Sunday, 31 March 2013

Coldest Easter Sunday in 100 YEARS as temperatures plummet to -12C

Coldest Easter Sunday in 100 YEARS as temperatures plummet to -12C and Britain will be shivering for another week

Easter Sunday will be dry and chilly across most of the UK, forecasters say
Overnight temperatures will fall again to freezing
Temperatures will remain well below seasonal average despite sunny spells
River banks flooded between Barnes and Putney Pier ahead of Boat Race
Amber warnings in place from Environment Agency for floods along Thames

PUBLISHED: 09:20, 31 March 2013 | UPDATED: 10:36, 31 March 2013

The icy Easter weekend has been declared the coldest in 100 years and forecasters have warned the cold snap will continue for the rest of the week.

Despite welcoming in British summer time, temperatures plummeted to -12.4C last night in Braemar in Aberdeenshire, while South Newington in Oxfordshire dropped to -5C.

The Met office confirmed it could be the coldest Easter Sunday morning in 100 years.

Water cascading down Summerhill Force, County Durham formed icicles today as the coldest March since 1963 draws to a close

A walker stepped under an impressive icicle covered cliffside in County Durham in freezing conditions today

The Thames burst its banks between Barnes and Putney Pier ahead of the Easter Sunday Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race

Greg Dewhurst, Met office spokesman, said: 'It looks it. It should be made official on Tuesday after Bank Holiday.

'Last time it was this cold on an Easter Sunday temperatures fell to -9.8C. But last night it was -12.4 in Scotland.'

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But if you are heading out for an Easter Sunday stroll, you are in for plenty of sunshine.

'Today will see temperatures in most places between 4C and 7C across the country', Mr Dewhurst said.

Spectators will have to take a paddle if they want to watch the Boat Race from this stretch of the river Thames

'It's not too bad. But as a consequence of the sunny spells, temperatures will fall to close to freezing tonight.

'Towards the north and Scotland it could reach -8C again.'

The Met office said the weather on Easter Monday will remain similar to today temperature wise.

Following a frosty start, it will be another cold day with variable cloud and some sunny spells.

While most parts of the UK will remain dry, there may be the odd light wintry shower in places. Rather
breezy in south-west England.

Mr Dewhurst said: 'It is still below average but not too bad in most places.

'There will be a chance of isolated showers.

'The cold weather looks set to continue into most of the working week. The high pressure will stay with a few wintry showers and cold easterly winds.'

Tuesday and Wednesday are set to remain cold with sunny spells and the chance of a few wintry showers, especially across northern parts of the UK.

The north-easterly breeze will pick up into Wednesday adding a wind chill in places.

The wheels of parked cars along the riverside were submerged in water after the Thames burst its banks in south west London

Water levels were much higher than usual in Putney and the path along the riverside became impassable on foot

Britain's wildlife has been hit the the hardest during Britain's continued freezing weather, according to experts.

Creatures like the hedgehog and grass snake have both suffered and even birds like the owl and tawny owl are facing problems.

Forecasters have warned that the temperatures are unlikely to return to their average level until the end of April.

The public is now being urged to help and the RSPB is urging households to keep bird feeders topped up.

Most of the UK will avoid snowy conditions over Easter but Striding Edge, Helvellyn in the Lake District will remain covered

Hill walkers enjoyed snowy conditions in the Lake District today while elsewhere in the UK sunny spells are expected over the Easter weekend

In Cambridge tourists got in the boating spirit and braved the snowy weather on the River Cam

Snow flurries did not deter these tourists from enjoying themselves on the River Cam in Cambridge

A pub garden in south west London was left underwater ahead of Sunday's Oxford Cambridge Boat Race

The river burst its banks and cars parked in the streets adjacent had their wheels submerged in water

However, a farmer's wife has made a novel invention to keep newborn lambs cosy during icy blizzards and plunging temperatures.

Sally Howe, 42, invented the Woollie Warmer - an insulated box filled with warm water - to revive hypothermic lambs struggling to survive during the harsh winter.

The plastic container, which is fitted with a rubber sling designed to suspend the lamb in warm water, insulates newborn lambs and protects them from the cold.

Sally, a farmer in Penistone, South Yorkshire, said: 'Being a farmer's wife, the job of reviving lambs born in freezing conditions was my job.

'It was very upsetting seeing newborn lambs dying of hypothermia immediately after being born and so I decided something had to be done.

'I originally used to put the hypothermic lambs in a bucket of warm water but I'd have to hold them there to stop them from drowning.

Woollie warmer: Sally Howe invented the contraption to keep newborn lambs cosy during the cold weather

Novel idea: Sally Howe pictured with her invention, the Woollie Warmer - a box to keep newborn lambs warm in the winter

'There was also the problem of the water turning cold quickly.

One day I just thought to myself there must be a better way than this.

'The lambs absolutely love it. We give them milk before we put them in the container and so they often have a little nap whilst they are lying in the warm water.

'I think it's so cosy for them and they just couldn't be happier.

'They only have to be submerged for about 30 minutes until they are back to full health and it's lovely to be able to save so many lambs from dying unecessarily in the cold.'

Mrs Howe, with the support of her husband Andrew, 49, designed the equipment herself.

Since setting up the business, Sally, a former nurse, has sold more 300 containers, costing £102 and says business keeps on booming.

'I originally appeared on Dragon's Den with my idea but they wouldn't invest,' she said.

'I think they knew this is not the sort of thing that will sell to your average member of the public.

'I didn't let that get me down and I funded it myself. At first, business was slow but each year has been better and better.

'I've sold more this winter than I have before. I think the freezing conditions has increased demand for them and interest has spread through word of mouth.'

Meanwhile, spectators hoping to watch the Easter Sunday Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge might be wise to bring their wellies after the Thames burst its banks.

As Oxford and Cambridge rowing teams prepared for Sunday's race the Cambridge team's car became submerged on the river bank

The cars of the Cambridge team were left under water as they trained for the Easter Sunday Boat Race on the Thames

The Cambridge crew parked up on the river bank but their cars were left soggy when the Thames reached high tide

The towpath along the Putney embankment, which is usually a popular vantage point for those hoping to watch the race, was yesterday flooded with water.

Streets along the riverside were affected by high tides and members of the public were left stranded after the river overflowed between Barnes and Putney Pier.

Pub gardens were under water and cars parked along the banks were submerged by the higher water levels along the stretch of river in south west London.

The Environment Agency has released an amber flood alert warning that floods are possible between Putney Embankment and Teddington Lock.

Flooding is also possible in the south east of the city near Trowlock Island, according to an Environment Agency amber warning.

The high water levels are caused by spring tides, which are especially strong tides occurring when the moon is full or new and aligned with the Earth and the sun.

Spring tides are not affected by the season of Spring but by the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun combined.

The floods along the Thames are likely to affect those hoping to watch the Easter Sunday Boat Race if the high water levels continue.

Today's clash between the Oxford and Cambridge rowing teams will see the two elite universities go head to head in the 159th University Boat Race.

Every year crowds line the four-and-a-quarter mile course from Putney to Mortlake to support the two teams in a race which tends to last just over 15 minutes.

Earlier this week the Cambridge team were caught out by the Thames tides after their vehicles parked up nearby were submerged in water from the flooding river.

Both teams have had to take care to avoid large pieces of debris coming down the river in high tides as they prepared for Sunday's contest.

University Boat Race spokesperson Maria O'Connor said: 'As the race is just over four miles long that gives the crowds eight miles of riverside to watch from.

'So while there are areas that may flood, other parts of the stretch will be fine to watch from.

'As high tide is just after 6pm and the race starts at 4.30pm so the race doesn't take place when the tide is at its highest.'

Last year's Boat Race was interrupted when 36-year-old anti-elitist protester Trenton Oldfield swam in front of the rowers. He was handed a six-month prison sentence.

The race must go on! Hopefully with less drama than last year