Thursday explains: “Tonight will be a bitterly cold night with a widespread frost and icy stretches. Snow showers for north and west Scotland, Northern Ireland and into north-western parts of Wales but drier elsewhere.
“Tomorrow will be another cold day with snow showers across northern parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and a few western parts of England. It will be mainly dry elsewhere with winter sunshine. On Friday, rain will move into the south-west early on, bringing a chance of snow.
“Mainly dry elsewhere, but Northern Ireland will see light rain towards in the evening. Saturday will be a mainly dry day but there will be a few spots of rain in the north-west, and hill snow in Scotland. Outbreaks of rain in the north on Sunday, but drier in the south. Milder over the weekend.”