UK snow: Will the snow in London settle? Snow BLIZZARD hits capital
THE UK snowfall finally hit London this afternoon as a ferocious snow blizzard descended upon the capital. But will the snow in London settle?
London falls victim to WHITE OUT as snow storm moves in
Londoners were treated to grey, foggy views of familiar landmarks being pelted with snow as the capital was shrouded in a brief but intense snow storm that hit just after 2pm this afternoon.
Snow began falling lightly at first before a band of heavier snow came down within minutes but by 2.45pm it was all over, with the sunshine coming out.
Delighted Londoners shared their snaps of the snow on social media.
@Randibop wrote: "I can’t believe I’m saying this but it’s actually snowing in London! Like legit snow not just flurries that everyone freaks out over for no reason! So fun I was in 120F weather last week and now snow SO FUN MY BODY TOTALLY GETS IT"
Simon Rae-Scott tweeted: "Ah! That snow and that ice – and it has finally settled here in West London after a vigorous flurry. My kids will be delighted. I’m just slithering across to collect them…, straight after the snowfall the skies were light up by bright sunshine."
Will the snow in London settle?
For snow to settle, the ground temperature has to be below 0C, although there are a couple of exceptions to this, Weathercast reports.
When there is significant snowfall and the surface temperature is above 0C, after a time because melting snowflakes cool the road, the snow will begin to settle.
It is often believed that snow will not settle on wet roads, however if the air temperature is below 0C, there will be snow, and when it reaches a wet surface it will become slushy and then freeze, allowing the road to become snow covered.
Although the temperature is -1C outside at the moment, the sun is out so it is too early to know yet whether the snow will stay all afternoon.
However, tonight there is the possibility of further snow later with a yellow weather warning in place until 11.55pm.
With temperatures continuing to dip below freezing later, Mayor Sadiq Khan has pledged to keep emergency shelters open for homeless people for the rest of this week.
The so-called Beast from the East has already been causing widespread travel chaos around the country today as the arctic snap from Siberia brought several centimetres of snow overnight.
Much of Kent ground to a halt this morning as 15cm of snow fell, resulting in more than 100 school closures.
Snow was heaviest in eastern England with between 3cm and 4cm recorded in Newcastle and Northumberland.
Where else has it been snowing?
The Met Office has issued amber and yellow warnings covering swathes of the country from Monday until Thursday.
It is been snowing as far afield today as Manchester, Newcastle, Essex, Wales, Norfolk, West Yorkshire and Lancashire.
Motorists have been warned to take extra care on the roads when driving in snowy conditions.
Forecaster Frank Saunders said parts of the country could see their "coldest spell of weather since at least 2013, and possibly since 1991".
It is expected that the mercury could plummet to minus 15C by midweek where there is snow on the ground, rivalling temperatures forecast for parts of northern Norway and Iceland.