Wet start to the working week after South West hit with arctic blast

It's a wet and windy start to the first working week of the New Year across the South West - as weather warnings remain in place this morning after a weekend of disruption brought on by an arctic blast of air.

Flights were diverted on Saturday night, as Bristol Airport temporarily closed is runway - with people instead ending up in the Midlands and London.

Whilst Cold Weather Emergency Protocols remain in place - with temperatures remaining to hover just above freezing - meaning extra help is being put in place to help those sleeping rough.

The message remains - if you see someone sleeping rough, let your local authority know by using Streetlink.

Local authorities, including Wiltshire Council, are reminding people to drive to the conditions after a weekend of awful weather.

A number of flood warnings remain in place - with more than 440 alerts and warnings currently imposed by the Environment Agency.

Cold air will return and remain across the whole country from Monday onwards after a brief spell of milder conditions in southern areas, the Met Office said.

Deputy chief forecaster Mike Silverstone said: "The low pressure that brought the snow and heavy rain in the south will move out to the east by Monday. This will allow a cold northerly flow to become established again for much of next week.

"This will bring further sleet, snow and hail showers to northern Scotland in particular, but possibly to some other areas, especially near western coasts, with a fair amount of dry and bright weather elsewhere.

"Temperatures will remain below average, with widespread frost and the threat of ice at times. Some areas, especially in the north, may struggle to get above freezing for several days."

Further weather warnings could be issued with the potential for some snow to fall in southern and central England and Wales around the middle of the week, Mr Silverstone said.

Read more: Bristol Airport reopens amid delay warnings

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