Flooding, 'significant snow' and weather warnings to see Brits into the new year

30 December 2023 , 13:37

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Flooding at New Road Cricket Ground as the River Severn bursts its banks in Worcester as Brits face a wet end to the year (Image: Emma Trimble / SWNS)

Whilst many would be hoping for settled weather this weekend, so they could enjoy their New Year’s celebrations - it looks like the country’s in for a wet and windy end to 2023.

The last two days of the year are set to be marked by eight separate weather warnings for wind, rain, snow and ice. Alongside that, Brits are already waking up to travel chaos today, as trains are being cancelled due to severe flooding.

And on top of that the Met Office has warned that some parts of the UK could see "significant snow" with as much as eight inches possible. Previously, there were fears that Storm Henk would be named, marking the third such storm across what’s been a blustery and wet festive period for many.

A low pressure system is moving in from the west and sweeping up and across the British Isles. Ireland is set to see the brunt of the wind and rain, but the thick band of rain, reaching north east to south west, will hit Wales and parts of England next as midday approaches.

Parts of the far south east will escape the rain, along with northern bits of Scotland, but much of the rest of the UK will see miserable weather. There are over 100 flood warnings and alerts across England, Scotland and Wales. These spread from the south coast, around Bournemouth and Chichester, moving north, up the heart of the UK.

Gales, snow and rain to batter country today with 80mph wind gusts

There are a number of weather warnings in place this weekend (Press Association Images)

A low pressure system from the west has brought miserable weather with it (Met Office)

The worst of the flooding is across parts of eastern Wales and around York - where flooding is expected today. Windy conditions will sweep across the UK on Saturday, according to the Met Office, and meteorologist Alex Burkill said northern areas of Scotland are likely to see "significant snow", with possibly 10 to 20cm on the highest ground.

Today, there are seven yellow weather warnings in place across Britain. Across southern parts of England and Wales there’s a yellow wind warning in place until the early hours of tomorrow morning. Most of Wales and all of Northern Ireland is covered by a yellow rain warning, due to the low pressure system that became close to being named Storm Henk.

Tens of thousands of people have been left stranded after every Eurostar train today has been cancelled (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)

Further north, there are three rain and snow yellow warnings, and one ice warning across Scotland. All Eurostar trains and many Southeastern trains were cancelled on Saturday morning due to flooding in tunnels near Ebbsfleet International. The high speed rail line has suffered extensive flooding, leaving tens of thousands stranded with their holiday or New Year plans in jeopardy.

There are such concerns over travel over this weekend that train passengers with tickets for December 31 were previously told to use them on Friday on Northern rail and they warned anyone using the rail service this weekend that they should "expect disruption".

Similarly, Cross Country said their services may be "subject to last-minute cancellations" as LNER, Avanti West Coast and London Northwestern Railway told passengers to check before they travel.

Kieren Williams