Britain braced as blizzards follow gales
Britain is braced for a day of blizzards and snow storms after high winds caused havoc across the country.
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Overnight, a ferry was hit by a freak wave in the Irish Sea resulting in a dramatic rescue by the coastguard, RNLI and RAF when passengers and crew had to be airlifted off the stricken cargo vessel.
On Thursday, a 45-year-old man died when his HGV was swept into the central reservation of the M6 motorway near to junction 38 in Tebay, Cumbria.
Nine vehicles overturned between junctions 36 and 44 of the same motorway in Cumbria while similar problems affected many parts of Scotland. Temporary closures were enforced on the Forth Road Bridge and the Port of Dover where shipping movements were halted.
Nikki Berry, a forecaster for Meteogroup UK, said a blanket of snow is expected across parts of the country, starting in the north and moving down across the country hitting Wales and the west of England before moving across to the east Anglia region.
She said: "I think the message is everyone should be prepared."
Heavy snow is also predicted to fall in the far west and north of Scotland and Northern Ireland and motoring agencies are warning drivers to plan for their journeys carefully before leaving home, while council gritters are on high alert to keep the roads clear of ice.
An AA spokesman said: "Where possible, motorists should postpone car journeys until the weather clears, but those who do need to be out on the roads may find they need to cope with weather related hazards. Decreased visibility is one of those, so make sure you de-mist before you set off."
The Highways Agency said drivers should be prepared with warm clothing and an emergency pack, which includes food and water, boots, de-icer, a torch and a shovel.
Council gritters in northern England have been out in force overnight in a bid to combat the effects of the snowfall.
Chairman of the Local Government Association Transport and Regeneration Board, Councillor David Sparks, said: "Councils up and down the country are on high alert for the wintry weather forecast this week.
"The stockpiling of grit, combined with investment in new technology, means that local authorities will be able to tackle icy road conditions before they become potentially dangerous for drivers."
Meanwhile, weather statistics have revealed that this January was the wettest since 1995 - with only seven Januarys wetter in the past 100 years.
