UK weather forecast latest: Britain 'not out of the woods yet' as Storm Emma to lash country with more heavy snow freezing winds

Alexandra Richards2 March 2018

The UK "is not out of the woods yet" forecasters warned as Britain remained in the grip of an icy blast leaving road and rail commuters trapped in Arctic conditions.

Military rescue operations were launched across the country as hundreds of drivers became stranded in the icy conditions on Thursday night.

Hundreds of rail passengers were trapped on crippled South Western trains services overnight with no power, heating, limited food and water, they said.

Storm Emma has already claimed the lives of 10 people including a seven year-old girl who was killed in a car crash in Cornwall as she played in the snow.

The Army were drafted in to deal with a “major incident” on the A31 in Hampshire as harsh conditions brought cars to a standstill leaving drivers stuck in their cars.

Assistant Chief Constable Dave Powell said: "All emergency services are working as hard as they can to get to as many people as possible at the scene and give them immediate assistance.

"I know that many people have been stuck for several hours and we are working as fast as we can to get to them, but at this stage we are limited to moving people from the scene rather than moving vehicles."

Devon and Cornwall Police also launched a major rescue mission after around 300 drivers became trapped on roads, with the South West bearing the brunt of Storm Emma on Thursday evening.

In the North, huge stretches of the M62 near Manchester were closed for hours, with nearby residents reportedly trekking out to the motorway with offerings of food.

NHS Somerset declared a “major incident” as some overnight staff were unable to get to work because of the snow. People were warned to only call 999 in a life-threatening emergency.

In Scotland, troops were called in to help transport hundreds of hospital staff during a late shift change period.

A seven-year-old girl who was killed in a car crash as she played in the snow.

It is understood that a Nissan Car skidded into a house in Looe, Cornwall, at 2.30pm on Thursday. Devon and Cornwall police are investigating the incident.

Elsewhere in the country a 46-year-old man died in a collision in South Hampton on the A34 and a 75-year-old woman was found dead in the street in Leeds.

On Wednesday the body of 47-year-old care worker Elaine McNeil was found in the street in Glasgow after she failed to show up for work.

UK Weather: Beast from the East freeze - In pictures

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Four people died in separate road accidents on Tuesday in Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire while a homeless man was found dead in his tent in Cambridge amid freezing conditions.

Stephen Cavanagh, 60, died after falling into freezing water at Danson Park, in Welling, south east London. Early reports suggested he was attempting to rescue a dog from icy water.

The extreme conditions also prompted displays of heroism when a man was forced to deliver his baby in the snow.

Andrew Waring jumped into action when it became clear that he would not be able to get his wife Daniella to hospital on time.

Fortunately paramedics were able to arrive at the scene and Baby Sienna Waring was born on the A66, near Darlington, as the storm battered the motorway.

Daniella and Andrew Waring safe and warm with baby Sienna at the hospital
Facebook/County Durham and Darlington

Across the country selfless NHS staff have been hailed for their incredible efforts to make it into work with some sleeping in hospitals overnight to ensure they are on time for their shifts.

A red weather warning, meaning that conditions could pose a risk to life, expired at 2am on Friday morning but amber warnings for snow are still in place for much of Scotland, the North East of England and parts of Northern Ireland, running until 10am.

More wind and snow is expected in south western parts of the UK until 8am.

Up to 50cm of snow could fall over parts of Dartmoor, Exmoor and south east Wales.

Yellow warnings for snow are also in place for vast swathes of the country for the whole day, while a yellow warning for wind covers the North East of England and Wales until midday.

Forecasters have said that temperatures will once again be below freezing for many parts of the UK during the day, with strong winds making it feel even chillier.

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