UK weather forecast – Temperatures to SOAR to 13C as Met Office says ‘warm air mass’ will hit London, Bristol, Glasgow

PICTURED: STROLL IN THE SUN

People walk along the River Stour near Stourbridge, West Midlands, in the afternoon sun.

This morning’s showers turned to sunshine with the area seeing highs of 9C.

Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

SWIRL OF CLOUD TO BRING HEAVY RAIN TOMORROW

An image from space shows the swirl of cloud that will being heavy rain to the west tomorrow.

The view, shared by the Met Office on Twitter, also highlights the window of dry weather for tonight.

HOW TO GET COLD WEATHER PAYMENTS

The cold weather payment is paid automatically, so you don’t need to apply for it.

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.

DWP TRIGGERS £25 COLD WEATHER PAYMENTS

Cold weather payments give low-income households a £25 boost if they’ve experienced freezing temperatures.

Several postcodes are already on the eligible list, but today the Department for Work and Pensions added the following areas for February 11 to 17.

Strathallan – FK8, FK11-19, G63, KY4-5, KY13-14, PH1-7, PH13.

TONIGHT’S FORECAST

The Met Office forecasts showers tonight, “heaviest and most frequent in the northwest with hill snow clearing”.

It will then be dry and clear with frost in places, with cloud and rain across the far west later, along with coastal gales.

YELLOW RAIN WARNING IN SOUTH WEST

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for rain in parts of Devon and Cornwall.

It could mean “persistent and at times heavy rain may result in flooding and disruption to transport and utilities”.

The warning is in place from 9am tomorrow until midday on Sunday.

It covers areas near Exeter, Tavistock, Ashburton, Princetown, Chagford, Launceston and Chudleigh.

‘BLOOD RAIN’ HEADING FOR EAST ANGLIA

Red sand picked up by powerful winds sweeping across the Sahara Desert and heading for Britain could land as “blood rain” on cars and homes in East Anglia, weather forecasters warned today.

The weather phenomenon is caused by either micro-organisms or red dust becoming suspended in the water, experts say.

11C BUT FEELS LIKE 6C

Despite temperatures reaching highs of 11C today, it feels much cooler.

Most of the UK is seeing highs of 9C or 10C but it feels more like 5C or 6C.

WEEKEND TEMPERATURES UP TO 17C

In a sudden switch from snow and sub-zero temperatures during the Beast from the East II, the mercury could soar by the weekend.

By Sunday, the mercury could reach 17C with meteorologists expecting temperatures “way above average for this time of year”.

Chris Fawkes from BBC Weather said: “We’re starting to draw up more of a southerly flow of wind and that will start to drag up some of the warmer air from north-Africa and Spain which will push across westerly Europe and in across parts of the United Kingdom.

“Saturday and Sunday, particularly Sunday, parts of eastern England will see temperatures as high as 17C, way above average for the time of year, and that warmth will last into Sunday as well.”

FLOOD ALERTS IN SCOTLAND

Scottish towns have been placed on flood alert ahead of a weekend wash-out.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency warn that parts of Callander in Stirlingshire and Aberfoyle in Perthshire could be inundated by heavy downpours.

A further 22 alerts and warnings are in place from Dumfriesshire to Aberdeenshire.

The Met Office also declared flooding of homes and businesses is possible in central and southern spots.

Yellow ‘be aware’ warnings are in place from now until Sunday morning.

‘CARPET OF DEATH’ ADVICE FOR DOG OWNERS

Norfolk and Suffolk’s beaches, facing out on to the storm-lashed North Sea, have been particularly badly hit by mass strandings of shellfish and starfish.

The Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority has warned people today not to approach the crustaceans and starfish, and to keep their dogs away.

Beaches in the Cromer and Overstrand area have been badly affected by the macabre sea of death, said a spokesman.

“It is important to know that some stranded species, in particular types of starfish, may contain Paralytic shellfish toxins (PST) toxins that could be harmful to humans and dogs if consumed.”

‘CARPET OF DEATH’ WARNING ON BEACHES

The stormy weather has sparked a warning to people not to touch a carpet of death which is washing up on Britain’s beaches.

Tens of thousands of shellfish and starfish have blown ashore where they got stranded and died – and they could kill.

Experts from the Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority warned that symptoms usually develop in humans within 30 minutes. This includes:

• Tingling/burning sensation followed by numbness in the lips, tongue and face which progresses to extremities
• Paralysis of limbs, loss of muscle co-ordination, constrictive sensation in the throat
• In high doses, paralysis can extend to the respiratory system, affecting breathing

PICTURED: HALF-TERM HOLIDAYS

People are making the best of the sunny spells at Lyme Regis, Dorset, during half term.

The popular seaside resort is much quieter than normal during school holidays as the third UK lockdown continues.

The area is staying dry today with highs of 10C before “prolonged rain” tomorrow, the Met Office says.

Credit: Alamy Live News

‘POLLEN BOMB’ POSSIBLE THIS WEEKEND

Hay fever sufferers have been warned a temperature surge could trigger a “pollen bomb”.

Temperatures could hit up to 17C by Saturday, which could cause a surge in pollen due to the switch from extreme cold to warmer weather.

The sudden change to spring-like temperatures could see clouds of allergens released into the air.

Airborne allergens expert Max Wiseberg said: “If we get weather that’s warmer than normal for the time of year this could create a mini pollen bomb with flurries of alder, hazel, elm and willow pollen exploding into the air.

“This would make a very early start to the hay fever season, so sufferers should ensure they’re adequately prepared,” he told the Telegraph.

YELLOW WEATHER WARNING: AFFECTED REGIONS

The following regions have been issued a yellow weather warning for rain for tomorrow:

• Central, Tayside & Fife
• SW Scotland, Lothian Borders
• Strathclyde
• South West England
• Wales

YELLOW WEATHER WARNING FOR RAIN

The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for rain for several regions tomorrow

Heavy rain may cause some flooding and travel disruption, it is warned.

Up to 60mm is expected in some areas.

DRY NIGHT

Showers are due to clear up tonight and it is expected to be a dry night for many.

But the rain is due to return tomorrow for some parts.

FORECAST FOR TOMORROW

There is more rain due tomorrow, which will be heavy and persistent in the west – especially over hills.

It’ll be mainly dry in central and eastern areas, though outbreaks of rain with spread east through the day.

It’ll be windy with coastal gales.

PICTURED: BROLLIES UP IN LONDON

A woman shelters under an umbrella during a rain shower in Greenwich Park, London, this morning.

And another member of the public walks his dog wearing full waterproofs to protect him from the drizzle.

The rain is expected to ease off in the capital this afternoon, with bright sunny spells.

Credit: London News Pictures

Credit: London News Pictures

THINGS ARE HOTTING UP

Temperatures around the country are warming up after a cold period and in some places they could reach the mid teens.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist Neil Armstrong said: “For the past week the UK has been in a very cold airmass with temperatures well below average.

“This will change through the weekend as milder air moves in from the Atlantic and pushes that cold airmass out into the North Sea. 

“From Monday the whole UK will be in the warmer air mass, with daytime temperatures reaching 12-13C in the south, replacing days which never got above freezing the week before.”

‘ICE WORMS’ ON ROAD SIDES

Freaky ‘ice worms’ have been spotted after freezing temperatures led to the phenomenon on roadside foliage.

The strange ‘worms’ happen when passing cars speed through puddles and spray water onto the vegetation in sub-freezing conditions.

When the water quickly freezes on the vegetation, it forms frozen tubes around the brambles, vines or twigs.

The images were taken by Karen Frank who spotted the icy tentacles on the side of the road in Sicklesmere, Suffolk.

Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

PICTURED: TREACHEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS

Driving conditions were treacherous on the A14 near Cambridge this morning after heavy rain.

Fields and roads near Ely in Cambridgeshire were flooded – with four more days of heavy rain expected.

Credit: GEOFF ROBINSON.

PICTURED: ROAD FINALLY CLEARED

Anthony Gleave and his son Arthur, three, canoeing along the flooded A1101 in Welney in Norfolk.

The road has finally cleared of water after two months of being submerged.

The first image was taken on December 27, 2020, and the second was taken today.

Credit: PA:Press Association

YELLOW WEATHER WARNING ISSUED

A further yellow weather warning has been issued for Saturday across parts of Scotland.

The Met Office warns of heavy rain casing some flooding and travel disruption between 12pm Saturday and 3am Sunday.

Journeys will take longer than normal and flooding of a few homes and businesses is likely.

EXTRA 40-MILE COMMUTE

A flooded road that was used by kayakers and even a jet ski over the winter has finally cleared of water after being submerged for two months.

One businessman who lives in the village of Welney in Norfolk said he had faced an extra 40 miles on his commute while the A1101 Welney Wash Road was under water.

Sports equipment company boss John Loveday has lived in the village all his life and his offices are five miles away in Littleport, Cambridgeshire.

But the 65-year-old said he had a 25-mile detour while the road was closed, upping his commute from 10 miles per day to 50.