UK weather LIVE – Met Office issues HUNDREDS of flood alerts, as homes are submerged & evacuated after Storm Franklin

Today's forecast

Any early mist will clear.

It will then be largely dry and bright with spells of sunshine however variable amounts of cloud cover will build.

Outbreaks of rain will sink south-eastwards across Scotland and Northern Ireland and may be locally heavy.

Light rain and showers across parts of Wales.

UK weather outlook for Thursday and Friday

Early rain across England and Wales will clear south-eastwards during the morning on Thursday to reveal sunny spells and a chance of showers, some wintry.

Any early showers on Friday will soon clear.

It will then be fine as it will be dry and bright with long spells of winter sunshine expected.

Temperatures expected to drop

A Met Office spokesman has said that over the next few days: “Temperatures across Scotland and Northern Ireland are expected to drop sharply following a squally band of rain on Wednesday, with frequent heavy and blustery snow showers arriving from the Atlantic.

“The showers will be accompanied by strong, blustery winds, with gusts of 50-60 mph possible, and a small chance of 70 mph on coasts.

“Blizzard conditions are likely over higher ground.

“Snow showers are increasingly likely to turn back to rain and sleet at low levels later Thursday morning and early afternoon, although remaining as snow above 200-300m.”

'Severe gales through to March'

A Met Office forecaster said told Brits across the country should prepare for the gloomy weather.

He said: “Monday has early snow crossing northern areas and gales.

"Tuesday to Thursday will be often windy, with a mix of rain, sleet and snow showers on Thursday.

“Gales or severe gales will be possible almost anywhere through the period to March 5, and especially in the North.

“The first half of March is likely to be a continuation of changeable conditions, with winds remaining strong across the North and southern areas less windy.”

UK set to be hit by 60mph gale force winds

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning as 60mph gale force winds are set to hit the UK.

The strong winds will affect the north west of England from 6am yesterday until 3pm today.

Large parts of Scotland will be hit with snow and wind between 1pm to 3pm today.

The Met Office said: “Frequent heavy snow showers are expected, along with very gusty winds and a small chance of frequent lightning affecting some places.”

The forecasters added that there is a small chance of injuries and danger to life from flying debris, as well as damage to buildings, such as tiles blown from roofs.

They added that there could longer journey times or cancellations on the road, rail, air and ferry services.

The O2 ‘could be closed for MONTHS’

THE O2 could be closed for months as gigs at the venue are postponed after Storm Eunice ripped its domed roof to shreds.

The tempest has wrought devastation around the country today with record 122mph winds.

Around 1,000 people were evacuated from the arena in London as firefighters rushed to reports the roof had partially collapsed.

Employees now say the venue, which houses dozens of bars and restaurants, a shopping centre and a massive live music venue, could be closed for months while repairs are made.

One told  the roof over the shops "was whipped off" with a "huge whooshing sound".

Another said they understood at least part of the building will be shut for weeks to come.

Pictured: River Severn bursts its banks

A MAJOR incident has been declared and emergency evacuations are underway amid severe flood warnings.

There are two severe flood warnings, 116 warnings and 118 alerts in place in England as the wild weather sweeps in.

A further six warnings and 14 alerts cover Wales, while in Scotland there are two warnings and one alert.

The River Severn will bear the brunt of the lashings, where rising water levels pose a "significant danger to life" and residents are urged to "act now";.

Anyone living nearby has been told to move possessions and valuables off the ground or to safety, and to turn off gas, electricity and water.

Clean out the gutters to help drainage

It’s not a particularly nice job, but checking your guttering is clear before a storm hits can really help prevent potentially extensive damage to walls.

It can also make them heavy, making them more prone to dislodging from the wall.

Jenny Turner, a manager at  says: “If it is safe to do so, it is advisable to check gutters and pipes outside of the home to ensure that they are clear.

“A build-up of dead leaves, moss and other debris can cause the gutters to overflow during heavy rain fall, which can affect the walls of the property and damage external plasterwork.”

Around 60 houses evacuated in ‘danger to life’ flood zone

Around 60 properties were evacuated yesterday in Ironbridge as the River Severn continues to overwhelm flood defences.

Telford and Wrekin councillor Shaun Davies said the situation in the Shropshire village was “tense”.

He continued to say that: “Some properties have no protection from flood defences and are still underwater.

“We are doing all we can to support residents and are preparing for the worst but hoping for the best.”

He added the flooding was a “huge disturbance to local residents after a very challenging two years”.

'Danger to life' in Shropshire and Worcester

Communities in parts of the West Midlands and the north of England were urged yesterday by the Environment Agency to be prepared for significant flooding until Wednesday.

Villages in Shropshire and Worcester are facing "danger to life" conditions over concerns that flood defences could fail today.

A major incident has been declared in the areas as water levels along the River Severn continue to rise, with flood barriers forecast to go over their capacity during Tuesday, according to the Environment Agency.

Make sure your doors and windows are properly sealed

Making sure your windows and doors are sealed can make sure that moisture does not seep through any cracks.

Ross Counsell, a chartered surveyor and director of regulated property buyers  says explains: “This prevents any damage to the interior of your home, and also minimises any mould or mildew damage.

“Windows should be at least double-glazed to give a further barrier of protection, and make sure to use rubber weather-stripping to fill spaces between the sides and bottom of your door and the door frame.”

Up to 14 inches SNOW to follow

UP to 14 inches of snow is set to fall in the wake of Storm Franklin's 87mph gales.

As Brits brace for floods and travel disruptions, further "unsettled" weather is expected in the coming days.

Now meteorologist Mark Wilson told The Sun Online the worst of Storm Franklin has passed but Brits can expect the temperatures to drop as the week goes on.

Mark said higher ground in Scotland could see "significant" snow accumulation but said levels should be on track for what's common this time of year.

WX Charts predicts up to 34cm (14 inches) of snow later in the week in the north.

Conditions set to ease

Meteorologist Craig Snell told Sun Online conditions will finally ease next week.

"It'll be blustery as we go through the week, but everything looks a little bit more typical for this time of year," he said.

"It'll be windy, but at the moment, there aren't any warnings past Monday, and we're certainly not looking at naming more storms in the days to come.

"After we get rid of Franklin, it'll still be windy, but hopefully not on the same scale as the past few days.

"It's certainly been very, very unsettled recently.

"This has been a very notable spread of weather."

Tonight's weather

A largely dry evening with clear spells however there will be scattered wintry showers across Scotland.

These conditions will continue overnight as most areas will be dry with long clear spells however scattered showers will continue across Scotland and merge into longer spells of rain by dawn.

Protect your garden with these 5 expert tips

Severe weather like this can be especially damaging to our gardens, and experts are advising people to take precaution.

With this in mind, Nick Drewe, homes and interior expert at , has issued five top tips on how to stormproof your garden.

1. Protect your electrics If you have outdoor lighting, heaters or even a powered jacuzzi, it’s most likely that you spent a substantial amount of money on your outdoor electrical equipment.
2. Move your wheelie bins and any loose items When it comes to vulnerable items in your garden during the event of a storm, your wheelie bin is definitely one to protect and store away. When blown away, they could damage windows or cars nearby. The same applies for any loose items in your garden, from deckchairs to kids toys.
3. Park your car in a garage – or protect it Speaking of cars, make sure your vehicle is parked away in a garage. If you don’t have a garage, a trick is to cover your vehicle with padding and then a plastic sheet or waterproof tarp. As well as this, make sure your vehicle is not parked by or under a tree.
4. Protect your plants If you have any outdoor potted plants lying around, make sure that these are stored away before the weather gets severe.
5. Use a wind break Even though your fencing will protect your garden, it’s always worth going the extra mile to guard this area by using a wind break. It’s especially important to use wind breaks if your fencing is weak. Wind breaks can be strategically placed in specific ‘weak spots’ of your garden, such as your vegetable patch or pond.

Easy ways to protect your car during severe weather

With Storm Franklin now hitting the UK, car maintenance expert Ollie Green of  has shared his top 8 tips for protecting your car in severe weather:

1. Park your car in a garage - This will ultimately keep them protected from debris from strong winds, hail, and water damage. Make sure to check for any gaps where water could leak in and flood your space. 
   If you do not have a garage, move your car to higher ground to avoid flood damage, or if possible, park it against the side of your house to provide some deflection of wind.
2. Place and weigh down a heavy blanket over your car. This is a quick and simple solution to help protect your car from an array of things a storm could throw at it - particularly hailstones and tree branches.
3. If you have more time, buy and cover your car with a tight-fitting car cover for additional protection. This will help protect your car from flying debris damage.
4. Avoid parking under trees and power lines, or in low-lying areas. This will protect your vehicle from debris damage on both a small and large scale as well as flash flood damage.
5. Inspect the area around your home - lookout for potential hazards such as loose roof tiles and TV antennae that could fall off and damage your car as a result of high winds. 
6. Fill up on petrol - Do this to avoid long lines at petrol stations and possible petrol/diesel shortages. 
7. Keep emergency supplies in your car. Recommended equipment includes such as jump leads, tire repair kit, spare tire, flashlights, shovel, and traction mats. Each one could prove helpful if you are stuck out in severe weather.
8. Avoid driving on coastal or low-lying roads as flooding can occur with no warning. Driving on flooded roads can damage your engine.

Destruction of much of the UK following Storm Eunice

The treacherous conditions led to travel chaos, flight cancellations, power cuts and police forces being inundated with calls.

Train networks were plagued by flying debris - and there was extensive damage to buildings and homes with the roof of the O2 ripped off.

A massive clean-up has begun today after Storm Eunice brought widespread damage, disruption and record-breaking 122mph gusts of wind to the UK.

Thousands of families across the UK remained without power today, days after Storm Eunice's gale-force winds toppled power lines and cut off their supply.

Storms rear their heads at very short notice

Ex-BBC and Met Office forecaster John Hammond from Weathertrending agreed it is likely more hostile conditions are on the way.

He said: "Storms can rear their heads at very short notice. There is potential for further disruptive wind and rain.”

Structures weakened by the three storms over the past week more susceptible to damage and transport operations have been seriously impacted.

Brits have been urged not to travel during Storm Franklin today as more than 400 homes were evacuated and train stations are left underwater.

'Unsettled' weather is expected

UP to 14 inches of snow is set to fall in the wake of Storm Franklin's 87mph gales.

As Brits brace for floods and travel disruptions, further "unsettled" weather is expected in the coming days.

Wintry showers are expected in the north and northwest following Storm Franklin's trail of destruction.

Now meteorologist Mark Wilson told The Sun Online the worst of Storm Franklin has passed but Brits can expect the temperatures to drop as the week goes on.

Mark said higher ground in Scotland could see "significant" snow accumulation but said levels should be on track for what's common this time of year.

Tuesday evening clear & dry 'for many'

The Met Office says it will be clear and dry for many this evening.

The weather agency tweeted: "Tuesday evening will be a clear and dry one for many of us.

"Though there will be some showers, especially in Northern Ireland and Scotland, with these falling as snow on the hills."