UK weather: Flooding and travel disruption likely as ‘freezing drizzle’ hits southern England | Weather News

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Meteorologists have warned of the possibility of flooding and travel disruptions across southern England.

The Met Office said “haze, haze, and freezing fog (including freezing drizzle)” will be slow to appear across the south of the country today.

Red haze has also been reported, and flight cancellations and flight delays are possible.

The Environment Agency has 24 flood warnings, requiring residents to “act now” to protect themselves and their homes.

Residents in affected areas are asked to turn off gas, water and electricity supplies, move items upstairs, and take families, pets and cars to safety where necessary.

Flooding was expected in areas such as Ludgershall and the South Downs in Wiltshire, as well as parts of Dorset and Somerset.

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At the other end of the UK, in Scotland, a major explosion wreaked havoc in Milngavie, Glasgow after leaving 100,000 properties without water, affecting Glasgow city center and surrounding suburbs.

The water supply has now been restored, but the accident caused flooding and severe damage to road surfaces.

Check the weather forecast wherever you are

Photo: Water pipe explosion in Milngavie, Glasgow. Pic: Scottish Waters

The South starts below zero in an ‘unusual’ week

The Met Office’s yellow weather warning lasted until 8am on Wednesday, for an area stretching from Exeter to Oxford, with the region hitting lows of -5C. Lows of -6°C were recorded overnight at Bournemouth Airport.

Passengers were told to prepare for long journey times due to possible delays on buses and trains as freezing fog reduced visibility and untreated surfaces turned to ice, creating difficult driving conditions.

Fog was also expected to persist in Bath and North East Somerset, Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire.

photo: pic: Met Office

The Met Office added that the rain will reach southern England later in the afternoon and continue into the early evening. The forecast for the weekend sees a cool start on Friday, extending south into Saturday and Sunday, with showers.

Tips for road users when traveling in freezing fog

• Avoid travel if possible

• Drive very slowly with dipped headlights as the full beam lights reflect off the fog causing a “white wall” effect

• Watch your speed because fog can give the illusion that you are moving in slow motion

• Use fog lights, but remember to turn them off when visibility improves

• Do not comment on the lights of the vehicle in front of you. Tail lights can give a false sense of security

• Watch out for the freezing fog made of water droplets that freeze on contact with things like pavement, road, car, etc., can quickly form a layer of ice

Information provided by the Met Office jointly with the Highways Agency

Yesterday, the unusual weather upended the ‘normal’ with parts of the Highlands recording -10.6C compared to the south of England -9C.

A change in wind direction has caused mild temperatures in Scotland. Met Office spokesman Ollie Claydon said the weather was “relatively unusual”.

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