UK weather – latest: Snow and ice warnings as Brits warned conditions ‘worse rather than better’
Saturday and Sunday slapped with fresh set of alerts for snow and ice
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Britain has been warned of more snow and ice this weekend after temperatures plummeted to -10C overnight.
Conditions are “actually going to get worse rather than better”, said Andrew Page-Dove of the National Highways, as there is risk of freezing rain on the roads after Storm Larisa.
The Met Office has issued yellow warnings for snow and ice which cover large swathes of the country.
Met Office meteorologist Matthew Box said rain, sleet and snow will push northeast across the country during the weekend, likely falling on the hills and mountains of the Pennines, the Cumbrian vales and some parts of Scotland.
But added snowfall would be “nothing to the same extent as what we saw on Thursday”.
It comes after persistent snowfall caused “absolute carnage” on the M62 trans-Pennine motorway on Friday.
Storm Larisa brought with it “treacherous conditions”, with 50mph winds and up to 40cm of snow forecast in some areas.
Today’s snowfall has been well documented across social media, with footage of snow-capped rooftops and wintry panoramas dominating our feeds.
Here are some of the top posts so far:
East Midlands Airport runway remains closed
In a second update on Thursday, a spokesperson for East Midlands Airport said: “Our runway remains closed as we continue to clear the airfield.
“Our ground handling teams are all operational and we have multiple de-icing vehicles in service.”
It reiterated that passengers should check with their airlines for the most up-to-date flight information.
The airport’s website says that four flights have been held at the gate, with others scheduled to depart later on Thursday having been delayed.
One arrival, a Ryanair flight from Wroclaw in Poland, was diverted to Birmingham Airport, according to a flight tracker.
In pictures: Snow and rain sweep through UK
Thousands of homes hit by power cuts as snow sweeps country
Thousands of homes are without power as snow continues to sweep the country as an Arctic blast sends temperatures plummeting.
Areas across the South East and east of England have been cut off as a result of power outages, with data from power distributer UK Power Networks suggesting that around 37,500 customers have been impacted.
Haverhill and Stowmarket in East Anglia have been hit by unplanned power outages, alongside areas in Hertfordshire and Essex including Bishop’s Stortford, Chelmsford, Hastingwood, Epping and Harlow.
Eleanor Noyce reports:
Thousands of homes hit by power cuts as snow sweeps country, from London to Scotland
Areas across the South East and east of England have been cut off amid freezing temperatures
Mapped: Where snow will fall on Friday as amber warnings issued
New maps have revealed where snow will fall as the UK is gripped by freezing temperatures.
Eleanor Noyce has the details:
Mapped: Where snow will fall on Friday as amber warnings issued
Some areas across the UK could see between 10 and 20 centimetres of snow
How do you know when it’s too cold to walk your dog?
If you’re a dog owner, you know that going for a walk is the best time of the day for your dog - apart from mealtimes, of course.
But as winter conditions continue into March, the Met Office has issued a cold weather warning, predicting that a cold snap is expected to sweep the UK. Temperatures are forecast to plummet on Tuesday (7 March), touching -3C (28F) in Scotland and -2C in the northwest and east of England.
The frosty atmosphere might make some dog owners think twice before stepping out with their furry friends, but walks are still important for dogs to keep fit, stretch their legs and use up excess energy.
So how can you tell when it’s too cold to walk your dog, and what should you do to keep them warm?
Read more:
How do you know when it’s too cold to walk your dog?
Snowy weather and sub-zero temperatures may cause your pooch to struggle on winter walks
Train travellers warned to expect disruption due to wintry weather
Snow and ice is expected to affect train journeys in many parts of Britain until Friday 10 March, National Rail has announced.
Passengers have been advised to check that their complete journey is possible before travel.
On Thursday, heavy snowfall is expected to extend south from Glasgow to parts of England, including Manchester.
Joanna Whitehead has the full story:
Train travellers warned to expect disruption due to wintry weather
Snowfall and rain are likely to continue into Thursday and Friday, the Met Office warns
Met Office issues warning for rain and snow across central England
The Met Office has issued an update for Thursday evening’s weather, with rain and snow continuing to sweep.
It has warned of strong easterly winds and blizzard conditions in places, warning that further disruption to travel remains likely.
Dogs don bright coats and knitted hats at Crufts amidst snow
Dogs donned bright coats and knitted hats as they battled the snow to be named best in show at Crufts.
Annual dog show Crufts, which is taking place between March 9 and 12 this year, welcomed back to the ring a host of animals, all vying to take home the win.
In a bid to impress judges, the furry competitors turned up to the event in their finest outfits.
One dog wore a bright yellow knitted hat, as well as a red and blue fleece, amid a backdrop of snow.
Others opted for bright jackets, with a Pyrenean mountain dog sporting an extremely thick purple and red number destined to keep the wearer warm.
A Samoyed dog named Felicity seemed to be perfecting her winner’s pose as she shielded herself from the snow under a rainbow umbrella.
A pink onesie, zebra print top and beige Burberry scarf were some of the other standout clothing items worn by the dogs.
Snowstorms are due to affect large parts of England, Wales and Northern Ireland on Thursday following the coldest March temperature in more than a decade which was recorded on Wednesday night - minus 16C at Altnaharra in the Highlands.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments