A WEATHER warning for thick fog has been issued by the Met Office this evening, with drivers being reminded to take extra care on the roads.
The yellow alert – which covers a large section of west and eastern England, the Midlands and all of Wales – is in place from 10pm this evening until midday on Wednesday.
The weather agency said: "Dense fog patches likely to cause some travel disruption overnight and during Wednesday morning."
Delays to transport services are likely, while there is a chance of delays or cancellations to flights
It comes as the bookies now make it just 5/2 for this month to enter the record books as the wettest January ever.
Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said: "There's every chance this month breaks January records for all the wrong reasons, with more miserable weather on the way."
.Read our weather live blog for the latest news and forecasts
- Joseph Gamp
Make your car visible in poor winter weather
You can be fined up to £1,000 for failing to switch your car lights on when you’re driving.
Make sure they’re all working before you set out on your journey, and turn them on if you have to get out to clear snow.
If you use fog lights, remember to switch them off when visibility improves so they don’t dazzle other drivers or obscure your brake lights.
- Joseph Gamp
Advice for road users when travelling in fog
- Avoid travel if possible
- Drive very slowly with dipped headlights, full-beam lights reflect off the fog causing a 'white wall' effect
- Keep an eye on your speed, fog can give the illusion of moving in slow motion
- Use fog lights, but remember to turn them off when the visibility improves
- Don't hang on the tail lights of the car in front, rear lights can give a false sense of security
- Watch out for freezing fog which is made of water droplets that freeze on contact with objects such as the pavement, road, car, etc. It can quickly form a layer of ice.
More details from the Met Office on fog warning
The Met Office has released further details about it's yellow weather warning for fog.
The weather agency says: "Fog patches are expected to form during Tuesday night, becoming dense and freezing in places by dawn on Wednesday, particularly in river valleys with visibility less than 100 metres at times.
"Fog will thin slowly later Wednesday morning, although a few patches may persist into the afternoon over the south-west Midlands."
The warnings comes in to force from 10pm this evening, through to midday on Wednesday.
- Joseph Gamp
Met Office issues yellow warning for fog
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for fog.
The affected are covers parts of central and southern England, plus Wales.
It's in force from 10pm tonight until midday on Wednesday.
More details below.
- Louis Allwood
Advice for drivers whilst travelling in the fog
- Avoid travel if possible
- Drive very slowly with dipped headlights, full-beam lights reflect off the fog causing a 'white wall' effect
- Keep an eye on your speed, fog can give the illusion of moving in slow motion
- Use fog lights, but remember to turn them off when the visibility improves
- Don't hang on the tail lights of the car in front, rear lights can give a false sense of security
- Watch out for freezing fog which is made of water droplets that freeze on contact with objects such as the pavement, road, car, etc. It can quickly form a layer of ice.
Yellow fog warning issued for the UK
The Met Office have issued a warning for "dense fog patches" which are expected to cause "some travel disruption overnight and during Wednesday morning."
Areas to be affected include Cardiff, Bath, Oxford, Birmingham, Peterborough and Norwich.
What to expect:
- Slower journey times with delays to bus and train services possible
- There is a chance of delays or cancellations to flights
Top tips on defrosting your windscreen during the winter
Mix up a solution of water with a teaspoon of salt and pour it over icy areas
A mixture of three parts of vinegar to one part of water will also do the trick
DON'T pour boiling water onto frozen car windows
DON'T use anything other than a car-specific scraper to remove the frost
Prevent windscreen frost by soaking an old towel in a solution made up of water and table salt, or a mix of one part of water and two parts of alcohol, then place it over your car windows the night before
What is the penalty for leaving your car with its engine running?
If you are caught by police while using this method, you will be given a fixed £20 fine – or £40 if not paid within a certain time frame.
But never mind the police, leaving the engine going to warm it up or defrost your windscreen while you pop back inside makes your vehicle the ideal target for opportunistic thieves.
Should your car be stolen in this way, it is more than likely your insurance company will refuse to pay out on your loss, as you have invalidated your insurance by acting in a way which significantly increased the risk of your car being stolen.
Instead, try other ways of defrosting your windscreen, such as poring a solution of water with a teaspoon of salt over any icy areas.
Is it illegal to leave your car engine running to defrost your windscreen?
If you leave your engine running while your motor is stationary on the road, it could land you in hot water.
"Stationary idling" is an offence under section 42 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, which means leaving the car running is off-limits.
The Act enforces rule 123 of the Highway Code which states: "You must not leave a vehicle engine running unnecessarily while that vehicle is stationary on a public road."
So, defrosting your windscreen by leaving the engine and heating on is actually against the law.
However, this law doesn't mean you have to turn your engine off at every red light, as it is simply aimed at unnecessarily idling vehicles to help reduce noise and air pollution.
- Louis Allwood
£100 for not wearing correct shoes whilst driving in the winter
Thicker boots may keep your feet warm in the snow but they could get you into trouble and you with a heavy fine if you drive in them.
While wearing inappropriate shoes to drive isn’t technically illegal, careless driving due to unsuitable footwear can get you into trouble.
Rule 97 of the Highway Code states that before heading off on a drive, you must ensure that “clothing and footwear do not prevent you using the controls in a correct manner”.
If you are stopped by the police for careless driving and they decide your footwear caused the problem, you can face up to a £100 on-the-spot fine plus penalty points on your licence.
If you do need heavier boots for snow or cold weather conditions when you’re out and about, it’s best to take an additional, safer pair of shoes to drive in too.
- Louis Allwood
Best touch screen gloves to wear in the winter
Nike Tech Gloves
For those who like a bit of sports branding with their gloves, Nike's grey tech gloves are a must.
With a stylish three-tone knitted fabric — ideal for the cold weather — these feature touch-screen compatible thumb and fingers, as well as a silicone grip pattern on the palms and fingers which will help you keep hold of your phone.
And with Nike's unmistakable 'swoosh' detail, they're an ideal gift for sports fans.
The North Face Men's Denali Etip Gloves
The North Face is a go-to brand for cold-weather gear, so you can always trust that its gloves will deliver.
Inspired by the classic Denali Jacket from 1989, these Etip gloves are crafted from the same moisture-wicking soft fleece, with a silicone gripper and conductive technology in the palms to enable you to use your phone.
With five-finger touchscreen capabilities, these are ideal for 'proper' scrolling — and the fleece is 100% recycled, making them a greener choice too.
- Louis Allwood
Can you spot Mt Everest in stunning photo?
ASTRONAUTS aboard the ISS have been showing off breathtaking views from space – and set everyone back on Earth a challenge.
Nasa's Mark Vande Hei posted a stunning shot over the Himalayas on Twitter, leaving aerial photographers green with envy.
Hidden among it is Mount Everest, which the astronaut has asked people to try to spot.
Of course, Everest is the world's highest mountain at 8,849 metres tall.
On the ground, it's probably easy to spot out along the horizon.
But from above it's a lot more difficult to make out.
- Louis Allwood
Edinburgh forecast today and this evening
Dry with some sunny intervals, although a little cloudier across West Lothian and western Borders at times.
A little breezy around the east Lothian coast in the afternoon.
Maximum temperature 7 °C.
Quite breezy and cloud increasing from the west overnight, perhaps some patchy drizzle in the west later in the night.
Minimum temperature 3 °C.
- Louis Allwood
Tuesday weather summary for London
Here’s a short but helpful summary from the Met Office for what to expect in London tomorrow.
The capital will remain “generally cloudy with outbreaks of rain and drizzle, becoming lighter and more intermittent in the afternoon, before clearing southeastwards in the evening”.
“Light winds. Maximum temperature 10 °C,” the summary added.
- Louis Allwood
Tuesday to Thursday forecast
The Met Office has offered a short summary into the weather for next week.
It predicts how there will be “cloud and rain for England and Wales Tuesday, clearing southeast; sunny spells elsewhere with a few showers far northwest”.
The agency added it will be “settled and mostly dry Wednesday onwards, with overnight frost and fog”.
- Louis Allwood
How will the month end?
Conditions expected to remain broadly unsettled and changeable through this period with occasional spells of wet and windy weather moving across from the Atlantic.
Western and northwestern parts likely to see the wettest and windiest conditions overall whilst eastern and southeastern parts probably seeing the most of any drier spells.
Temperatures likely to be slightly above average overall throughout but there remains a possibility of short-lived colder spells.
Colder spells likely to bring a risk of snow at times, though mostly over high ground in the north.
- Louis Allwood
Murky for many this afternoon
Over in the southern areas the weather will remain murky this afternoon.
Further north the weather will be very different with some sunshine spells for many.
It will continue to be breezy and cloudy in the far north west with continued showers.
- Louis Allwood
Can I still have the Covid booster if I have a cold?
The short answer is yes.
If you are certain it is not Covid you are suffering with and you are well enough to leave home, you can get your third shot with confidence.
It might make you feel a bit rougher than if you weren’t ill, but overall it’s perfectly safe – and you can emerge from your sickly funk safe in the knowledge you are protected against coronavirus.
A cold shouldn’t have an effect on your body’s ability to build an immune response to the flu, even though it is fighting an illness.
NHS guidance says you should still attend your appointment even if you have a mild illness, including a common cold.
- Louis Allwood
How to stay warm when outside
With the weather getting chillier and frostier, you’ll want to wrap up warm.
Here are some good tips for staying all snugly and cosy when outdoors:
- Prewarm your clothes.
- Invest in some quality thermals.
- Fleece leggings.
- Hand warmers.
- Cover every inch of skin.
- Eat fatty foods.
- Thermal flask.
- Keep moving.
- Keep hydrated.
- Keep your head covered.
- Tactical scarf-wearing – including keeping your nose and mouth covered
- Louis Allwood
This month will see drop in temperatures, says Met Office expert
Met Office forecaster Craig Snell said the average temperature in December and the beginning of January is usually around 7C or 8C, with the warmer weather due to a south-westerly wind making its way across the country.
The higher temperatures are usually localised, but “plenty of places” have seen highs of 15C over December.
However, he added that January could see a drop in temperatures because of an Arctic chill sweeping through from next week.
- Louis Allwood
25th of January to the 8th of February
A more unsettled regime is most likely during late January and into early February with spells of wet and windy weather followed by brighter but showery interludes.
Northwestern areas are likely to be wettest with southern and eastern areas seeing the best of any drier interludes.
Overall temperatures are most likely to be near or a little above average though some colder interludes are possible.
Snow could fall to lower levels at times in any colder interludes but is most likely over higher ground in the north.
- Louis Allwood
Freezing start to the morning for many
Temperatures dropped to as low as -4.2C this morning in the north.
- Louis Allwood
Manchester's forecast for today
Early cloud and rain in the south will soon clear then all areas will have a fine day with largely sunny skies.
There may be a little fair weather cloud across Cumbria in the afternoon, but it will stay dry. Maximum temperature 8 °C.
This evening and over night is expected to be dry with clear skies this.
With light winds, temperatures will fall sharply with a frost developing, as well as some patchy fog by morning. Minimum temperature -1 °C.
- Louis Allwood
Tomorrow's weather Outlook
Southern and central areas mostly sunny with light winds, after any fog clears.
Temperatures mostly near average before frost and fog returns after dark.
Northern Scotland, windy with patchy rain.
- Louis Allwood
Cold night ahead for Cardiff
A dull and cloudy start with outbreaks of rain and drizzle.
It will slowly become drier and brighter from the north during the morning, with any lingering cloud slowly lifting and breaking to give some late afternoon sunshine.
Maximum temperature 9 °C.
During the night it will be dry with clear skies.
The light winds temperatures will fall sharply with a widespread frost developing, as well as some areas of fog by morning.
Minimum temperature -3 °C.
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