UK snow live: Road and rail chaos as almost 200 schools closed after severe snow weather 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.
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.”
Weather to turn ‘much colder’ this week
As the snow showers expected to fall on Monday night clear, things are about to get colder for much of the UK, the Met Office has said.
It revealed that daytime temperatures will be in the low single figures for most, potentially slightly less cold in the far south, though sub-zero wind chill is likely.
Despite the cold temperatures, there will be a good deal of sunshine away from the wintry showers near the coasts.
Watch: UK braces for ‘disruptive snow’, ice and cold temperatures
More snow to fall
More snow and ice is expected over the coming days, with temperatures plunging to below average levels for the time of year.
“It is going to be quite a widely cold week,” Met Office spokesperson Nicola Maxey said. “A few degrees below average both day and night for most of the country.”
It is predicted temperatures could drop to minus 2C in London on Friday, minus 4C in Birmingham and minus 7C further north.
There is a possibility of 15-20cm (around 6-7.8in) of snow on ground above 300m (984ft), 5-10cm (around 2-4in) in areas higher than 200m (656ft), with a “chance” that snow could hit lower levels and cause road disruption – although the likelihood of that remains “uncertain”.
“There’s likely to be a widespread frost overnight as we get this colder air coming in from the arctic maritime air mass – cold air from the north pushing down across the country – which will be across the whole country by the middle of the week,” Ms Maxey said.
Where has snow fallen so far?
On Monday, snow dusted grounds across Scotland, including at the Glenshee Ski Centre near Braemar and at Corgarff, both in Aberdeenshire, as well as alongside the A939 near The Lecht in the Cairngorms.
Snow also blanketed the mountain of Ingleborough, while frost covered berries in bushes near Clapham, in the Yorkshire Dales.
Met Office spokesperson Nicola Maxey said snow has mostly fallen on hilltops so far on Monday – with 2cm falling in Lerwick, Shetland.
The latest Met Office forecast
Where are the weather warnings issued?
The Met Office issued several yellow weather warnings for snow and ice for parts of the UK and will likely issue further alerts.
On Monday, a warning comes into force at 3pm and is in place until 10am on Tuesday covering Northern Ireland.
Another yellow alert comes into effect at 4pm and is in place until 10am on Wednesday, covering areas in Scotland, and a third goes live at 7pm and lasts until 10am on Tuesday covering areas in the East Midlands, Yorkshire and the north of England.
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