Cold conditions have also been seen across mainland Europe, as an amber cold-health alert has been extended until the weekend for the whole of England.

It comes as London is one of the few places in the UK today (Monday, January 5) to not have been hit with a weather warning. The Met Office has issued a series of yellow warnings of snow and ice, and amber warnings of snow across Britain.

Services under strain have appealed to patients to make their own way to hospital if they can, including taking a lift with a friend or calling a taxi

Weather warnings are in place for various parts of the UK until Monday, with the heaviest snowfall expected to hit Scotland.

This is because the Mayor of London sent out a notice saying Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) will be deactivated. But the move has been branded as ‘life-threatening’ for those with nowhere warm to sleep, after the city has seen snowfall and icy conditions today.

The Met Office has issued a “risk to life” weather warning as snow is set to blanket the UK, with blizzards set to hit some areas. Weather alerts in parts of Scotland have been upgraded from yellow to amber by the forecaster, while yellow warnings are in place elsewhere as people face a wintry start to the new year.

In London, the main anticipated impacts are wet and windy weather, with rain likely and gusts that could be noticeable but not as extreme as the top 80–100 mph gusts expected in exposed western parts of the UK. Although the risk of disruption exists, London is not forecast to experience the worst of the storm’s severe winds or heavy snow.

East Midlands Airport has temporarily closed its main runway after heavy snowfall caused by Storm Goretti, leading to disruption for passengers and delays to flights. The airport confirmed the closure in an early morning update,