Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email
The National Grid has issued a “gas deficit warning” over fears supplies could run out as temperatures plummet across the country.
The operator of the UK’s power network issued the guidance at 5am on Thursday as supply slipped 48 million cubic metres short of demand.
A spokesperson said the notice was a “first stage” warning to say “it’s looking tight”, which will remain in place until 5am on Friday.
The operator also asked industrial customers to use less gas in a bid to shore up the supply. According to the latest forecast, there is a shortfall of 50 million cubic metres.
“National gas demand today is high and due to the extreme weather conditions, there have been gas supply losses overnight,” the operator said in a statement. “At 5.45am this morning we issued a ‘Gas Deficit Warning’ to the market.
“This is an indication to the market that we’d like more gas to be made available to ensure the safe and reliable operation of the national gas network. We are in communication with industry partners and are closely monitoring the situation.”
Arctic blast hits UK – in picturesShow all 51 1 /51Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures Members of the Serpentine Swimming Club brave the icy depths of the Serpentine in Hyde Park
Rob Pinney/LNP
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures A person crosses the snowy street in Edinburgh's Royal Mile
PA
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures St Michael's Mount, near Marazion, Cornwall, lies covered in snow
PA Wire/PA Images
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures Edinburgh's Princes Street in the snow
Getty Images
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures Houses covered in snow Penzance, Cornwall
PA Wire/PA Images
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures Canal boats are frozen into Birmingham's canal system
PA
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures The M62 near Huddersfield was closed for hours on Thursday. A Highways England vehicle set alight
PA
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures The M80 near Glasgow was stationary for hours on Wednesday night
PA
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures A family make their way in the snow in Balloch, Scotland
Getty
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures Closed barriers at Paddington in West London as trains were cancelled from the station
AFP/Getty
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures Workers clear a platform at Paddington station in west London
AFP/Getty
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures A council worker breaks the ice on the fountain in Trafalgar Square in London
Reuters
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures A 4x4 makes its way along the road in Alexandria, Scotland
Getty
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures Two boys play in the snow on a housing estate in Alexandria, Scotland
Getty
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures The M876 to Glasgow is closed due to snow as storm Emma, rolling in from the Atlantic, looks poised to meet the Beast from the East’s chilly Russia air
PA
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures Icicles form on the seafront railings at Penzance in Cornwall
PA
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures The British Waterways building in Nottingham
PA
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures Snow lingers on rooftops of houses in Newlyn near Penzance, ahead of the arrival of Storm Emma
Getty
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures A commuter in a hi-viz jacket cycles through the snow
Getty Images
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures A taxi crosses London Bridge
AFP/Getty
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures A pedestrian walks along Whitehall in London.
EPA
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures A woman feeds the birds in Kensington Gardens
AP
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures Snow ploughs clear drifts on the sea front road in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside.
PA
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures Vehicles slow in the snowy conditions.
AP
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures Icicles hang from a frozen elephant fountain in Colchester.
Getty Images
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures A young man takes a running jump down a snow covered hill with his sledge.
Getty
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures People help push a car that got stuck in the snow in Rochester.
Getty
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures Stationary traffic on the M20 near Ashford.
PA
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures A Eurostar train passes through Ashford.
PA
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures People use their sleds in the snow in Jackson's Fields in Rochester.
Getty
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures Parents walk their children to school in Ashford, Kent, as heavy snowfall is affecting roads across the UK.
PA
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures Cars travel through Great Chart in Ashford, Kent.
PA
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures Vehicles crawl along a road as snow falls in south east England, as seen through the window of a train travelling from London to Canterbury.
AP
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures People walk in the snow in the village of Brenchley in southeast England.
AFP/Getty
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures A swimmer braves the snowy conditions at King Edwards bay near Tynemouth.
PA
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures A woman scrapes ice from her car.
Getty Images
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures People sled in the snow in Rochester.
Getty
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures Children play on sledges outside Rochester Castle.
Getty
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures Toby Stanton walks to school in Ashford during heavy snowfall.
PA
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures Snow stands by parked trains at Ashford International in southeast England.
AP
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures A snowy Tynemouth beach, following heavy overnight snowfall.
PA
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures Roads across the UK have seen a blanketing of snow, with police forces reporting treacherous driving conditions and blocked routes.
PA
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures Commuters face a miserable journey to work as the snow falls in freezing temperatures in Pimlico.
Rex Features
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures People photograph a frozen waterfall near Pen y Fan mountain on Brecon Beacon National Park, Wales.
PA
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures A woman laden with shopping struggles through the snow in south London.
EPA/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures Commuters walking in the snow on London Bridge.
PA
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures A woman carrying an umbrella walks past a homeless person sleeping in a doorway during a snow shower in London.
Getty
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures People make their way through a snow flurry in London.
Reuters
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures Trucks are stuck after heavy snow on the motorway in Briscous, near Bayonne, southwestern France
AP
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures A commuter pedals along Whitehall in central London
EPA
Arctic blast hits UK – in pictures A man places snow chains on his tyres in Leek, Staffordshire
Reuters
It comes as bitterly cold temperatures and heavy snowfall grip the UK as Storm Emma hits.
UK weather: The latest Met Office forecast Schools around the country remained closed on Thursday as Britain braced for another day of sub-zero temperatures and “blizzard-like” conditions.
Temperatures plunged to lows of -6C overnight, and the Met Office warned it could feel as cold as -11C during the day as winds continue to strengthen.
The Met Office escalated a heavy snow weather warning for south-west England and south Wales to red – its highest level – meaning “widespread damage, travel and power disruption and risk to life is likely” from 3pm.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies