UK weather forecast – Snow tonight before Storm Dennis brings 60mph gales for THREE days
SNOW will blast Britain tonight before 60 mph gales whip up more chaos across the country with Storm Dennis clamping down in Ciara’s wake.
A yellow weather warning for heavy snow and strong winds is in place for Northern Ireland and most of Scotland, while a yellow warning of snow and ice is in force for north-west England on Tuesday.
Forecasters said some areas could see blizzards with up to 7.9in (20cm) of snow.
It comes after Brits were battered with Storm Ciara last weekend.
As the country recovers from the 97mph gales and widespread flooding, the UK will be battening down the hatches for another spell of disruptive weather.
Dennis will follow a similar pattern to Ciara although Government forecasters say impacts are unlikely to be as severe.
It is the fourth named storm to hit Britain this season and will be pulled in by a 250mph jet stream, according to the Met Office.
Spokesman Oli Claydon said: “Storm Dennis will bring widespread winds and very wet conditions this weekend.
“It is following a similar pattern to Storm Ciara with low pressure coming in from the northwest, but we do not expect it to be as severe.
“However we will see inland gusts of 57mph quite widely and further very heavy rain on saturated ground there could be issues with flooding.
“Like Ciara, this storm is being pulled in by the jet stream which is amplifying and passing over Britain at around 250mph.”
Chief Meteorologist Steve Ramsdale said: “Another spell of very wet and windy ?weather is expected for Saturday. Although Storm Dennis is currently not expected to be as severe as Ciara, disruption is still likely.
“Our confidence in the forecast means we have been able to issue severe weather warnings well in advance, giving people time to prepare for potential impacts of the storm.”
Meanwhile, the Government has activated an emergency financial aid package for areas devastated by Storm Ciara.
Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick said: “I have activated the emergency Bellwin scheme to support communities affected by Storm Ciara in West Yorkshire, Cumbria and Lancashire.”
Under the Bellwin scheme, local authorities dealing with the effects of the storm can apply to have some of their costs reimbursed by the Government.
Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers told MPs that more than 500 properties are believed to have been flooded during Storm Ciara, with the number expected to rise further.
She told the Commons: “Particularly severe impacts have been felt in Yorkshire along the River Calder, in Lancashire along the River Ribble, in Great Manchester along the Irwell, and in Appleby on the Eden”.
“The latest number of properties confirmed to have been flooded are 40 in Cumbria, 100 in Lancashire, 150 in Greater Manchester and 260 in Yorkshire.
It comes after three lives were claimed by Britain’s wild weather.
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In Liverpool, Merseyside Police confirmed a man died after he was hit by a falling tree branch in Black Wood, Woolton, on Tuesday.
A spokesman said: “The man, who is in his 60s and from the Liverpool area, has now been identified and his next of kin have been informed.”
And yesterday, a 77-year-old Glasgow man slipped and died in icy conditions caused by Storm Ciara after a 58-year-old driver was crushed by a falling tree branch on the A38 near Winchester.
