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Snow forecast for London today as Met Office issues yellow weather warning

<p>A man clears snow from around a van which became stuck in a snow drift in Lamancha, Scotland</p> (Getty Images)

A man clears snow from around a van which became stuck in a snow drift in Lamancha, Scotland

(Getty Images)

A weather warning has been issued for London with snow and ice expected to grip the capital on Sunday.

The Met Office is predicting wintry showers to fall across the capital this weekend - with temperatures falling to as low as -3 or -4C on Saturday night.

It is reporting a 50 or 60 per cent chance of sleet or snow in London from around midday to 8pm on Sunday, with temperatures failing to rise above one or two degrees.

A yellow weather warning has been issued for throughout the day.

“An area of rain and snow will linger over southeast England Sunday leading to some icy stretches and some travel disruption,” it states.

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The anticipated snowfalls are unlikely to last with drier, but still cold, conditions expected for the early part of the week.

Chief forecaster Steve Willington said cold air from Iceland and the Arctic will bring with it “a mix of wintry hazards across the UK”.

He said: "In clearer conditions, overnight ice will remain a hazard, while a band of snow is likely to bring falls of 1-3cm quite widely across central areas of the UK, particularly the Cotswolds and higher ground in the East Midlands on Sunday.

"But snow outside these areas is also a potential hazard."

Across Britain, residents were being urged to heed flood warnings, with the Environment Secretary warning of the possibility of more “challenges” in parts of England due to wet weather next week.

There’s been hardly any snow on London this winter…but some did fall on the Millennium Bridge on January 13PA
There’s been hardly any snow on London this winter…but some did fall on the Millennium Bridge on January 13PA

In some areas along the River Severn, homeowners have been advised there could be flooding on Saturday, with some levels peaking at heights similar to the February washout last year.

In Worcester, at-risk householders are being contacted by the city council and offered rest-centre accommodation.

The Environment Agency has warned of “exceptionally high river levels” following days of heavy rainfall in the wake of Storm Christoph, with hundreds of properties across the country flooded.

Care home residents were among those evacuated in several areas across the North West, while, in Wales, a helicopter crew rescued a family trapped in their home due to fast-flowing floodwater.

River levels around Ironbridge in Shropshire were expected to peak at around 6.8m overnight.

In Bewdley, Worcestershire, the peak was expected early on Saturday, at a "slightly lower" level than February 2020, according to Dave Throup from the Environment Agency.

Rain is set to return next week, with the Met Office warning wet weather could “compound” the impacts felt in parts of the country already and Environment Secretary George Eustice saying it gives cause for concern at the potential for further flooding.

On a visit to Northwich in Cheshire, an area badly affected by the adverse weather, Eustice said that authorities were “watching closely” as water moves through the river system, including areas in Yorkshire, such as along the River Don and parts of the River Aire.

He told reporters on Friday: “The thing that concerns us most is that late next week we are expecting more rainfall, that falls on wet, soggy ground.

A man wades through flood water in Shrewsbury, western England after Storm Christoph brought heavy rains and flooding across the country AFP via Getty Images
A man wades through flood water in Shrewsbury, western England after Storm Christoph brought heavy rains and flooding across the country AFP via Getty Images

“It is possible that we therefore could have some additional challenges in a week's time.”

Chris Tubbs, deputy chief forecaster at the Met Office, said wet weather is likely to return from the middle of next week.

He said: “Once the certainty increases about which areas are most likely to be affected by potentially heavy rain, we may need to issue further warnings, especially if next week's rainfall is likely to compound the impacts from this week.”

Two severe flood warnings, signifying danger to life, remained in place for the River Dee at Farndon and the Lower Dee Valley from Llangollen to Trevalyn Meadows on Friday night.

There were more than 100 flood warnings and a similar number of less serious flood alerts in place in England, and three flood warnings and eight flood alerts issued in Wales.

Local authorities in Wales will offer payments of up to £1,000 per household to support those affected by flooding, First Minister Mark Drakeford has said.