UK weather live: Road and rail chaos as almost 200 schools closed after severe snow alert issued
National Highways warned of disruption as London saw snow fall on Tuesday morning
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Your support makes all the difference.The UK has been hit with travel chaos and school closures with up to 15cm of snow expected to fall in some parts of the country.
Motorists are facing disruption and train services have been cancelled as the Met Office issued three yellow weather alerts for snow and ice covering much of northern England.
National Highways warned of snow disruption for the North east and North west until 10am on Tuesday - with 10-15cm expected to fall on some motorways.
Meanwhile, National Rail warned the cold climate would impact various routes on the Northern Rail until at least 2pm on Tuesday.
So far some 130 schools in Powys, Flintshire, Denbighshire and Wrexham have reported that they will be shut today.
In the England, including places like Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Warwickshire, around 40 schools have closed so far.
A yellow snow and ice warning is currently in place until 10am on Tuesday covering Northern Ireland.
Another yellow alert is in place until 10am on Wednesday, covering areas in Scotland, and a third lasts until 11am on Tuesday covering areas in the East Midlands, Yorkshire and the north of England.
On Monday morning, London saw snowfall as commuters made their way to work.
Pictured: Snowfall across the UK
Up to 15cm of snow expected
National Highways has warned of snow disruption for the North east and North west until 10am on Tuesday - with 10-15cm expected to fall on some motorways.
Meanwhile, a Met Office yellow snow and ice warning is currently in place until 10am on Tuesday covering Northern Ireland.
Another yellow alert is in place until 10am on Wednesday, covering areas in Scotland, and a third lasts until 11am on Tuesday covering areas in the East Midlands, Yorkshire and the north of England.
Within affected areas, there is a chance of power cuts, disruption to road and public transport and the risk of injury from slipping on ice.
Schools forced to close
Yorkshire schools have also closed their doors amid the weather warnings, with others also closing in Oxfordshire due to electrical and water supply issues.
In Greater Manchester a number of schools shut yesterday in the Rochdale area due to a burst water main.
Motorways and railways disrupted
Motorists in England’s north have been put on notice and train services cancelled after severe weather warnings were issued across the UK.
National Rail warned the cold climate would impact various routes on the Northern Rail until at least 2pm on Tuesday.
National Highways issued an amber severe snow alert for roads across the North East and North West of the country. Road users were advised to take extra care and avoid the area if possible.
Impacted roads included the M26 between J21-J23, the M1 at Leeds and Sheffield and the M56 at Manchester.
Rush hour warning issued to commuters
The Met Office has warned those commuting in Tuesday morning’s rush hour to expect delays to their journey due to the weather.
As the forecaster warns that more snow is to be expected in the coming days, it added that some disruptive showers will be expected in some areas on Tuesday morning
Dan Suri. Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “This is likely to coincide with rush hour, leading to disruption to some transport routes across a central swathe of the UK on Tuesday morning. It will also be windy in the far south.”
Pictured: Snow falls in the UK
Rail journeys likely to be disrupted
As more snow is expected to fall in areas of the UK, rail companies are warning passengers that their journeys may be disrupted.
TransPennine Express have given customers an option to use tickets bought for this evening or tomorrow on Wednesday instead if they wish to change their travel plans due to the forecast.
Northern told passengers that Network Rail teams were on standby as they told customers that the weather may cause some disruption.
What is ‘anticyclonic gloom’ and why is it making the weather so dull and dreary?
The Met Office offered an explanation as to why the UK is being gripped by grey mist and fog, which has seen people voice their frustration over the dismal weather.
Britain is currently in the middle of “anticyclonic gloom”, which has blanketed the country in a “claustrophobic” low cloud for several days at the beginning of November.
In a post on social media platform X, the Met Office explained what the term meant.
The forecaster said: “This can occur when high pressure traps a layer of moisture near to the earth’s surface, bringing a prolonged period of dull and cloudy weather, with mist and fog also possible. How would you describe today’s weather?”
Read the full story here:
What is ‘anticyclonic gloom’ and why is it making the weather so dull and dreary?
The phenomenon which causes fog and grey clouds is called ‘anticyclonic gloom’, the forecaster said
What to do before you travel in severe weather
To ensure your travel plans go without a hitch, it’s important to plan your journey in advance, particularly if you’re travelling on routes you’re not familiar with.
Here is National Highway’s advice for what to do before you travel:
- Plan your route
- Check the availability of service areas along your route
- Make sure you know how to operate your headlights and fog lights
- Check your vehicle
- Pack a winter kit
- Check the weather forecast. If snow or ice is expected, consider delaying your journey until it clears.
- Check traffic conditions on our website and on Twitter
Will the weather clear up at the weekend?
As snow and freezing temperatures are cast across the UK at the outset of the week, the Met Office has predicted it will turn milder and wetter for the weekend
The forecasters said: “As we head towards the end of the week, it looks like there will be an upswing in temperatures, with things turning milder, wetter, and possibly much windier for the weekend.”
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