NEARLY ALL of the UK is under yellow weather warnings for snow and wind today.
The Met Office has placed the WHOLE of England and Wales, and three quarters of Scotland, under a severe yellow weather warning for snow and wind.
A chilling map shows the extent of the affected area, with everyone from County Durham to Kent expected to feel the winter chill.
Heavy snow is expected across northern England and Scotland bringing likely travel disruption, especially over higher routes
Read our UK weather live blog for the latest news and updates....
Adriana Elgueta 9 minutes ago
My child’s school is closed – can I take the day off work?
Parents are entitled to take a reasonable amount of emergency unpaid time off work to look after your children is there is an unexpected disruption in their normal care arrangements.
This could include the closure of a nursery or school due to adverse weather conditions.
However, this time should be used to make alternative arrangements for their care instead rather than caring for your child.
Many employers are more flexible though in these circumstances and will allow employees to take holiday at short notice or, if appropriate, to work from home or make the time up.
Adriana Elgueta 29 minutes ago
Does my employer have to pay me if my workplace is closed because of the weather?
If your work is closed due to extreme weather conditions such as heavy snow, you will still be paid for the time it is closed.
If you are ready, available and willing to work but bosses have closed, you should be awarded your usual rate.
The day can not be marked down as a holiday - unless there is an advance warning of bad weather and employers give prior notice for people to use it.
It is important to check your contract because it may contain clauses regarding specific arrangements for snow days, as some employers can ask you to work from home if you are able to.
If you are on a zero-hours contract or your employer has a contractual right to decline to offer you work at short notice, they may not have to pay you.
Adriana Elgueta 44 minutes ago
Is there a minimum workplace temperature that should be met?
Despite complaining amongst colleagues that it is too cold to do your job, there is no minimum workplace temperature requirement.
Although employers are required to provide a safe working environment, the Health and Safety Executive provides guidance and recommends a minimum temperature of 16C for offices - but this is not law.
They also recommend a temperature of 13C for those carrying out indoor work with physical effort.
Acas says employees should be allowed to wear warmer clothing and take hot drink breaks when the temperatures nosedive.
Adriana Elgueta 59 minutes ago
Does my employer have to pay me if I can't get to work in the Storm Barra snow?
Sometimes snow makes the journey to work dangerous or downright impossible, leaving some people unable to commute.
So, will you get paid if you can't make it in work? Unfortunately, there is no automatic legal right to be paid if you miss work due to bad weather.
Employers are entitled to regard your absence as unauthorised, even if it is due to weather circumstances way out of your control.
Travelling to work is your responsibility - but exceptions may be made if the company provide transport such as a bus service which is cancelled.
Some employers may allow staff to use annual leave to cover the snow day or even work from home.
However, it is important to remember your employer should not force or pressure you to unnecessarily attempt the journey if there are legitimate safety reasons why you should not travel.
Adriana Elgueta Today, 11:15
All the storm names this season:
A few names in the mix that may leave us wondering how to say them such as Tineke or Méabh!
Arwen
Barra
Corrie
Dudley
Eunice
Franklin
Gladys
Herman
Imani
Jack
Kim
Logan
Méabh
Nasim
Olwen
Pól
Ruby
Sean
Tineke
Vergil
Willemien
Adriana Elgueta Today, 11:00
Dutch, Irish and English names to appear this season for storms
Arwen, of Welsh origin kicked us off this year, with Irish name Barra second.
The Met Office, along with partners Met éireann and dutch KNMI, have announced the storm names for use in the 2021/22 season, which runs from September 2021 through to the end of August 2022.
The names chosen reflect the diversity of the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands.
Over 10,000 submissions were made by the UK public, with the names selected by the Met Office reflecting some of the more popular choices, as well as some of the heart-warming reasons behind the nominations.
Adriana Elgueta Today, 10:45
First Barras casualty
As Storm Barra began to batter Britain, a teenage cyclist was badly injured after getting trapped and crushed under a gritter lorry.
Onlookers reeled back in horror as the young rider lay pinned beneath the truck which was gritting icy roads in Yorkshire last night.
Fully-laden gritter lorries can weigh over 26 tonnes.
The horrified crew jumped from the cab and rushed to the lad as emergency services raced to the scene.
Firefighters battled to lift the huge spreader high enough to slowly remove him, fearful that the slightest jolt with a stretcher might paralyse him for life - he had suffered 'serious lower body injuries' said police.
Paramedics stood by with pain-killing relief as the rescue operation continued.
North Yorkshire Police said last night "Police in York are investigating a serious injury collision involving a cyclist and a gritting lorry in the Dringhouses area.
Adriana Elgueta Today, 10:08
He added: “Strong south-easterly winds will also lead to snow drifting in places, particularly over the highest routes, adding to poor visibilities.”
Storm Barra - the second named storm of the season - is a name selected as part of the Name Our Storms collaboration with Irish forecasters Met éireann and Dutch forecasters KNMI.
Adriana Elgueta Today, 10:00
Up to 70mph wind is expected for some coastal towns
Frank Saunders is a Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office. He said: “Strong winds arriving across the west through Tuesday morning, will spread inland and reach eastern areas through the afternoon and early evening.
"Gusts of 45-50 mph are expected widely, with 60-70 mph in exposed coastal locations. The strongest winds will ease across inland areas into the overnight period.”
Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Brent Walker said: “A band of rain will turn to snow across northern England and Scotland through Tuesday. Two to five centimetres of snow is expected to accumulate quite widely across the warning area, but locally this could reach ten cm, particularly in parts of the Southern Uplands and Highlands.”
Adriana Elgueta Today, 09:45
Why Barra?
The name is an Irish boy's name, short for "Fionnbharra" which means "fair-haired".
Most places named Barra tend to be named after Saint Finbar who allegedly lived between 550 - 623.
He was the bishop of Cork and abbot of a monastery in what is now Cork city, Ireland. He is patron saint of the city and of the Diocese of Cork.
Adriana Elgueta Today, 09:30
Barra named
A deep area of low-pressure moving in from the Atlantic on today has been named as Storm Barra by the Irish weather authority Met éireann for the level of impacts expected for the Republic of Ireland.
As the system moves in from west, the strongest winds and impacts are expected to affect the Republic of Ireland.
As the system begins to weaken, it will bring strong winds and rain, with the rain turning to snow across northern England and Scotland.
In response the Met Office has issued a series of yellow National Severe Weather Warnings for wind and snow. These warnings will affect most of the UK.
Adriana Elgueta Today, 09:15
Snow way!
Skiing enthusiasts enjoyed their first taste of snow at the weekend…..in the Lake District.
Around 25 people managed to get a day’s skiing in at the Lake District Skiing Club.
Among enthusiasts was Richard Leafe, Chief Exec of the Lake District National Park Authority, who is an avid skier and club member and was out in the bracing conditions.
Sunday’s skiing was the first day of the season, with heavy snowfall on the Lake District’s mountainous peaks.
Adriana Elgueta Today, 09:00
Heavy rain creeping in at Storm Barra approaches...
Heavy #rain and strong winds are moving in across the UK in association with #StormBarra
The Isles of Scilly reported a wind gust of 67mph a little earlier this morning pic.twitter.com/NlYxGb42eV
— Met Office (@metoffice) December 7, 2021
Adriana Elgueta Today, 08:45
Red skies in North London this morning as the UK prepares to battle Storm Barra Red sky in the morning,
Storm Barra's warning. pic.twitter.com/YccxjsiSOG
— Simon King (@SimonOKing) December 7, 2021
Adriana Elgueta Today, 08:30
PM Boris Johnson expresses concern at upcoming Storm Barra
"I expressed my concern that more than 1,000 homes are still without power and was assured they would be reconnected tomorrow at the latest.
"I also asked for assurances that the energy supply companies were putting in place measures to limit any potential further disruption to households as a result of Storm Barra."
Adriana Elgueta Today, 08:14
Weather outlook for today
Today:
Heavy rain across Northern Ireland and southwest UK continues eastwards, accompanied by squally gale force winds. Rain turning to snow mainly across northern hills, heavy with drifting and blizzards. Severe gales following to southwestern parts, despite brighter skies and showers.
Tonight:
Rain and snow in the north easing. Further bands of showery rain for many. Gales continuing for some, severe in the southwest. Lighter winds in central UK. Less cold.
Joseph Gamp Today, 08:00
Almost all of UK under yellow weather warnings
Almost all of the UK is covered by yellow weather warnings for snow, ice, and wind, with a five-day deep freeze on the way.
The Met Office upgraded its warnings to add an alert to drivers about icy roads from Monday evening at 9pm to Tuesday at 9am.
Forecaster Marco Petagna said: “It looks a nasty weather system, with low pressure deepening rapidly. It's going to be very windy.”
Joseph Gamp Today, 07:00
Yellow snow warnings are also in place in northern England and Scotland, with blizzards and snowfall of up to 20cm causing treacherous conditions on roads at higher altitudes, the Met Office said.
In Ireland, schools have been told to keep their doors closed as a rare red warning was given for Cork, Kerry and Clare.
Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern said Storm Barra's wind gusts and impacts "will be a notch down compared to Arwen", which led to widespread power cuts on November 26 - some of which have not yet been restored.
There are concerns that gale-force winds on Tuesday could make it more difficult for engineers to reconnect homes, though spokesman Stephen Dixon said winds would "gradually weaken" as they move east and should have petered out by Thursday.
Joseph Gamp Today, 06:00
Today's extreme weather explained
Ice was expected overnight ahead of Storm Barra's arrival today, with the Met Office issuing a yellow warning as drivers faced potentially hazardous conditions in western Scotland and north-west England.
While the west of Ireland will receive the worst of the storm on Tuesday, yellow wind warnings are in place across England, Wales and Northern Ireland - with travel disruptions likely.
There are also fears of power cuts and damage to buildings.
Wind gusts of 60-70mph are expected on the western and southern coasts of England and Wales, accompanied by large waves that carry a "small chance" of risk to life by throwing beach material onto sea front, coastal roads and properties, the Met Office said.
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has urged people to stay well back from the water's edge and to dial 999 for the coastguard in any coastal emergency.
Joseph Gamp Today, 05:00
Raft of flood warnings in place
Currently, there are 36 flood alerts in place as heavy rain is also expected to hit the country.
The Environmental Agency said: “River, surface water and coastal flooding is possible on Tuesday and Wednesday due to spells of heavy rain and strong winds.
"Properties may flood and there may be travel disruption.”
Joseph Gamp Today, 04:00
We could see 'snow bomb' effect says forecaster
Exacta Weather’s James Madden said: “Tuesday will see an extensive and rapidly deepening area of low pressure working its way northwards across the country initially bringing heavy rain and strong winds.
“This will turn to snow as the storm system meets colder conditions across the UK.
“With the storm coinciding with snow, we could see a ‘snow bomb’ effect where heavy snow erupts suddenly with stormy conditions.”
Joseph Gamp Today, 03:00
Storm Barra set to dump EIGHT INCHES in blizzards chaos
THE Met Office has issued an urgent ice warning as 80mph Storm Barra is set to cause blizzards bringing up to eight inches of snow.
Forecasters predict the 1,000-mile wide storm will bring snow, strong gales, and freezing temperatures.
Almost all of the UK is covered by yellow weather warnings for snow, ice, and wind, with a five-day deep freeze on the way.
The Met Office upgraded its warnings to add an alert to drivers about icy roads from Monday evening at 9pm to Tuesday at 9am.
Forecaster Marco Petagna said: “It looks a nasty weather system, with low pressure deepening rapidly. It's going to be very windy.”
Joseph Gamp Today, 02:00
Storm Barra to batter UK with winds, rain and snow
Storm Barra will hit the UK and Ireland with disruptive winds, heavy rain and snow on Tuesday, according to the Met Office - threatening more chaos as some households continue to struggle without power in the wake of Storm Arwen.
Weather warnings for snow, ice, rain and wind have been issued as Storm Barra sweeps in from the Atlantic.
It comes as the Prime Minister has said homes affected by the power cuts will have supply restored.
On Monday, when some 1,600 households in the North East were still without electricity - 10 days after Storm Arwen, Boris Johnson said he had spoken to the chief executive of Northern Powergrid and had been "assured they would be reconnected tomorrow at the latest".
Later on Monday evening, the electricity supplier said it had reduced the number of homes and businesses affected to 700.
Joseph Gamp Today, 00:08
Weather outlook for Wednesday to Friday
Unsettled with showers or longer spells of rain.
Often windy with coastal gales at times.
Rather cold though snow mainly restricted to high ground in the north.
Joseph Gamp 6th Dec 2021, 23:50
Homes without power will be reconnected 'tomorrow at the latest' says PM
Homes still without power following Storm Arwen will be reconnected "by tomorrow at the latest", the Prime Minister has said.
Boris Johnson said he spoke to the chief executive of Northern Powergrid on Monday, and that he had been told of the new target.
But a deadline set on Wednesday last week had already been missed as MPs heard there was something "seriously wrong" at the supplier.
On Wednesday, Downing Street said properties affected by the power cuts caused by Storm Arwen should have supply restored "by the end of the week", but more than 1,000 remained cut off on Monday.
Earlier in the day, the energy minister, Greg Hands, said it was "completely unacceptable" that around 1,600 households were still without power.
Following a call with the boss of Northern Powergrid, Phil Jones, Mr Johnson said he "was assured they (affected properties) would be reconnected tomorrow at the latest".
He said on Twitter: "I also asked for assurances that the energy supply companies were putting in place measures to limit any potential further disruption to households as a result of Storm Barra."
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