Flooding and travel disruption is likely across southern England, forecasters have warned.

The Met Office said “mist, fog and freezing fog (including freezing drizzle)” will be slow to clear across the south of the country today.

Red fog has also been reported, and flights could be cancelled and journeys delayed.

The Environment Agency has 24 flood warnings in place, requiring residents to “act now” to protect themselves and their homes.

Residents in affected areas are being told to turn off gas, water and electricity supplies, and to move things upstairs, while also taking family, pets and cars to safety where necesary.

Flooding was expected in areas such as Ludgershall and the South Downs in Wiltshire, as well as parts of Dorset and Somerset.

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At the other end of the UK, in Scotland, a burst water main caused havoc in Milngavie, Glasgow after 100,000 properties were left without water, affecting Glasgow City centre and the surrounding suburbs.

Water supply has now been restored but the incident caused flooding and significant damage to road surfaces.

Check the weather forecast where you are

Sub-zero start for the south in ‘unusual’ week

A Met Office yellow weather warning ran until 8am on Wednesday, for an area stretching from Exeter to Oxford, with the region reaching lows of -5C. Lows of -6C were recorded overnight at Bournemouth Airport.

Commuters were asked to prepare for longer journey times due to possible bus and train delays as freezing fog led to reduced visibility and untreated surfaces turning icy, causing difficult driving conditions.

Fog was also forecast to linger in Bath and North East Somerset, Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire.

Rain will reach southern England later this afternoon and last into the early evening, the Met Office added. The outlook for the weekend sees a cold start on Friday, spreading south on Saturday and Sunday, with showers following.

• Avoid travel if possible

• Drive very slowly with dipped headlights as full-beam lights reflect off the fog causing a ‘white wall’ effect

• Keep an eye on your speed as fog can give the illusion of moving in slow motion

• Use fog lights, but remember to turn them off when the visibility improves

• Don’t hang on the lights of the car in front. Rear lights can give a false sense of security

• Watch out for freezing fog which is made of water droplets that freeze on contact with objects such as the pavement, road, car, etc. It can quickly form a layer of ice

Information provided by the Met Office in conjunction with the Highways Agency

Yesterday, unusual weather “flipped the norm” with parts of the Highlands recording 10.6C in comparison to southern England’s -9C.

A change in wind direction caused the mild temperatures in Scotland. Met Office spokesman Oli Claydon said the weather was “relatively unusual”.

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