BABY IT’S COLD OUTSIDE
UK weather forecast – Cold snap to send temperatures plunging on Christmas Day and flooding could spark chaos
BRITS are braced for a chilly Christmas Day with temperatures expected to plunge below freezing.
It’s not yet clear whether Britain is in store for a White Christmas - but the Scottish Highlands could see a dusting of snow over the next few days.
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Thousands of families across the country are also on flood alert and facing a washed-out Christmas.
Homes from Cornwall to Middlesbrough are at risk with 80 flood warnings and 190 flood alerts in place after a deluge of rain battered the South of England.
It came after up to 2in (40mm) of rain fell in 36 hours on Saturday and Sunday in the South East to cap one of the wettest autumns on record.
About 90 homes were flooded, with rivers bursting their banks in Kent, East Sussex and Berkshire.
Flood chaos is expected to bring misery for families hoping to getaway for Christmas, with queues of up to an hour on the M25 as an expected 2.5million road trips estimated to begin today.
The RAC has warned about 6.2million people are preparing to get away before Christmas Day itself, with "bumper to bumper" traffic expected.
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Ben Aldous, of the RAC, said:"It looks as though millions of drivers are planning to complete their Christmas getaway trips this week.
"Unfortunately, when you add in the prospect of unsettled weather, with heavy rain and strong winds in some parts, these are likely to be pretty unpleasant drives."
Railways including Great Northern, Gatwick Express, Thameslink and Southern rail services are all expected to be disrupted until midday on Sunday because of the weather.
Meanwhile, traffic ground to a halt on the M11 after two separate crashes involving nine cars unfolded just after 11am.
The emergency response even saw about 20 people evacuated from their homes on a caravan park after the River Medway burst its banks following days of torrential rain.
The south was soaked by showers throughout Saturday, while emergency services were called to Chertsey, Surrey after a tornado brought down trees and flipped cars.
A freak tornado even smashed into 20 homes in Surrey on Saturday, ripping up trees and fences.
Today, the Environment Agency has more than 80 flood warnings, while another 222 flood alerts are in place.
Met Office meteorologist Greg Dewhurst told The Sun Online the highest rain fall recorded in the past 36 hours was at Herstmonceux, East Sussex which was battered with 31.66mm.
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And while there are no severe weather warnings today, Brits have been warned to be on their guard for flooding.
Mr Dewhurst warned: "With some of the rivers, there are lags.
"So even though it's not raining, some of the rivers take a bit to respond. That's why there are still so many flood warnings."
He said Brits could expect an east to west split when it came to weather today, with the west seeing a mixture of sunshine and showers.
He said: "These showers could be heavy while it will be generally dry in the east."
The Met Office had put in place a yellow warning until 9am on Sunday, with heavy rain expected to move across southern parts of England.
And emergency crews helped residents escape from their homes on the Little Venice Caravan Park in Yalding near Tonbridge, Kent as river levels rose following the deluge.
An inflatable boat was used to gain access to the residents that were most at risk. Many of them were given welfare support and have been helped by family and friends.
Kent Fire and Rescue Service says the caravan park is likely to be cut off for at least the next few days before the water subsides.
WHAT TO EXPECT FOR CHRISTMAS
Temperatures are expected to linger between 6-8 degrees into Monday, with more rain expected in the southern parts of the UK into Christmas eve morning.
Mr Dewhurst said: "There is another band of rain that will come in on Monday night, into the southern parts of the UK into Christmas eve morning.
"We will be keeping an eye on that, it could give some rain for Christmas eve."
But he said Christmas Day looked promising with sunshine expected across the whole of the UK.
He said: "It will be a good day for Christmas walks and getting outside."
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Highways England has urged motorists to adapt their driving for wet weather by slowing down, keeping well back from the vehicle in front and easing off the accelerator if steering becomes unresponsive.
Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express services were affected after rail lines were flooded.
Rail passengers also suffered miserable journeys as landslides blocked Southern train lines in Surrey, Kent, Essex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Devon.
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Incredible aerial footage reveals Christmas getaway hell for 18million Brits as floods shut motorways and block railways
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