BRITAIN will be hit by an Arctic blast this month – just days after Storm Wanda brings torrential downpours and a risk of flooding to the UK.
Forecasters predict a three day flurry of snow will move in from November 14 and will continue for 72 hours – with as much as 2.5cm of snow expected to fall per day.
But before the white stuff hits, the aftermath of ferocious tropical storm Wanda will see Britain under a washout from next Tuesday.
Met Office forecaster Dan Harris told the Mirror: "Tropical Storm Wanda is not too far from the UK – and may indirectly influence the forecast early next week."
The Met Office has already placed a yellow weather warning for wind across northern and eastern Scotland from 8pm last night until 5pm today.
Read our UK weather live blog below for the latest info & updates…
- Joseph Gamp
Man rescued after being trapped in cave for 54 hours 'doing remarkably well'
An injured man rescued from a cave after spending more than two days trapped inside is doing "remarkably well"
The man was brought out of Ogof Ffynnon Ddu in the Brecon Beacons at around 7.45pm on Monday following a 54-hour ordeal.
After being lifted to the surface, he was clapped and cheered by rescuers before being helped into a cave rescue Land Rover ready to be transported down to a waiting ambulance.
Around 70 volunteers made their way down off the mountain to the rescue centre before watching as the man, who is in his 40s, was driven away to Morriston Hospital in Swansea.
Gary Evans, the emergency services liaison officer, told reporters: "The casualty is doing remarkably well, if you consider how long he's been in the cave, how long he's been in a stretcher- he's doing very well indeed.
"He's being assessed at the moment and we'll know more in a short while."
- Joseph Gamp
Weather warnings in Scotland
The Met Office placed a yellow weather warning for wind across northern and eastern Scotland from 8pm last night until 5pm today.
The warning states: “Strengthening west to northwesterly winds will bring gusts of 60-70mph perhaps locally 80mph, to exposed locations of northern Scotland.
“These winds initially across the Western Isles and north-west mainland Scotland on Saturday evening, spreading to the north-east mainland and Orkney overnight and Sunday morning.”
- Joseph Gamp
Pictured: Torrential downpours set to sweep the UK
The mercury is set to plummet to sub-zero temperatures next week with icy conditions and heavy downpours expected.
Forecasters have warned that the storm will “indirectly” influence the weather soon, with gale warnings issued in Northern Scotland over the weekend.
Brits were hit with gusts of up to 80mph across Scotland – as families were urged to take care at bonfire events up and down the country.
- Joseph Gamp
Met Office 4Cast for Tuesday
The Met Office says a lot of cloud and rain will be "sinking slowly south".
The weather agency tweeted: "The best places to catch some sunshine on Tuesday will be in the north and northwest
"Some bright spells elsewhere but also a lot of cloud with a band of rain sinking slowly south."
- Joseph Gamp
Volunteers kept treats in helmets to keep spirits up during 54-hour cave rescue
Volunteers kept "treats" in their helmets to keep their spirits up as they rescued a man who had been trapped in a cave in Wales for more than two days.
The man was stretchered out of Ogof Ffynnon Ddu in the Brecon Beacons at around 7.45pm on Monday following a 54-hour rescue operation.
After being lifted to the surface, he was clapped and cheered by rescuers before being helped into a cave rescue Land Rover ready to be transported down to a waiting ambulance.
Around 70 volunteers made their way down off the mountain to the rescue centre before watching as the man, who is in his 40s, was driven away to Morriston Hospital in Swansea.
Steve Thomas, of South and Mid Wales Cave Rescue Team, told BBC Breakfast that volunteers created a "friendly environment" during the rescue.
"You're (soaked) to the skin," he said.
"There's always a draft in caves, so there's a chill factor, and it doesn't take long to sap you. To keep our spirits up we all have little treats in our helmets. It's a very friendly environment that we create."
- Joseph Gamp
Odds slashed on coldest November ever
Bookmaker Coral has slashed the odds on this November being the coldest since records began to just 5-4 (from 3-1) amid forecasts of an arctic blast.
"We are headed for a big November freeze and it's left us with no choice but to significantly slash the odds on this month entering the record books as the coldest eleventh month of the year the UK has ever seen," said Coral's Harry Aitkenhead.
- Joseph Gamp
Explained: How to apply for the cold weather payment
You don’t need to apply for the cold weather payment as it’s paid automatically.
If you don’t receive a payment and believe you’re eligible then you can tell your pension centre or Jobcentre Plus office, or call the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.
If you’re getting Universal Credit, you can also sign in to your account and add a note to your journal.
If you go into hospital, this could affect your claim so make sure you tell someone using the contact details above.
Low income households can get up to £140 towards their electricity bills with the government's warm home discount scheme.
- Joseph Gamp
Who is eligible for a cold weather payment?
You’re eligible for the cold weather payment scheme if you’re in receipt of one of the following benefits and meet certain criteria:
- Pension credit
- Income support
- Income-based jobseeker’s allowance
- Income-related employment and support allowance
- Universal Credit
- Support for mortgage interest
Depending on your specific circumstances, you may also need to meet one or more of the following additional criteria:
- Have a disability or be in receipt of pension premium
- Have a child who is disabled
- Be in receipt of child tax credit that includes a disability or severe disability element
- Have a severe or enhanced disability premium
- Be in receipt of a limited capability for work amount
- Have a child under five living with you
Regardless of employment, Universal Credit claimants are eligible if they have a disabled child amount in their claim.
You can find out more about eligibility on the government's website.
What is the cold weather payment?
The cold weather payment is dished out when temperatures are recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees or below, on average, for seven consecutive days.
The low temperature must be low between November 1 and March 31 and eligible Brits are entitled to extra money to heat their homes when this happens.
You get £25 for every seven day period where the weather is below 0C during this time frame.
You can check if your area has had a cold weather payment by popping your postcode into the government's tool from November 1 onward.
In 2020, four weather stations in Scotland had cold weather payments triggered by the start of December.
By March 31 2021, the payments were triggered by 29 weather stations in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales for more than 470 postcodes.
- Joseph Gamp
Showers and strong winds set to hit UK tomorrow
Wednesday will see "showers and strong wind" in many areas, particularly up north, and a “band of rain” in the south”.
It comes after warnings that flurries of snow are expected to hit Britain for three days in the aftermath of the storm.
Snow is set to move in from November 14 and will continue for 72 hours, with as much as 2.5cm expected to fall per day.
- Joseph Gamp
Met Office issue flood alerts along the Thames
The Met Office has also issued two flood alerts along the Thames and the tidal Rivers Bure, Ant and Thurne until later on this evening.
Met Office meteorologist Dan Harris said: "Tropical Storm Wanda is not too far from the UK and may indirectly influence the forecast early next week."
Netweather and STV forecaster Jo Farrow added: "If Wanda gets caught up with another Atlantic low pressure, its tropical energy could help bring wet and windy weather to the UK."
- Joseph Gamp
Strong winds could cause damage for coastal communities
The gusts could spark travel chaos with delays to road, rail and ferry transport.
Coastal conditions will also be dangerous with large waves set to crash against seafronts in communities by the sea.
- Joseph Gamp
Mapped: Tropical Storm Wanda makes way across the Atlantic
BRITS are bracing for three DAYS of snow this month – after Tropical Storm Wanda brings torrential downpours.
The white stuff is set to move in from November 14 and will continue for 72 hours, with as much as 2.5cm of snow expected to fall per day.
Inverness will be the first to see the flurries in the early hours – before the snow moves to Edinburgh, weather site WXCharts has suggested.
- Joseph Gamp
Edinburgh most likely city to see Xmas Day snow
Ladbrokes have revealed the cities most likely to see snow on Christmas Day.
With less than 50 days to go until Christmas, the bookies make it just a 2/1 shot for the white stuff to fall anywhere in the UK on 25 December, with Edinburgh being the most likely destination at 3/1, while 5/1 says we see snow in the capital.
Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said: "Punters dreaming of a White Christmas may well get there wish this year as the odds suggest it's likely parts of the UK will see snow."
- Joseph Gamp
Odds slashed on snow falling on Xmas day this year
Bookmaker Coral has slashed the odds on snow falling on Christmas Day this year.
Coral make Aberdeen the most likely UK city to get snow on December 25, at 6-4 now, followed by Glasgow and Edinburgh at 7-4.
Newcastle is 2-1 for snow on the big day, the most likely of the English cities according to the odds, with London a 5-1 shot for a White Christmas.
- Joseph Gamp
Car swept out by high tides on Mersea Island, Essex
Earlier today, emergency services were called to Mersea Island after a car was swept out by high tides.
The West Mersa RNLI had to push the car to higher ground after waters reached a dangerously high 3.5ft.
The couple inside the car were then rescued to shore and were treated by paramedics.
- Joseph Gamp
Weather warnings in Scotland
The Met Office placed a yellow weather warning for wind across northern and eastern Scotland from 8pm last night until 5pm today.
The warning states: "Strengthening west to northwesterly winds will bring gusts of 60-70mph perhaps locally 80mph, to exposed locations of northern Scotland.
“These winds initially across the Western Isles and north-west mainland Scotland on Saturday evening, spreading to the north-east mainland and Orkney overnight and Sunday morning."
- Joseph Gamp
Storm Wanda 'not too far from the UK'
Yesterday saw Brits hit with gusts of up to 80mph across Scotland – as families were urged to take care at bonfire events up and down the country.
And next week will be no better, with the aftermath of Tropical Storm Wanda moving in from Tuesday.
Met Office forecaster Dan Harris told the Mirror: "Tropical Storm Wanda is not too far from the UK – and may indirectly influence the forecast early next week."
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