UK weather: Heavy snow triggers avalanche on Mount Snowdon amid plunging temperatures
Follow the latest updates as second ice age dawns
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Your support makes all the difference.Most of Britain is on alert for ice and snow, with “very significant snowfall” expected this week as temperatures plunge to at least minus 10C in parts of the country, the Met Office has warned.
A weather system forecast to arrive on Thursday could break this winter’s current record low of -10.8C and bring up to 10cm of snow to parts of southern England.
Yellow weather warnings issued for snow and ice cover the majority of the UK on Wednesday – with only a narrow sliver of the country north east of Carlisle not affected.
Journeys on slushy roads are set to take “a lot longer” than usual.
You can follow dedicated travel disruption coverage here.
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Hello and welcome to The Independent's coverage of the day's freezing winter weather.
After more snow fell on higher ground overnight, temperatures are expected to plunge to at least minus 10 degrees Celsius in parts of the country, the Met Office has warned.
This would surpass the record low for this winter and bring up to 10cm of snow to parts of southern England.
Yellow weather warnings for snow and ice cover the majority of the UK on Wednesday - with only a narrow sliver of the country north east of Carlisle not affected.
Journeys on the roads could take "a lot" longer and should be avoided if possible, says Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill.
The warning in Scotland, Northern Ireland and most of the UK runs until 11am on Wednesday, while the South East, London and East Anglia are covered until 12pm.
Further warnings have been issued for Thursday when a new weather front comes in which could bring in more wintry weather.
"Looking further ahead, it's what happens on Thursday that has the potential to be more disruptive," Mr Burkill said.
"It does have the potential to bring some very significant snow. We have already got a warning out in force for it. It's currently just a yellow warning, but it's not out of the question that will be ramped up nearer the time. It's looking like it will be a spell of persistent snow."
You can follow dedicated coverage of any developing travel disruption below.
The scene near Stockport this morning, where thick snow is blanketing whole neighbourhoods.
Perhaps the most dramatic news of the morning is Manchester and Liverpool airports being forced to close runways as a result of the Arctic blast. Stephen Jones's picture below tells a story.
Speaking of Liverpool, while the plows are out in force at John Lennon Airport, here's the Fab Four themselves snowed under in the city centre.
Today actually marks the 50th anniversary of The Beatles playing on the roof of Apple Corps' headquarters on Savile Row in London. Too cold for that now.
Below is a round-up of confirmed school closures in the North West so far this morning as a result of the snow.
No doubt the pupils are inconsolable.
Liverpool
Abbot's Lea School, Liverpool
Woolton High School, Liverpool
Clifford Holroyde Specialist SEN College, Liverpool
Gilbrook School, Birkenhead
Lathom High School, Skelmersdale
St Bedes High School, Ormskirk
Orrets Meadow, Wirral
Greater Manchester
Falinge Park High School in Rochdale
Bramhall High School in Stockport
Crompton House School in Oldham
Elsewhere, the following institutions are shut for the day.
Devon
Ilsington Church of England Primary
Widecombe-in-the-Moor Primary
Northern Ireland
Killen Primary School
Ballycastle High School
Cross and Passion College
Gaelscoil an Chaistil
St Patrick's and St Brigid's Primary School
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