SHOCK AND THAW
Drivers battle through floods in fresh UK weather chaos as sudden 14C warming and melting snow leads to 55 flood alerts
BRITAIN'S motorists are battling through intense flooding this morning after a sudden rise in temperatures has led to 55 flood alerts throughout the country - with deadly black ice also forming.
Forecasters warned that the fallout from the Beast from the East and Storm Emma will bring its own challenges as the mercury shoots up, and they weren't wrong.
30
Families have also been told to evacuate their homes in Devon and other coastal areas, with 16 people having already died amid the intense weather conditions brought by Storm Emma.
In Devon one motorist could be seen having ignored "road closed" signs and battling through deep flooding waters.
Alongside the flooding, the UK will see temperatures in some areas creeping back towards double figures following a sub-zero week.
London will see highs of 10C - hotter than 9C Istanbul - on Monday as the snow starts to melt away.
What we know so far:
- As sub-zero temperatures subside, the UK is now heating up and will be hotter than Istanbul today
- Families have been evacuated from their homes as Britain experiences intense flooding with 55 warnings in place
- In a bizarre phenomenon freezing rain was pictured turning the nation's roads into ice rinks
- Football matches are being over this weekend
- Hundreds of flights in and out of UK and Irish airports were cancelled
- However most of the snow is expected to melt away by Monday
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
Other cities will have to wait before hitting double digits, with highs of 8C in Manchester and Birmingham, 9C in Southampton and Cardiff, 6C in Newcastle and Belfast and just 5C in Scotland.
But snow warnings will remain in place throughout Scotland and parts of northern England.
It comes after parts of the country were hit by -4C temperatures on Friday.
Environment Agency chiefs have issued various flood warnings, mainly in the South West and North East, and Wales.
Icy patches possible but it will otherwise be milder than recent days initially remaining dry
In dramatic scenes in Skipton, West Yorks, a number of cars were swallowed up inside a giant hole after the extreme weather caused a bridge to collapse.
At least two cars were stuck in the hole for four days.
No one was injured following the incident last week.
A spokesman for the EA said: "Pleased to see cars and debris removed from Eller Beck in Skipton, after last week's culvert collapse."
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
A total of 33 alerts will remain in place for next week.
Met Office forecaster Becky Mitchell said: "Through the rest of tomorrow afternoon we've got spells of rain across the South, perhaps turning to sleet at times.
"But we really are losing that risk of snow across much of southern England and Wales through Sunday as temperatures return towards normal for a lot of places.
"There is quite a lot of snow in some places across the South...so it's going to be some time before all that snow melts away but temperature-wise over the next few days it's definitely going to help things.
A hazardous mix of melting snow, high tides and heavy rainfall prompted 15 alerts from Sunderland to Cornwall - with 51 areas facing flooding.
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
"The main point is it's gradually turning milder so we are seeing an end to widespread cold conditions from this weekend onwards."
Last week treacherous driving conditions saw cops call on the help of the military in helping evacuate motorists from the roads.
The combination of Storm Emma and the Beast from the East paralysed the UK, causing commuter chaos and closing schools throughout the country.
A Met Office warning is in place for further snow throughout Saturday and into the evening for parts of northern England and Scotland, with overnight lows of -3 to -4°C in rural areas.
30
30
30
MOST READ IN NEWS
Floods caused by dangerous tides and thawing snow engulfed homes in Lizard and Porthallow in Cornwall.
Thursday alone saw ten deaths, including a girl aged seven, on the coldest March day on record
A homeless man in Canterbury, Kent, was one of the four who died yesterday. The 40-year-old was discovered in his sleeping bag at the Catching Lives shelter, which took in several rough sleepers.
Coastal areas of Devon also suffered as huge waves and strong winds buffeted towns including Paignton.
Hundreds of people descend on the downs in Clifton for a massive snowball fight as the UK is battered by Storm Emma
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.