Severe weather has led to road closures and school shutdowns across the UK
Lincolnshire: The weather has really thrown a wrench in things lately. Warnings for snow and ice are all over the UK, causing a lot of trouble with travel and school closures. A yellow warning is in effect for most of south-west England and Wales, and it’s expected to last until 10 am on Tuesday.
Scotland and Northern Ireland are also feeling the pinch, with warnings in place until midday and 11 am, respectively. East Midlands Ambulance has declared a critical incident for the first time, mainly due to flooding.
On Monday night, Lincolnshire authorities declared a major incident, warning that more flooding could happen. They reported 40 flood warnings and 29 alerts, with 62 properties already affected.
Officials are keeping a close eye on the situation, especially in areas that might see more tidal flooding. Emergency services are on standby near Stamford, where 49 properties are at risk from the West Glen River.
The Environment Agency has issued a severe flood warning for the River Soar, which poses a danger to life near caravan parks in Leicestershire. Across England, there are nearly 200 flood warnings and about 300 alerts.
Commuters had a rough time on Monday, with major roads closed and train services disrupted. Firefighters in Leicestershire had to rescue 59 people, and sadly, a man was found deceased in North Yorkshire due to the flooding.
Police are working to identify the man and notify his family, but they’ve confirmed there’s nothing suspicious about his death. At a primary school in Lincolnshire, parents were told to stay away until the end of the day, with fire brigade vehicles ready to help kids through the floodwaters.
Hundreds of schools across the country, including those in Lancashire, Yorkshire, and north-east Scotland, have closed. In Parliament, environment minister Emma Hardy said flooding is a top priority for her, especially in Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Warwickshire, and Nottinghamshire.
She warned of more localized flooding in the next day or so and promised to revamp the government’s approach to funding flood defenses to better protect communities.
