Storm Darcy – live: Snow warnings issued as Beast from the East II closes vaccine centres

Up to 30cm of snow has been forecast

'Beast from the East II' hits UK with ice and snow

Wintery conditions look set to stay for most of the UK as the Beast from the East II lingers on into the start of the week. 

The Met Office have warned of potential travel disruption in parts of England, with amber weather warnings in place for London and the southeast, as well as the area surrounding Sheffield and Nottingham. 

Several vaccination centres were forced to shut in Suffolk and Essex, with the Essex Partnership University NHS Trust advising people: "If you would prefer not to travel in poor weather conditions, you can rearrange your appointment.”

Meanwhile, Public Health England (PHE) have issued a cold weather alert, in place until Wednesday, and are urging people to check on frail or older relatives and neighbours, especially those living alone.  

The bitterly cold conditions are a result of easterly winds coming in from Scandinavia, Russia and Ukraine. These have combined with a weather front named Storm Darcy and are now causing freezing temperatures in the UK.

Key points

• UK weather: Storm Darcy to bring snow as cold snap batters Britain
• Vaccination centres shut due to snow in Suffolk, Essex and Kent
• Police advise against travel as road become ‘impassable’
• ‘Code red’ emergency declared by authorities in the Netherlands following snow

[8 February 2021 08:33 · Eleanor Sly]

Good morning

Welcome to The Independent's live coverage on Storm Darcy...

[8 February 2021 08:46 · Eleanor Sly]

‘Monday will start cold for all’ says Met Office

[8 February 2021 08:55 · Eleanor Sly]

UK weather: Storm Darcy to bring snow as cold snap batters Britain

Heavy snow and ice are set to continue through the week as the UK endures a cold snap, brought by the so-called “Beast from the East II.”

The majority of England and Scotland are under snow and ice warnings, with Met Office severe amber snow warnings in place for London and southeast England. 

Eleanor Sly has more here:

[8 February 2021 09:20 · Eleanor Sly]

The Met Office has warned that the UK could see travel disruption, including the possibility of “long delays and cancellations on bus, rail and air travel.” 

They added: “There is a good chance that roads may become blocked by deep snow, with many stranded vehicles and passengers likely.” 

The forecaster has released two amber weather warnings for the UK, one for London and the southeast, the other stretching from Nottingham to Sheffield and out to Lincolnshire. 

Southeastern railways also issued a warning against travelling on its trains on Monday. The railway company tweeted saying: “We strongly advise that you do not attempt to travel on our network today.”

Many of their services will not be operating today and there will be no alternative transport, such as buses, supplied. 

[8 February 2021 09:45 · Eleanor Sly]

London Ambulance Service tells people: ‘wrap up warm'

[8 February 2021 10:13 · Eleanor Sly]

Several vaccination centres have been affected by the snow in Suffolk, Essex and Kent. 

These include Clacton Hospital, Colchester United's stadium, Gainsborough Sports Centre in Ipswich, and Chevington Close in Bury St Edmunds.

Centres in Debenham, Haverhill, Ipswich (Trinity Park), Stowmarket and Woodbridge were also shut as a result of the wintery weather.

Other testing centres, for people without symptoms, are closed today. These are in Bury St Edmunds, Lowestoft and at the University of Suffolk in Ipswich. 

Meanwhile in Kent, a testing site at the Guildhall in Sandwich has also been shut.

(PA)

[8 February 2021 10:45 · Eleanor Sly]

England currently has 31 flood warnings and 145 further flood alerts in place across the country. 

These include in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. 

Meanwhile in Cupar in Fife, Scotland, the River Eden burst its banks, flooding a park.

[8 February 2021 11:13 · Eleanor Sly]

Wintery weather is not just affecting the UK, with transport disrupted in Germany and the Netherlands due to snow and icy conditions. 

Trucks were stuck in snow drifts overnight near Gera in eastern Germany while German railway operator, Deutsche Bahn, said that services had been suspended across central and northern parts of the country. 

They also said there would be no long-distance trains running northeast from Frankfurt, west from Berlin or southwest from Hamburg. 

In the Netherlands, the Dutch railway operator NS said it was operating a “very limited service” on Monday.

[8 February 2021 11:35 · Eleanor Sly]

A selection of your photos of the snow

[8 February 2021 12:12 · Eleanor Sly]

Police are warning people to avoid travel as roads have become “impassable” because of settled snow. 

Suffolk Highways said conditions were "worsening" while in Norfolk one driver had to be dug out of his car when he became trapped in a snowdrift. 

Victoria Lawrence told the PA news agency her husband Steve had been driving when: "He got stuck at 5:45am and [the snow has] just drifted over the car since. Thankfully a friend dug him out and he is now having a much-needed cup of tea.”

Road closures have been announced across England in Cumbria, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Lincolnshire and Derbyshire. 

The AA said the "treacherous driving conditions" have led to "numerous" accidents on the roads.

An AA spokesman Ben Sheridan advised people against travel saying: "Roads will be lethal where snow and ice has hit the UK.”