UPDATED ON MONDAY 8th FEBRUARY AT 13:53
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Further to email Sat 6th, please see as below for a summary of latest impacts. Suffolk Resilience Forum Partners continue to monitor and assess snow impacts associated with Storm Darcy.
MET OFFICE: Amber warning was in place until midday today, and is currently at YELLOW FOR THE WHOLE OF SUFFOLK until 23:59 Weds 10th Feb. Strong winds and drifting are likely to continue to cause localised issues.
- Yellow Warnings for Snow have been issued and updated – for all areas of the East of England and are valid from now until at least 23:59 Weds 10th for possible wintry hazard impacts.
- Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday will remain very cold with the risk of further snow showers in places but also some dry conditions as winds become less blustery. Widespread ice is likely on many untreated surfaces, with severe overnight frosts possible later in the week,
- The Cold Weather Alert is at Level-3 indicating a 90% risk of triggers temperatures being met from between now through to 21:00 on Wednesday.
Please keep up to date with the latest Met Office warnings and forecast details on —
Met Office App | || | Met Office website | || | www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings |
ENVIRONMENT AGENCY: [No flood alerts local to us]
HIGHWAYS: General picture is more impacts East than West, but Sudbury area, A140, and ALDEBURGH have some ongoing road issues — SCC Highways are continuing to prioritise resources to support those communities affected. Highways Priority-1 routes mainly clear, but some pinch points remain Central & East Suffolk. Priority-2 routes have & will be treated, but abandoned / parked vehicles have made that task more difficult. Recommendation is to minimise any journey, unless essential, and check routes prior to leaving [for those that have been gritted] — https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/highway-maintenance/check-which-roads-are-gritted/
UTILITIES have been able to respond to localised outages overnight.
VACCINATIONS AND TESTING: Please see links for current guidance —
https://sneevaccine.org.uk/
https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19/covid-19-vaccinations-in-suffolk/
https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19/getting-a-test/
Keith Fawkner-Simpson
Emergency Planning Officer
Suffolk Joint Emergency Planning Unit
UPDATED BY THE MET OFFICE ON SUNDAY 7th FEBRUARY AT 10:20
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The warning has been extended a little further across Norfolk with the end-time extended until 12:00 on Monday.
An area of widespread, persistent and occasionally heavy snow will affect parts of the south-east and east of England throughout Sunday and into Monday, with the potential for some significant accumulations across eastern parts of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Kent. Accumulations of snow will be widely 5-10 cm [up to four inches], with 15-20 cm [up to eight inches] in places, and a small chance of 25-30 cm [up to a foot] for a few sites. Very strong easterly winds with gusts of 40-45 mph inland, and 50-55 mph along north-east facing coasts, will also lead to drifting of lying snow. During Monday morning the snow will turn more intermittent, before gradually easing.
ISSUED ON SATURDAY 6th FEBRUARY AT 09:38:
I would hope you are already aware of the expected severe weather running in from late tonight [Saturday] into tomorrow and Monday. Suffolk Resilience Forum will be monitoring the weather impacts over the weekend, and will meet again tomorrow morning. Please note as the picture develops and becomes clearer, I will provide further updates.
[Click on yesterday's map above for the local BBC weather forecast for the next few days.]
Saturday will see some drier spells but also a scattering of showers, some of these heavy at times, with around 5 to 10mm of rain possible in places. Light southerly winds will turn towards the east during Saturday, and start to strengthen.
Overnight Saturday then into Sunday, once showery rain clears, very cold air digs in, with snow expected across much of our region as we head into Sunday morning. During Sunday, snow will fall for many areas through the day, with a covering of 1 to 3cm [up to an inch]. However, much higher amounts could develop for further east during Sunday.
In addition to the snow — with temperatures hovering just above freezing at best, easterly winds gusting around 50mph, especially for coastal districts, means that snow will blow around.
Met Office Yellow Warnings for Snow and Ice have been issued and updated — for all areas of the East of England, and valid from late Saturday evening and through until 12:00 on Wednesday for possible wintry hazard impacts.
However, for the eastern halves of Suffolk and Essex, as well as south east Norfolk – an Amber Warning for Snow has now been issued, valid from 04:00 [tomorrow Sunday] through until 23:59 — bringing a Low Likelihood of High Impacts.
Within the Amber Warning area, accumulations widely 5 to 10cm [up to four inches] are probable, with a potential for 15 to 20cm [up to eight inches] in places.
Just to reiterate, very strong easterly winds with gusts around 50 mph are possible, which may lead to blizzard conditions for a time, and the possibility of drifting of snow.
Disruption associated with the Amber Warning means there is a risk of:
- Long delays and cancellations on bus, rail and air travel could occur
- Roads may become blocked by deep snow, with many stranded vehicles and passengers
- Long interruptions to power supplies and other services, such as water, telephone and mobile phone coverage could occur
Blowing snow, and a sub-zero wind chill from Sunday and into next week, will make for challenging conditions for people travelling too – and queuing at vaccination centres. This is in addition to the risk of ice.
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are likely to remain very cold, with the risk of ice and further snow showers in places — but also some dry conditions as winds become less blustery. Widespread ice is likely on many untreated surfaces. Less cold air may try to push north from late Thursday and into Friday.
An updated Cold Weather Alert is now at Level-3 — indicating a 90% risk of triggers temperatures being met between 09:00 on Saturday through to 21:00 on Wednesday.
Please keep up to date with the latest Met Office warnings and forecast details on either on the Met Office App or Met Office website — [or by clicking on the map above, the local BBC weather forecast — Webmaster].
Keith Fawkner-Simpson
Emergency Planning Officer
Suffolk Joint Emergency Planning Unit