MUCH of the UK is under a severe weather warning following a weekend of erratic conditions. The country has endured everything from torrential rain, hail and fierce winds to thunder, lightning, snow and the odd ray of sunshine over the last few days.
One woman in Surrey even claimed to have seen a "flying-cat-tornado". Shirley Blay, who keeps horses at a stable yard in Chobham, told the Daily Mirror: "We've got four feral cats in the yard and they were being lifted off the ground – about six foot off the ground – they just went round like a big paper bag. It was a mini tornado, I can't describe it as anything less."
The Met Office said it was more likely to be a violent swirling gust than a tornado but did not rule it out.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Winds of 75mph were recorded at Lydd, Kent, and there were many reports of the wind speed suddenly changing from calm to gale force.
Forecasters are now warning that temperatures will drop to below freezing this week as snow is expected across much of the UK by Wednesday, reports the Daily Telegraph.
Before then, showers are forecast for most of the country on Monday and Tuesday. The Environment Agency has issued more than 140 flood alerts and 10 more serious flood warnings in the South West, which mean flooding is expected and immediate action is required.
Over the weekend, the heaviest rain was in Wales, where around 22mm fell during Saturday night and Sunday. In Snowdonia, two walkers had to be rescued from a mountain after they were struck by lightning. The two friends, aged 58 and 37, were yesterday recovering in hospital.
Looking ahead to the end of the week, more rain is expected for much of the country on Friday, with a risk of widespread ice. The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for much of the UK, including alerts for ice, hailstorms and thunder.
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
-
Why the Roman Empire is suddenly everywhere onlineThe Explainer It fell more than 1,500 years ago — so why is it dominating social media?
-
How climate change is going to change the insurance industry
The Explainer Some regions will soon be 'uninsurable'
-
TV to watch in October, from 'Loki' to 'The Fall of the House of Usher'
The Explainer Celebrate spooky season with some eerie streaming shows
-
Reader favourites
Speed Read A selection of short but sweet features from across The Week magazine
-
Home Office worker accused of spiking mistress’s drink with abortion drug
Speed Read Darren Burke had failed to convince his girlfriend to terminate pregnancy
-
In hock to Moscow: exploring Germany’s woeful energy policy
Speed Read Don’t expect Berlin to wean itself off Russian gas any time soon
-
Were Covid restrictions dropped too soon?
Speed Read ‘Living with Covid’ is already proving problematic – just look at the travel chaos this week
-
Inclusive Britain: a new strategy for tackling racism in the UK
Speed Read Government has revealed action plan setting out 74 steps that ministers will take
-
Sandy Hook families vs. Remington: a small victory over the gunmakers
Speed Read Last week the families settled a lawsuit for $73m against the manufacturer
-
Farmers vs. walkers: the battle over ‘Britain’s green and pleasant land’
Speed Read Updated Countryside Code tells farmers: ‘be nice, say hello, share the space’
-
Motherhood: why are we putting it off?
Speed Read Stats show around 50% of women in England and Wales now don’t have children by 30
