LONDON will be hit by an 18C Saharan heat bomb in the coming days, the Met Office has revealed.
Bringing a freezing February to a distinctly mild end, the temperature rise will be felt across the UK – although nowhere will be warmer than the capital as the month draws to a close.
The Met Office said that the weather is going to be “unsettled” this week – with two yellow weather warnings for rain across Scotland on Tuesday – but the rest of the UK seems to be in the all-clear.
Temperatures picked up this weekend, with highs of 16C in the south of England – and the mercury is set to stay in the mid-teens until next weekend.
But don’t set your winter clothes aside for the year just yet – there is a chance of yet more snow returning in March.
A Met Office spokesperson suggested snow could return in early March and that it was “more likely” to strike closer to Easter than Christmas.
They said snowy conditions during March couldn’t be ruled out “meteorologically”, adding: “March generally has more days of snow than November so it’s perhaps not surprising if we get colder weather.”
Follow our weather live blog below for the latest news and updates from around the country
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FLOODS IN WALES
In Wales, footage shared on social media showed a swollen river at Pontypridd, while other videos revealed flooded parts of Carmarthen where the River Towy burst its banks.
Malcolm Rees, 54, a coracle boat maker in Carmarthen, said one of his sheds was submerged in one metre deep floodwater.
A spokesperson for Natural Resources Wales said the areas most affected by flood warnings were in Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion, with some residents evacuated by the fire service in Newcastle Emlyn.
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HUNDREDS OF FLOOD WARNINGS IN PLACE
The Environment agency issued 106 flood warnings and alerts throughout England and Wales from Monday that remain in place until Wednesday.
Yellow weather warnings are in place across Scotland as the UK is bracing for an “unsettled” week of heavy rainfall and spells of sunshine.
Heavy downpours and strong winds are set to sweep across western, central, and northern parts of England, but it becomes bright in the west through Monday.
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BUSY SEAFRONT
Yesterday, the seafront at West Bay in Dorset was busy with people out exercising.
Sunday was the last day of the February half term holidays during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to announce a roadmap out of lockdown, with more details due to be released today.
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FORECAST FOR TONIGHT
The Met Office’s weather forecast for tonight says: “Rain, some heavy, pushing across many northern areas by morning.
“Clear spells elsewhere although low cloud and patchy fog in southeast.
“Becoming windy with gales in the north and west.”
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TIPS TO DRIVE SAFELY IN HEAVY RAIN
Keith Hawes, director at Nationwide Vehicle Contracts, has put together a few tips for driving in heavy rain – from preparation before setting off to things to look out for while on the road.
- Double your stopping distance
- Wiper blades
- Tyre treads
- Use your lights
- Avoid areas known to flood
- Fully defog (demist) your windshield and windows
- Remember that splashing pedestrians is illegal
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HOUSE EVACUATED IN CORNWALL
The landslide drama in Cornwall happened in the seaside village of Porthtowan, with a house evacuated and cordoned off after a huge pile of rock and earth slid down the cliff and threatened to engulf it.
The landslip in Beach Road came after hours of continuous heavy rain.
Tolvaddon community fire station’s crew rushed to the scene, and one neighbour said the family living in the house directly in the firing line had been evacuated.
Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service tweeted: “Landslide affecting a property in the Porthtowan area. Building control are also in attendance.”
Porthtowan sits in a deep valley surrounded by cliffs and heathland which is saturated by the constant rain.
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BRITS WALKING ON BEACHES WARNED TO TAKE ‘EXTRA CARE’
The RNLI warned people walking on beaches to take extra care when there are ‘dangerous’ and ‘unpredictable’ winter seas.
They said: “If you’re lucky enough to live near the coast and be in a position to take your exercise there in line with local COVID-19 restrictions, please do be careful near cliffs.
“Some of them are really unstable at the moment and could easily collapse.
“Stay well back, wear appropriate sturdy footwear and ensure that you check tide times and weather before setting out.”
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CLIFFS CRUMBLING BECAUSE OF STORMS AND TORRENTIAL RAIN
Cliffs are crumbling because of the constant pounding from storms and torrential rain, coastguards warned today.
Terrified people had to be evacuated when homes were threatened by tons of earth and rock after a landslide in Cornwall during the weekend bad weather battering.
And this morning the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the RNLI issued a joint safety warning urging people to stay away from the base of cliffs.
The agency said “We’re noticing a lot of cliff slippage and subsidence due to the recent heavy rainfall.
“It’s especially important at this time to remain at a safe distance from the base of cliffs and cliff edges. If you see anyone in trouble on the cliffs, beach or sea, please dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.”
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MONDAY OUTLOOK
Sunny spells will develop in the west today, the Met Office said.
Cloud and patchy rain will gradually move east.
Temperatures in the southeast will be mild.
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WEATHER FORECAST FOR MONDAY
The Met Office’s weather forecast for today says: “A band of cloud and occasional rain lying across Wales, western England, and southeast
“Scotland edging slowly southeast to reach the far southeast by evening.
“Sunny spells following, although with showers for northwest Scotland. Mild in the southeast.”
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RAINY TUESDAY
TOMORROW will see outbreaks of rain, some heavy and persistent, across the north.
It will be drier and brighter in the southeast.
In Scotland, Tuesday will be Windy, with severe gales. It is likely to be mild everywhere.
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RAIN TONIGHT
THERE will be rain tonight, with some heavy downpours, pushing across northern areas by the morning.
Elsewhere, where will be clear spells elsewhere but low cloud and patchy fog in southeast.
It will become windy with gales in the north and west.
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CLOUDS IN WALES
CLOUDS and occasional rain will lay across Wales, western England, and southeast Scotland today.
It will edge slowly southeast by evening.
Sunny spells are set to follow, but showers will hit northwest Scotland. It will be mild in the southeast.
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