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Leeds and Yorkshire braced for a winter whiteout
A swan lands on one of the frozen ponds at Fairburn Ings nature reserve, near Castleford.
Leeds was wrapping up warm today after weather experts warned: “It’s going to be all white on the night!”
Snow is forecast in the city this evening, with up to eight centimetres expected to fall in some areas.
Temperatures could also drop to minus 1C (30.2F) overnight.
The Met Office has put out a Yorkshire-wide severe weather warning that is due to stay in place until midday tomorrow.
It has also issued a level three alert about the possible effects of the cold snap.
The second most serious alert of its kind, it means conditions are expected to “impact on people’s health and on health services”.
Chris Burton, a forecaster with the Meteo Group, said much of tonight’s snow in Leeds would melt tomorrow, when temperatures are set to rise to around 5C (41F).
He also said, though, that with temperatures due to fall to minus 2C (28.4F) later tomorrow, ice, rather than snow, could be a problem going into Monday.
Leeds charity Bramley Elderly Action urged older people to make use of every resource available to them.
Manager Lee Ingham said: “We hear about people dying as a result of the cold weather and although it is shocking, sadly it does happen
“If I was an older person I would hopefully be thinking that this is a time to use my winter fuel payments and the cold weather payments that may follow.”
A Leeds City Council spokesman said gritters would remain on “high alert” throughout the weekend.
He went on: “If the snow does come as expected, we would urge all drivers to think about whether their journey is really necessary.”
The UK has it easy, however, compared to some other countries in Europe, where recent temperatures include minus 17C (1.4F) in the Czech capital of Prague.
* Leeds is being targeted by a Government-backed mailshot aiming to raise awareness of home energy grants.
Letters have been sent to 675,000 homes in the city and other parts of England suffering from high levels of fuel poverty.
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Weather for Leeds
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: East
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