Heavy fog grips Britain in freezing start to Valentine's Day

‘Freezing fog’ chaos: Airports cancel or delay flights on chilly start to Valentine’s Day before temperatures soar to 17C this afternoon

• The Met Office has a yellow warning of heavy fog in place over most of England
• It is feared the thick mists could cause travel chaos for commuters this morning
• The fog is expected to life this afternoon, while temperatures will spike to 17C 

Millions of Britons stepped out onto to streets cloaked in fog this morning, as Valentine’s Day got off to a chilly start with temperatures below freezing.

The Met Office’s yellow warning covers much of England – stretching from Exeter in the southwest all the way to Newcastle upon Tyne – with fears the thick mists could cause travel chaos for commuters.

The weather forecaster warns of ‘delays or cancellations to flights’ as well as ‘slower journey times with delays to bus and train services possible’.

But despite the glum start to the day, temperatures are expected to rise quickly after the fog lifts at 10am – soaring up to 17C (62.6F) in northwest Wales this afternoon.

London City Airport has already reported delays and cancellations due to adverse weather conditions, and advised passengers to check with their airlines. 

An aircraft at London City Airport is veiled in a thin layer fog during sunrise this morning  – the airport has since advised of delays and cancellations to flights

The Met Office’s yellow warning covers much of England – stretching from Exeter in the southwest all the way to Newcastle upon Tyne – with fears the thick mists could cause travel chaos for commuters

The Met Office stated: ‘Large areas of fog have developed across much of England overnight with visibility of 50-100 metres in many places leading to some challenging travel conditions. Fog will gradually lift through mid to late morning.’

National Highways Yorkshire warns that traffic has stopped in both directions between Junctions 41 and 42 of the M1 in West Yorkshire after an accident. 

Several flights have also been cancelled at Heathrow airport this morning – it is unknown as yet whether the misty conditions were the cause. 

The Met Office explained the impact fog could have on flights today, adding: ‘Fog, snow, ice and crosswinds mean that air traffic controllers have to increase the gap between planes that are landing, reducing the number of aircraft that an airport can manage. 

‘The same weather can make it slower and more difficult for the planes to taxi between runway and terminal building. 

‘As many commercial flights are cruising more than five miles above the ground, they can be affected by different weather than we are experiencing on the ground.’

Temperatures across much of England will rise considerably later today, from lows below freezing to 12C or 13C this afternoon, with the highest climes predicted in northwest Wales. 

London City Airport has already reported delays and cancellations due to adverse weather conditions, and advised passengers to check with their airlines

A train pushes through dense fog this morning in St Albans

Runners cross Windsor Bridge in Windsor, Berkshire, as the UK wakes up to a foggy start for the day

Millions of Britons stepped out onto to streets cloaked in fog this morning, as Valentine’s Day got off to a chilly start with temperatures below freezing

A runner is surrounded by mist by the woods this morning in Dunsden, Oxfordshire

Vehicles make their way down the foggy country roads in Oxfordshire today

As the fog clears, temperatures will quickly rise – reaching double digits in some parts of the country

The mild weather will stay into the evening, with most regions experiencing climes of around 7C (44.6F)

BBC forecaster Matt Taylor said: ‘A Valentine’s Day of wardrobe dilemmas for some of you, frosty and in some places foggy start, but by the afternoon, spring-like warmth, 16C (60.8F), 17C (62.7F) possible in north west Wales, well above the 8C (46.4F) average for this stage in the month.

‘Why the warmth, well we are on the west of this massive high pressure keeping things dry across much of western Europe. Because we are on the western side we’ve got a southerly wind developing but before that really gets going, most noticeable in western areas, where temperatures above freezing. 

‘Elsewhere a frosty start to the day -4C (24.8F), -5C (23F) in one or two spots and dense patches of fog.’

The Met Office adds that tonight will see clouds and heavy outbreaks of rain across western Scotland and Northern Ireland. Other areas will stay dry with long clear spells and a patchy frost.

Tomorrow, a bout of cloud and rain will affect eastern England but will gradually fade in the afternoon. Much of the country will stay dry, bright and mild until later in the southeast. 

Changeable with spells of rain or drizzle for most places at times, but also some drier, brighter spells. Potential for very strong winds across the north on Friday.

Source: Read Full Article