UK weather: Fresh alerts for snow and ice as severe flooding triggers rescue operation
Leicestershire and Lincolnshire declare major incidents as the extreme weather triggers dozens of flood warnings, including one ranked as a danger to life.
Tuesday 7 January 2025 13:31, UK
Fresh weather warnings have been issued for snow and ice - with one danger to life flood warning requiring a large-scale evacuation.
Heavy rainfall and rapid snowmelt triggered a severe flood warning for part of the River Soar near Barrow upon Soar in Leicestershire.
Dozens of people at caravan parks were rescued by firefighters with teams deploying boats to help those caught up in the floodwater.
A new yellow snow and ice warning has been issued for parts of southwestern, western and northern areas of Scotland from midday on Tuesday until midday on Wednesday.
The Met Office has also issued a warning for Northern Ireland from 3pm on Tuesday until midday on Wednesday.
Hundreds of flood alerts and warnings are in place and both Leicestershire and Lincolnshire declared major incidents on Monday because of the extreme weather.
On Wednesday, a yellow weather warning for snow is in effect across the south of England - stretching from just above Truro in Cornwall to Canterbury in Kent - from 9am to midnight.
Forecasters predict some potentially "significant accumulations in places" of between 2 to 5cm (0.78 to 2in) and as much as 10cm (3.9in) over higher ground.
Roads, railways and airports hit
Flooding and fallen trees have been causing problems on the railways along with snow also impacting some major A roads.
Liverpool, Aberdeen, Bristol and Manchester airports all paused services for a while as teams cleared runways of snow and ice.
Police in North Yorkshire are investigating the discovery of a man's body, which was recovered from an area of flooding near Intake Lane in Beal, close to Eggborough and Knottingley.
The man has been "informally identified" by officers but it is unclear how he died.
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue was the first emergency service in England to declare a major incident.
It said it had responded to more than 300 calls and attended 56 incidents since Monday morning over widespread flooding.
A critical incident has also been declared by East Midlands Ambulance Service for the first time ever, with flooding partly responsible for the "level of escalation".
Schoolchildren rescued
It rescued 59 people on Monday, while authorities in Lincolnshire warned conditions could deteriorate overnight as lying water freezes.
The Lincolnshire Resilience Forum declared a major incident shortly after, and noted emergency services had rescued children who were stranded at a school in Edenham.
The group said 45 pupils were "safely evacuated" thanks to firefighters and volunteers.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said in a post on X: "Major incidents have been declared in Lincolnshire and Leicestershire due to severe flooding.
"My thoughts are with all those affected and my thanks to responders working hard to keep communities safe.
"Anyone in these areas should follow advice from the emergency services."
Flood alerts and warnings
There are currently around 130 flood warnings across England and more than 200 flood alerts in place, which are less serious than flood warnings.
In Wales, 10 flood alerts are in place.
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Separately Ireland's weather service, Met Eireann, has issued an orange warning - the second highest alert level - for "extremely cold" temperatures.
It is forecasting "widespread severe frost, ice and lying snow" for most counties between 8pm on Tuesday until 10am on Wednesday.