Britain wakes to another morning cloaked in freezing mist
Freezing fog will get WORSE tonight: Met Office issues fresh warning after gloom sparks second day of travel chaos with 11-vehicle pile-up on the M25
- Yellow weather warning for fog continues into this morning for the South and East coast up to Lincolnshire
- Brits wake up to temperatures as low as -2C in Norwich after low of -5.4C in Scottish Highlands on Monday
- Fog to clear as showers set to move from Scotland further south across England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Britain can expect freezing conditions to continue as the Met Office has issued a fresh fog warning for parts of the country after bad weather caused travel chaos this morning.
The country was blighted for a second morning as Brits awoke to more freezing fog and temperatures at zero in London but weather experts have warned this is set to thicken and become more widespread this evening.
The Met Office has said people should expect delays on the road and rail networks and that heavy fog could delay flights this evening with the yellow fog warning in place from 4pm.
Freezing temperatures overnight were followed by a blanket of fog this morning, with a weather warning for travel disruption stretching from the South coast to the East coast, up to Lincolnshire.
Police were dealing with a serious crash involving up to 11 vehicles on the M25 in Buckinghamshire this morning, as motorists queued in the difficult conditions.
Twelve people – all men – were injured in the accident, with one having to be cut free from the wreckage.
But it’s believed none has life-threatening injuries and the motorway has now re-opened after the southbound carriageway was closed for more than two hours.
Today’s cold start comes as odds shortened on a White Christmas in London and other parts of the country to as low as 3-1.
Temperatures were below freezing in Norwich, Peterborough and Southampton this morning as the mercury reached a low of -5.4C in Tulloch Bridge in Scotland on Monday.
A weather warning remains in place for downpours in the Scottish Highlands today, after the Met Office forecast up to 50mm of rain could fall within 24 hours.
Pictured: Traffic being held on the M25 in Buckinghamshire following an 11-vehicle crash in the fog earlier this morning
Cyclists were braving the dangerous conditions, despite a dense fog over London reducing visibility during the morning commute
It was a cold and foggy start in London today, including on the A3 at the Kingston Bypass, as Britons awoke to freezing temperatures and a yellow warning for fog that could cause disruption to journeys
Fog and frosty starts are expected to clear as this week stretches on, with wind and rain set to be followed by milder weather
What is freezing fog and why has it been seen in Britain for so many days?
Fog is a ground level cloud, caused by very small water droplets suspended in the air which sees visibility reduce to less than 1,100 yards (1,000m).
Britain has experienced freezing fog for a few days in a row now, with temperatures hovering around 0C (32F) in much of the country.
It is formed when the land cools overnight under clear skies, and the heat then radiates back into space – leading to cooling at the surface of the earth.
This means the air is less able to hold moisture, so water vapour condenses into tiny water droplets – leading to fog.
When fog forms in sub-zero conditions, the tiny water droplets in the air remain as liquid – and become ‘supercooled’ water droplets because the liquid needs a surface to freeze on.
Freezing fog tends to happen when temperatures are around freezing along with clear skies and calm conditions – which has now been the case for nearly a week in much of Britain, since heavy rain last Thursday.
Fog becomes much more noticeable in ‘thick fog’ when visibility drops below 200 yards (180m), while travel disruption often occurs under ‘dense fog’ which is when visibility is under 55 yards (50m) over a wide area.
Thicker fog normally happens in industrial areas where the air contains more pollution particles, which makes it easier for water droplets to coalesce and grow.
At least eleven vehicles including a lorry were involved in a huge pile-up on the M25 this morning as freezing fog caused chaos across Britain.
The crash, which took place at around 7am today, is reported to involve at least eight cars, a lorry, a van and a caravan near Chalfont Viaduct.
With police begging drivers to slow down in the reduced visibility, vehicles slammed into each other on the clockwise carriageway.
Traffic cops had to close the stretch just past junction 16, the interchange with the M40 in Buckinghamshire.
MailOnline has approached Thames Valley Police to see if there were any injuries as a result of the pile-up.
The Met Office has forecast rain in the north and fog in the south east today as temperatures remain chilly.
But the fog warning, which should end at around 11am, is most likely to cause problems.
Met Office guidance for today reads: ‘The visibility is likely to be less than 100 m in places leading to difficult driving conditions and some disruption to transport. The odd icy stretch is also possible.’
Its full forecast for the day adds: ‘Outbreaks of rain across Scotland, moving south to affect parts of Northern Ireland, northern England and Wales. Some showers in the southwest and also the far southeast. Some sunny spells elsewhere, but fog patches slow to clear and feeling cold.
Evening fog is expected to clear in the south east later today with cloud and patchy rain moving in. Frost may settle in western parts as clearer skies approach.
Temperatures are expected to settle and become milder by the weekend, after wet and windy weather on Wednesday and Thursday.
While freezing fog has blighted parts of the country, parts of West Derby in Merseyside has been left underwater after heavy rainfall last night.
Pictures from the scene show drivers have been forced to abandon their vehicles after their cars were submerged in flood water and fire crews are on scene.
Paddy Power has cut odds on the chances of a White Christmas across Britain.
Odds in London now sitting at 4-1, down from 11-2 yesterday.
A Paddy Power spokesman said: ‘The odds for snow on Christmas day have shortened in a few different areas due to the recent cold snap.
‘The good news is that might mean you’re trapped in your house on the 25th, the bad news is it might mean you’re trapped with some pesky in-laws, too. It might make you wish for a one-household Christmas after all.’
As Britons awoke to freezing temperatures this morning, the Met Office has kept its weather warnings for fog and rain in England and Scotland today
Commuter trains were barely visible from a distance as fog blanketed railway lines in Wimbledon on Tuesday morning
Londoners returned to work this following the easing of lockdown restrictions last Wednesday, the Capital remains in Tier 2
The Met Office warned there could also be some icy patches on the road this morning as England awoke from freezing temperatures overnight
There was dense fog in Oxfordshire this morning as the Met Office warned visibility could drop to less than 100m ‘leading to difficult driving conditions and some disruption to transport’
Fog covered parts of London as an 11-vehicle pile-up caused chaos for motorists travelling on the M25 in Buckinghamshire
Foggy conditions in Dunsden today follow similar sights on the roads yesterday, which caused accidents in Wiltshire, Wolverhampton and North Yorkshire
Londoners awoke to temperatures of zero degrees this morning, but milder conditions are expected to arrive later on this week
Visibility was severely cut in a thick blanket of freezing fog over Blackhouse Woods in Berkshire on Tuesday morning
Heavy rainfall has caused serious flooding in West Derby, Liverpool, today as motorists are caught in deep flood water
Several roads in Merseyside are completely submerged after some heavy rainfall overnight leaving some drivers stranded
Emergency services have said they are dealing with several reports of flooding and road closures are in place in West Derby
Vehicles have been left stranded in parts of West Derby in Merseyside after becoming partially submerged in flood water
Fire crews are believed to be on scene to assist drivers who have become stranded and to deal with flooding in Merseyside
Odds of a White Christmas in London were at 11/2 yesterday, but have been cut to 4/1 following the South’s recent cold snap
The shortest odds are in Scotland, with odds of 3/1 in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Dundee.
There are odds of 4/1 in London and Dublin and 5/1 in Leeds, Liverpool and Birmingham.
Fog patches yesterday caused havoc on Britain’s roads, including in Wiltshire, where a ‘death trap’ van was left stranded on the M4.
Traffic police said with visibility cut by the blanket of freezing fog, and no overhead lights on that stretch, motorists would not have seen the turned-turtle van in the pitch dark.
Amazingly, vehicles managed to swerve round it and a tragedy was narrowly avoided – police cars raced to the scene at to cone off the van and flag down traffic.
Elsewhere on the roads, a driver escaped with only minor injuries unharmed after veering off a misty road in Saltersgate Bank, near Scarborough in North Yorkshire.
Fog is remaining in place well into the mornings this week due to continuing cold conditions.
Cloudy and frosty conditions mean keep dew in the air, with it only able to evaporate as temperatures climb throughout the day.
Once the mercury rises, the fog can start to clear.
A swimmer leaves the Serpentine Lake in Hyde Park during cold and foggy weather, in London despite freezing temperatures
Rain is expected to move southwards as this week progresses, bringing an end to the cold snap being experienced across Britain
Fog patches made for an eerie scene on Wimbledon Common this morning as London experienced freezing temperatures
Dog walkers and jogger still braved the elements on a misty Wimbledon Common, as freezing temperatures mean fog takes longer to evaporate
Fog is expected to clear by around 11am today, with evening fog also lifting, before milder conditions arrive later this week
After a misty start in Windlesham, Surrey, this morning odds have shortened on a White Christmas, with odds of just 3-1 in Scotland
Temperatures are expected to settle and become milder by the weekend, after wet and windy weather on Wednesday
