BRITAIN TO EXPERIENCE WORST SNOWSTORMS IN 30 YEARS

Britain was on alert last night as forecasters warned the worst snowstorms for nearly 30 years could dump up to 19 inches today.

Blizzards, drifting snow and ice could cause the most severe disruption since February 1991. The nation faces widespread chaos on roads and transport networks with loss of power and phone signals likely as Storm Emma roars in.

It came as the Met Office yesterday issued a red warning for severe weather. A man died after falling through ice on a frozen lake. The top-level red alert for snow across Scotland was the first ever north of the border.

Red warnings are rarely issued and carry the advice “take action now to keep yourself and others safe from the impact of the weather. “Widespread damage, travel and power disruption and risk to life is likely.” A raft of other severe weather alerts are in place through the coming days with up to two feet of snow forecast by the weekend.

Emma will rip into the South-west tonight before spreading across the South through tomorrow morning. People are advised to avoid nonessential travel with severe disruption expected on roads, railways and at airports. Up to 19in is forecast to fall across London, south-west England, Wales and the West Midlands before tomorrow lunchtime.

Similar amounts are expected across northern and central England and Scotland with the whole country on alert for a deluge. The South and South-east including London, East Anglia, Kent and the North-east bore the brunt of yesterday’s onslaught.

A man, believed to be in his 60s, died in hospital yesterday after being pulled from a frozen lake after he fell through the ice as he tried to save his dog.

Emergency services were called to Danson Park in Welling, south-east London. He was taken to a south London hospital where he was later confirmed dead. Flights were cancelled at London City, Glasgow and Newcastle airports with more than 100 grounded at London’s Heathrow.

Most railway operators were hit leading to long delays and cancellations on Britain’s train networks. More than 4,000 schools across the nation were closed due to the bad weather with children likely to be told to stay at home again today.

Met Office chief forecaster Andy Page said today roads will be blocked while rural communities face being cut off for days. He said: “Heavy snow showers and drifting of lying snow in the strong easterly winds will become more widespread overnight into Thursday.

“Roads will become blocked by deep snow with many stranded vehicles and passengers.”

“Long delays and cancellations on bus, rail and air travel are expected, some communities could become cut off for several days.”

Freezing conditions and blizzards could knock power supplies out for days with disruption to mobile phone signals also possible, he said.

He added: “Widespread snow is expected to develop through Thursday afternoon and evening, accompanied by strong easterly winds, leading to drifting of lying snow in places. “Around 10 to 20 centimetres [4-8in] is likely to fall quite widely, with the potential for up to 50 centimetres [19in] over parts of Dartmoor and Exmoor.

“There could be long interruptions to power supplies and other services.”

Britain is facing the longest cold snap in decades with freezing temperatures set to hold out until mid March in parts, the Met Office said.