LONDON — On Monday, numerous individuals were rescued from inundated homes and stranded vehicles as relentless rain and chilly temperatures continued to wreak havoc across the U.K., with expectations for further wintry conditions ahead.
The reopening of schools in 2025 was marred by the closure of hundreds of them due to the severe weather conditions. Train services were disrupted, and commuters were faced with significant challenges as various highways and major roads were rendered impassable due to flooding and hazardous snow.
Since before New Year’s, the U.K. has experienced powerful winds and heavy rainfall, causing many fireworks displays and festivities to be canceled. Numerous communities have already been grappling with substantial flooding as the new year began.
By Monday afternoon, flood warnings had been issued for nearly 200 locations across England. Many train services were either canceled or facing delays, caused by floodwaters and fallen trees blocking the tracks.
Authorities reported that the body of a man, believed to have entered the water over the weekend, was discovered in a flooded region near the River Aire in northern England. North Yorkshire police are working on determining his identity.
In the English Midlands, the counties of Leicestershire and Lincolnshire declared major incidents in response to hundreds of emergency calls as rivers overflowed, turning streets into torrents and submerging vehicles up to their roofs.
According to the Leicestershire fire service, nearly 60 people were saved from flood-logged properties and cars. The Lincolnshire Resilience Forum noted that emergency responders were also attempting to reach children trapped in a school in Edenham—safe, but unable to leave.
In one remarkable rescue, a pub owner waded through icy waters to save a woman stuck in her vehicle. Cimi Kazazi, the proprietor of the Italian Greyhound in Great Glen, found his pub partially flooded upon arrival and later assisted the woman, who had attempted to drive home but got trapped as water levels rose.
“She tried to drive through the water but realized it was deeper than it appeared. The water was quickly rising,” stated Luigi Salcini, the pub manager. “She started screaming for help, prompting us to come to her aid.”
In rural regions, hedgerows peeked above the muddy floodwaters, signaling the boundaries of farmland that had been largely submerged. To the southeast of London, the Little Venice trailer park in Yalding, Kent, was completely encircled by rising waters.
While snow provided a picturesque scene in the hills of northern England and parts of Scotland, it also led to the closure of hundreds of schools, halting education on what was planned as the first day of the year.
As temperatures continued to plummet, authorities cautioned individuals to be vigilant about icy conditions anticipated on Tuesday. Snow and ice alerts were issued for vast areas of the U.K., continuing into Tuesday and extending through Wednesday for southern regions.
