The Palace of
Westminster was barely visible through a grey veil while Canary Wharf
seemed to be poking skywards through a blanket of cloud.
Further
fog was predicted today, but forecasters are more concerned about
violent storms gearing up to batter Britain, with torrential rain and
90mph gales on the way.
Yesterday’s pea-souper
was caused by warm air from the Atlantic hitting cold air over Britain.
It triggered chaos on the roads and more than 100 flights at Heathrow
and London’s City airport were cancelled.
Today the entire
country is on alert for ferocious winds to wreak havoc over Christmas,
while intense rainfall threatens more floods. The worst of the weather
is set to hit the North today before sweeping across the country during
the next few days.
Plunging temperatures are
expected to bring snow next week – and forecasters say it could be well
into the New Year before there is any let-up.
Last
night the Met Office issued a yellow severe weather warning for
Scotland. Chief forecaster Will Lang said: “Gusts of 60-70mph are likely
with a risk of gusts to 80mph or more across exposed parts of
north-west Scotland. It’s possible that northern England and parts of
Wales could also be affected.”
Jonathan Powell,
of Vantage Weather, said a series of furious low-pressure systems were
gathering strength and it could be the second week in January before the
storms die down.
“We have a succession of low-pressure systems barrelling in from the Atlantic which are going to trigger these storms,” he said.
“The
jet stream is shifting southwards which is the main problem, but it is
going to make things very stormy right through Christmas and into the
New Year.
“Gales will become more widespread
from next week with 90mph gusts likely in exposed regions. There is also
going to be up to two inches of rain.”
