North takes a battering as South blooms in sun
IT was a nation divided yesterday as snow and 90mph-plus winds battered northern counties while the South basked in mild temperatures and sunshine.
In the North, Storm Conor, the third named storm to hit the UK this winter, delivered a Boxing Day parting shot.
Heavy downpours and plunging temperatures triggered heavy snow and blizzards.
There were dustings of snow in Nenthead, Cumbria and in Edinburgh.
Southern Britain, though, enjoyed another mild and sunny day following one of the warmest Christmases ever.
After a week of crazy weather things are about to calm down although it will turn much colder in the coming days, forecasters say. Daytime temperatures will hover in single figures while the mercury nosedives below freezing overnight around the country.
The Met Office said much more settled conditions could spark problems with thick fog towards the middle of the week.
Forecaster Greg Dewhurst said: “We have a few days of settled weather ahead as high pressure builds over the country.
“It will feel colder with the risk of quite widespread overnight frosts returning.
“On Tuesday and into Wednesday the main focus may be on dense fog which may not clear at all through Wednesday.
“As high pressure becomes established and things calm down, the air will be much more still which is why we expect this build-up.” Yesterday’s fierce gales came after winds nudged 150mph in exposed regions on Christmas Day.
Motorists heading home after the festive celebrations faced long delays. Coastal regions were put on flood alert as powerful winds threatened to send huge waves crashing over defences.
Blackpool took a battering yesterday with waves washing over its sea walls.
WeatherOnline forecaster Garry Nicholson said Britons should wrap up for a chilly New Year and start to 2017.
He added: “Most places will be dry throughout this week, however rain spreads from the north-west by the New Year weekend. Then it is likely to turn colder as we start 2017.”