News
UK Braces for Cold Snap with Snow and Ice Alerts Expected
According to Helen Willetts, a significant drop in temperature is expected this weekend, leading to notably colder conditions.
A snow-covered peak in Glenmore, Scotland, was visible in the February sunshine, a rare sight after a prolonged period of gloomy weather.
The Met Office has issued two yellow weather warnings for snow and ice, effective across Scotland and northern England, as a mass of Arctic air prepares to move into the region.
Temperatures are expected to drop significantly overnight, bringing the first widespread frost of the month to the UK by Friday.
This shift in the weather pattern marks a notable change from the record-breaking wet and dreary conditions that have persisted for weeks, characterized by a "blocked" weather system.
In a welcome development, the city of Aberdeen experienced its first glimpse of sunshine in three weeks on Thursday, signaling a potential end to the prolonged period of gloom.
Areas under Met Office yellow warnings for snow and ice have been identified, with specific regions at risk of hazardous conditions.
A yellow warning is in effect for Scotland, with snow and ice expected to impact the region overnight on Thursday and into Friday, potentially resulting in a few centimeters of snow on lower-lying roads by morning.
Elevations above 300 meters may see snowfall amounts ranging from 2 to 5 centimeters, with localized accumulations of up to 10 centimeters possible.
In addition to snow, icy conditions will also pose a hazard, particularly on untreated surfaces.
A second yellow warning has been issued for northern England and the north Midlands, where snow is expected to fall at lower elevations, although it is unlikely to settle below 200 meters; higher areas may see 2 to 5 centimeters of snow, with some locations potentially receiving up to 10 centimeters.
The combination of snow and ice is likely to cause disruptions on routes across the Pennines, as well as in Derbyshire and Cumbria, with treacherous conditions anticipated on untreated roads and pavements due to plummeting temperatures.
Saturday is expected to begin with cold and frosty conditions, but the entire UK can expect to see some sunshine, making it the driest day in a while.
However, the risk of snow returns on Saturday night and Sunday, potentially affecting a wide area, including lower-lying regions; the BBC Weather website and app will provide the latest updates and forecasts.
The BBC Weather website and app also offer hourly forecasts for specific locations, allowing users to stay informed about local conditions.
Guidance on driving safely in snowy and icy conditions is available, emphasizing the importance of caution and preparedness.
Tips on caring for pets, including dogs and cats, during cold weather are also available, highlighting the need for extra attention and protection.
Aberdeen's prolonged period of cloudy skies finally began to clear on Thursday, with the sun making a brief appearance.
The city of Aberdeen, located in north-east Scotland, has experienced an unusually long period of wet and grey weather, with the sun hidden behind clouds for an extended period.
On Thursday, the sun finally broke through the clouds between 15:00 and 16:00, marking a welcome return to the city's skies after a prolonged period of gloom.
Although the sun's appearance was brief, lasting only around 30 minutes, it marked the end of the record-breaking cloud cover that had persisted over the city.
Surrounding areas in north-east Scotland may have also caught a glimpse of blue sky on Thursday, but it is expected that Friday will bring more widespread sunshine, breaking the cycle of gloomy weather.
Across England, 75 flood warnings remain in place, with the Environment Agency warning of ongoing flooding from groundwater and rivers in several counties, including Dorset, Wiltshire, and Somerset.
After 21 days of gloomy weather, Aberdeen finally saw the sun on Thursday, bringing an end to the city's record-breaking period of cloud cover.
In response to the forecasted Arctic blast, the UK's Health Security Agency has issued yellow alerts for the colder weather, effective from 06:00 GMT on Friday to 08:00 GMT on Monday.
The agency warns that the cold weather may have minor impacts on health and social care services, including increased demand for healthcare and a greater risk to vulnerable individuals.
Temperatures are expected to remain below average over the weekend, gradually returning to more typical values of around 2-5C by Tuesday.
Information on how cold weather health alerts function and their significance is available, highlighting the importance of being informed and prepared.
The question of whether the UK's wetter winters and frequent flooding are becoming a permanent feature of the country's climate is being explored, with ongoing discussions about the potential long-term implications.
Entertainment And Arts
Spielberg Contributes $25,000 to Van Der Beek’s $2 Million Crowdfunding Campaign
The relatives of the deceased actor, known for his role in Dawson’s Creek, have expressed gratitude to those who contributed to the $2m fund.
A donation of $25,000 (£21,000) has been made by film director Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw, to a GoFundMe campaign that has raised over $2m (£1.6m) for the family of late actor James Van Der Beek.

Van Der Beek, who passed away at the age of 48, is survived by his wife Kimberly and their six children, and the crowdfunding effort to support his family has now exceeded its initial target of $2m.
Other notable donors include Oscar-winning actress Zoe Saldana, who contributed $2,500 (£2,108), and director Jon M Chu, who gave $10,000 (£8,432) to the cause.
A statement from the organizers of the fundraiser, Friends of the Van Der Beek family, expressed gratitude to all contributors, stating that their support is deeply appreciated.
The statement highlighted the significance of the donations, saying that the kindness shown by contributors is beyond words.
It also noted that the outpouring of support has been a source of comfort during a difficult time, serving as a reminder of the power of love, community, and the enduring legacy of James Van Der Beek.
Van Der Beek was perhaps best known for his starring role in the popular US teen drama series Dawson's Creek, which aired from 1998 to 2003, although he remained associated with the show until 2023.
Although Van Der Beek and Spielberg never collaborated on a project, the late actor's character in Dawson's Creek was a fan of Spielberg's work, with posters of films like ET and Schindler's List featured in his bedroom.
At a Dawson's Creek cast reunion event last year, Spielberg paid tribute to Van Der Beek by sending a video message.
In the message, Spielberg said, "Dawson, you made it," and jokingly added that he hoped to one day have a room like Dawson's, filled with memorabilia from his films.
Van Der Beek passed away on Wednesday after a battle with bowel cancer.

He had been dealing with the diagnosis since August 2023 and publicly disclosed his condition in November 2024.
The GoFundMe campaign was launched to help the family with medical expenses, which had depleted their funds.
The statement from the organizers concluded by saying that the family is currently taking time to grieve and be together, and thanked everyone for their compassionate and generous support in honoring James Van Der Beek's life.
News
Zimbabwe Shocks Australia with Muzarabani’s Exceptional Performance
Zimbabwe secured a stunning 23-run victory over Australia in the T20 World Cup, with Blessing Muzarabani playing a key role by taking 4-17.
In the current T20 world rankings, Zimbabwe occupies the 12th position.
The Men's T20 World Cup is underway in Group B at Colombo.
Zimbabwe's innings concluded at 169-2 after 20 overs, with Bennett scoring an unbeaten 64 off 56 deliveries, while Green claimed 1-6.
Australia's reply ended at 146 after 19.3 overs, as Renshaw top-scored with 65 off 44 balls, and Muzarabani took 4-17.
The match resulted in a 23-run victory for Zimbabwe.
A standout performance from Blessing Muzarabani, who took 4-17, helped Zimbabwe secure a thrilling 23-run win over Australia in the T20 World Cup.
After being set a target of 170, Australia found themselves in trouble at 29-4, but a 77-run partnership between Matthew Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell for the fifth wicket gave them hope.
With 34 runs needed from the last two overs, Renshaw's dismissal for 65, caught off Muzarabani with eight balls remaining, essentially sealed the game's outcome.
The result has left Group B finely balanced after two matches each, with Australia trailing Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka by two points, ahead of their meeting with Sri Lanka on Monday.
Initially, Zimbabwe's approach to batting first at the R. Premadasa Stadium appeared overly cautious.
Brian Bennett's innings of 64 not out from 56 balls, including seven fours, was played at a strike rate of 114.28, as he anchored the Zimbabwean batting.
In contrast, Tadiwanashe Marumani and Ryan Burl adopted a more aggressive approach, scoring 35 off 21 and 30 balls, respectively.
A late surge from Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza, who scored 25 off 13 balls, including the team's only six on the final ball, provided a boost to their total.
Australia's target seemed achievable, given their total of 182-6 in their previous win against Ireland.
However, the Australian batting line-up was severely dented by the loss of key wickets, including Josh Inglis, Travis Head, Cameron Green, and Tim David, courtesy of Muzarabani and Brad Evans.
A partnership between Renshaw and Maxwell offered some respite, but when Maxwell fell for 31, dragged on to Burl, the pressure mounted on Australia.
Muzarabani's return to bowl the penultimate over proved decisive, as he removed Renshaw, and Zimbabwe subsequently wrapped up the win.
There are calls for the ICC to review the rules regarding 12th men.
For more information, including notifications and social media updates, visit BBC Sport.
A blogger who participates in the FPL is also competing in the T20 World Cup.
News
FA Cup Finalists Outside the Big Six Since 2008
As the FA Cup resumes this weekend, assess your understanding of past finalists that have competed from beyond the Premier League’s top six clubs.
This weekend, the FA Cup resumes with 32 teams remaining in contention for the historic trophy, which has been awarded for 155 years and will be presented to the winner in May.
Historically, the Premier League's top six clubs – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham – have dominated the FA Cup, claiming 32 titles out of the last 37.
However, in recent years, teams outside of this elite group have experienced some notable victories in the competition.
Since 2008, 10 teams from outside the traditional 'big six' have advanced to the FA Cup final – can you identify all of them?
For more quizzes, visit our Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes sections, where you can also subscribe to receive the latest quizzes directly on your device.
We have a quiz question tailored to each Premier League team – test your knowledge and see how you score.
Can you recall every team that has won the Women's Champions League?
Which players have made the most appearances in the Premier League – can you name them all?
Explore our Sports Quizzes page for a wide range of challenging and engaging quizzes.
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