Beast from the East II strikes UK: Vaccination centres are forced to CLOSE
Beast from the East II strikes UK: Vaccination centres in Colchester, Ipswich and Clacton are forced to CLOSE as heavy snow and gales from Storm Darcy hit the South East and threaten days of travel chaos and power cuts
- Met Office has warned of ‘significant disruptive snowfall’ as Britons in South East England face power cuts
- Yellow snow and ice warnings have been issued for eastern parts of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and Kent today
- Bitterly cold 50mph gales from Russia and Ukraine dubbed ‘mini Beast from the East’ will tear across Britain
Coronavirus vaccination centres have been forced to close early today as heavy snow causes travel chaos and power cuts across Britain today as Storm Darcy rolls across Europe from Russia.
The centre at Clacton Hospital has shut while Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust tweeted that its jab centre at Jobserve Community Stadium in Colchester closed from 1.30pm due to snow.
A site at the Gainsborough Sports Centre in Ipswich closed at 1pm, the trust added, while five Covid-19 vaccination centres run by Suffolk GP Federation will also close early.
However, vaccination sites across Norfolk and Waveney are set to remain open, with Dr Anoop Dhesi, chairman of Norfolk and Waveney Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), saying: ‘We are doing everything possible to prepare for everything the weather throws at us over the next few days.’
Southeastern Rail strongly advised passengers not to attempt to travel on its network today or tomorrow after announcing that the Maidstone East line will be closed tomorrow due to the ‘severity of the forecast’.
The Met Office has warned of ‘significant disruptive snowfall’ in London and the South East, especially parts of East Anglia and Kent, as the ‘Beast from the East 2’ coats southern parts of England in snow.
Yellow and amber warnings for snow and ice for parts of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Kent will remain in place until 9am tomorrow as areas experience 20cm of snow – while 158 flood alerts and 39 warnings have been put out.
Bitterly cold 50mph winds from Ukraine and the Black Sea will tear across Britain, with temperatures plummeting to -10C as Storm Darcy, which was named by Dutch forecasters, sweeps across Northern Europe.
Snow will continue falling over the North East of England, while higher ground in parts of Central and Eastern Scotland experience snowfall yesterday. Rain at lower levels in Scotland has caused some flooding already.
There will be further snow across South East England tonight, while snow showers are forecast to continue in the North East – with very cold gales and snow showers expected in the East and North East on Monday.
COLCHESTER: The NHS Covid-19 vaccination centre at the Jobserve Community Stadium in Colchester
COLCHESTER: The NHS Covid-19 vaccination centre at the Jobserve Community Stadium in Colchester
ESSEX: Heavy snow has hit Britain today, with Colchester, Essex blanketed in the white stuff as Storm Darcy lashes the nation
Meteorologist Sarah Kent said: ‘There will be significant disruptive snowfall across the South East. There is a small chance particularly over the Downs of Kent and the North Downs that you could see 25-30cm of snow.
‘It is a small chance but the threat is there, up to a foot of snow potentially combined with extremely strong easterly winds. Even inland in that area, gusting could be 45mph and higher than that on the coasts.
‘This could lead to significant drifting of any lying snow and obviously blizzards for the snow coming past you for anyone who is attempting to travel.’
Met Office Chief Meteorologist Paul Gundersen said: ‘The UK is in for a notably cold and snowy period over the next week, with very cold air in place over the whole of the UK by Sunday.
‘Showers will see snow accumulating across eastern areas. More widespread snow is expected and we could see 5-10 cm of snow quite widely, with a chance that a few places could see 20 cm or more. With such severe weather around it’s important to keep up to date with the latest forecast.’
There will be strong easterly winds during this period which may lead to blizzard conditions and blowing and drifting of lying snow at times.
Daytime temperatures will stay in low single figures for much of the country over coming days, with some places staying below freezing and the bitter winds will make it feel even colder.
Cold Weather Alerts are in place across England, with temperatures across the UK falling as the cold air moves in, widespread overnight frosts and wind chill making daytime temperatures feel freezing.
The A12 northbound was shut near Chelmsford after two cars crashed in Storm Darcy. Heavy snow has hit Essex today
ESSEX: Cars have crashed on the A12 near Chelmsford as Storm Darcy lashed the South East of England
KENT: James Ring uses a surf board to sledge down a snow covered hill in Wye National Nature Reserve near Ashford
SUSSEX: Blizzard conditions for walkers and dogs on Ashdown Forest , East Sussex today
James Ring uses a surf board to sledge down a snow covered hill in Wye National Nature Reserve near Ashford in Kent, with heavy snow set to bring disruption to south-east England and East Anglia
Robert Simon, aged 9, pulls his sister Anna Simon, aged 6, through the snow in Bessels Green near Sevenoaks as snow hits England
KENT: A skier makes their way through the snow in Wye National Nature Reserve near Ashford in Kent
CONSETT: Snow covered cars in Consett, County Durham this morning after overnight snowfall in the wake of Storm Darcy
KENT: People enjoy the fresh snow in Wye National Nature Reserve near Ashford in Kent
LONDON: People walk across the Millennium Bridge during snowfall in London
SEVENOAKS: Two people take a photograph of a snowman in Knole Park in Sevenoaks, England
CONSETT: A gritter travels along a snow covered road in Consett, County Durham this morning
Snow scenes in Nenthead, Cumbria, this afternoon as Stormy Darcy ravages the UK with heavy snow and gales in the South East
REDCAR: Huge waves crash over the South Gare lighthouse near Redcar
ESSEX: Snow covered beach huts at Walton-on-the-Naze in Essex
CANTERBURY: Blizzard conditions have caused a crash in Canterbury, Kent this morning as Storm Darcy lashes Britain
CANTERBURY: Blizzard conditions have caused a crash in Canterbury, Kent this morning as Storm Darcy lashes Britain
ESSEX: An ambulance drives through the snow in Essex this morning as Storm Darcy lashes Britain
LYDDEN: A young girl rolls a ball of snow to make a snowman in Lydden, Kent as Storm Darcy lashes Britain
STOWMARKET: Stowmarket in Suffolk was blanketed in snow this morning as Storm Darcy rolls across Northern Europe
A pair of chilly-looking dog-walkers and a pet at Gatton Hill near Reigate as the “Beast from the East 2” brings snow flurries to the south-east
KENT: People walk near Dover Castle during a snowfall in Kent as Storm Darcy lashes Britain
ESSEX: People walking down the road in Colchester, Essex today as Storm Darcy rolls across Europe
ESSEX: As Storm Darcy arrives in Essex today the roads to the Tendring area of the county are covered
ESSEX: A cyclist goes down a snowy road in Colchester, Essex today
WASKERLEY: A cyclist rides along a snow covered road in Waskerley, County Durham this morning
DURHAM: Huge waves crash over Seaham lighthouse in Durham as Storm Darcy sends Arctic conditions from the East
ESSEX: Snow covered beach huts at Walton-on-the-Naze in Essex
ESSEX: As Storm Darcy arrives in Essex this morning the roads to the Tendring area of the county are covered in snow
KENT: A van makes its snow-covered journey down the A252 near to Charing in Kent
LONDON: Snowfall on Hampstead Heath as Storm Darcy brings snow to large parts of the South of England
SEVENOAKS: Two men run through the snow in Knole Park in Sevenoaks, England
SEVENOAKS: A man sledges down a snowy slope in Knole Park in Sevenoaks, England
SEVENOAKS: Luna the dog enjoys her first experience of snow, in Knole Park
SEVENOAKS: People walk through the snow in Knole Park on February 7, 2021 in Sevenoaks, England
KENT: People enjoy the fresh snow in Wye National Nature Reserve near Ashford in Kent
SEVENOAKS: People walk through the snow in Knole Park in Sevenoaks, England
KENT: People enjoy the fresh snow in Wye National Nature Reserve near Ashford in Kent
Heavy snow is set to bring disruption to south-east England and East Anglia as bitterly cold winds grip much of the nation
LONDON: People walking their dogs as they battle heavy snow flurries on Wimbledon Common
CASTLESIDE: A dog walker enjoys a walk in the snow in Castleside, County Durham this morning after overnight snowfall
CASTLESIDE: Snow covered rooftops in Castleside, County Durham this morning after overnight snowfall
LONDON: A gritting lorry spreads salt during a snow shower Blackheath Common
WASKERLEY: Dog walkers enjoy a walk in the snow in Waskerley, County Durham this morning
IPSWICH: Snow falls on the A14 near Ipswich, with heavy snow set to bring disruption to South East England and East Anglia
ESSEX: Snow falls in around St Edmund King & Martyr church in Tendring in Essex
DERBYSHIRE: Snow covers the ground around Bretton in Derbyshire
ESSEX: A car is seen driving down the road in Essex today as Storm Darcy lashes Britain
CHARING: Snow covered vehicles in Charing in Kent, with heavy snow set to bring disruption to South East England
CANTERBURY: Snow on the A2 near Canterbury as Storm Darcy brings up to four days of freezing weather to Britain
CANTERBURY: Snow in Canterbury, Kent this morning as Storm Darcy – dubbed the Beast from the East 2 – hits parts of Britain
CONSETT: A motorist clears snow from a car in Consett, County Durham this morning after overnight snowfall
CLACTON: Walkers trudging through the snow in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex after overnight snow as Storm Darcy strikes
CANTERBURY: Snow falling in Canterbury, Kent as Storm Darcy rolls across Northern Europe from Russia and Ukraine
Yellow and amber warnings for snow and ice have been issued for parts of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and Kent
The Environment Agency has put out 158 flood alerts and 39 warnings as Storm Darcy lashes the UK
Pictured: Met Office forecasts for Sunday (left) and Monday (right) as temperatures stay in the low single figures
Dr Owen Landeg, Group Leader, Extreme Events and Health Protection at PHE, said: ‘Cold weather isn’t just uncomfortable it can have a serious impact on health. For older people and those with heart and lung problems it can increase the risks of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections.
‘So, it’s really crucial at this time to remember to check on frail or older neighbours or relatives, especially those living alone or who have serious illnesses.
‘Make a call, or socially-distanced doorstep visit if they live close by, to remind them of some simple but important health tips such as heating their home to at least 18C and to keep up to date with the forecast.
‘It’s also helpful to check they have enough food and drinks and any medicines they need. This will help them to stay warm and stay well.’
The cold air is likely to remain in place through next week, bringing the continued risk of snow showers, particularly in the east.
Last year KNMI – the national weather forecasting service in the Netherlands – joined the Met Office and Met Éireann in the west Europe storm naming group.
Other European countries to name impactful storms include France, Spain and Portugal in South West Europe and Sweden, Norway and Denmark in Northern Europe.
IPSWICH: The Met Office tweeted photos of a snowy street in Ipswich this morning
CLACTON: Residents in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex film videos of the snow this morning after an overnight blizzard
CLACTON: Snowfall in Clacton, Essex this morning as Storm Darcy sweeps across Northern Europe and lashes Britain
WHITSTABLE: Snowfall in Whitstable, Kent this morning as the ‘Beast from the East 2’ lashes Britain for the next four days
HEALEYFIELD: Sheep gather on snow covered fields in County Durham this morning as Storm Darcy rolls across Britain
HEALEYFIELD: Snow scenes in Healeyfield, County Durham this morning following a night of snowfall
STOWMARKET: Snow falls on the A14 near Stowmarket, with snow set to bring disruption to South East England
IPSWICH: Snow falls on the A14 near Ipswich, with heavy snow set to bring disruption to South East England and East Anglia
ALDERTON: A walker trudging through snow in Alderton, Gloucestershire uploaded photos to Twitter this morning
