UK weather live: Met Office extends snow and ice warning as Britons set for power cuts and travel chaos
Met Office warns of disruption across southern England, the Midlands and eastern Wales
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Your support makes all the difference.The UK is bracing for another wave of snow and ice, with the Met Office issuing multiple warnings as temperatures plunged overnight, raising concerns over travel disruptions and power outages.
A yellow ice warning covering much of the east coast is in place until 12pm Wednesday, stretching down from Northumberland to Norwich.
The forecaster also extended a yellow snow and ice warning across northern Scotland between 10am Wednesday and 12pm Thursday.
Snow showers, some accompanied by lightning, began last night and are expected to carry on through the morning.
Snow may exceed 10cm over higher ground, with up to 20cm predicted in mountainous areas of Scotland by the end of the week.
“This will feel like the first taste of winter for many, with the snow and ice risks layered on top,” Met Office spokesperson Stephen Dixon said.
On Tuesday, the cold weather led to closure of over 140 schools mid, north-east, and south-east Wales, affecting areas such as Wrexham, Powys, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Torfaen, and Blaenau Gwent.
Pictured: Wintry scenes in Keele, Staffordshire
Sharp rise in breakdowns, RAC says
A sharp rise in vehicle breakdowns has been reported as yellow snow and ice warnings continue in parts of the UK.
Many drivers’ batteries failed on Wednesday morning due to cold weather and snow across the country, the RAC said.
RAC spokesperson Rod Dennis, said: “We’ve seen, as you would probably expect, a really sharp rise in breakdowns - predominantly from a lot of people’s batteries failing in the cold, which is inevitable.”
He recommended properly de-icing vehicles and ensuring the entire windscreen is clear, rather than rushing out of the house “with a tiny little space” to see the road.
“Adopt a cautious driving style” in areas with risk of black ice and “be gentle on the accelerator, never be tempted step on the brake” as it could cause issues on slippery roads, he added.
Pictured: Snow covers North Tyneside bay
Full list of school closures after Met Office snow and ice warning
England
- Beacon Hill Academy, Dudley
- Dormston school, Dudley
- Jessons Primary, Dudley
- Bishop Milner, Dudley
- Alder Coppice Primary School, Dudley
- Bridgtown Primary School (EYFS and Year 1, Y2 and KS2 open as normal), Staffordshire
- Hednesford Valley High School, Staffordshire
- Wightwick Hall School, Staffordshire
- Halesowen CofE Primary School
- Sir Alexander Fleming Primary School, Madeley
- St Patricks Catholic Primary School, Madeley
- St Peters C of E Primary School, Madeley
- Orion Academy, Oxford
- Oldbury Academy
- The Phoenix Collegiate, West Bromwich
- Wood Green Academy in Wednesbury
Wales
- Ysgol Cefn Meiriadog, Denbighshire
- Ysgol Bro Famau Llanferres and Llanarmon-yn-Iâl, Denbighshire
- Nannerch VC Primary School, Flintshire
- Ysgol Terrig, Flintshire
- Ysgol Rhos Helyg, Flintshire
- Brynhafren CP School, Powys
- Brynllywarch Hall School, Powys
- Buttington/Trewern CP School, Powys
- Forden C in W School, Powys
- Llanidloes CP School, Powys
- Llanidloes High School, Powys
- Newtown High School - John Beddoes Campus, Powys
- Newtown High School - Newtown Campus, Powys
- Welshpool High School, Powys
- Ysgol Bro Caereinion - Primary Campus, Powys
- Ysgol Bro Caereinion - Secondary Campus, Powys
- Ysgol Dyffryn Trannon, Powys
- Ysgol Gymraeg y Trallwng, Powys
- Ysgol Rhiw Bechan, Powys
- Brynteg CP, Wrexham
- Minera Church in Wales, Wrexham
- Penygelli CP, Wrexham
- St Mary’s School Church in Wales, Wrexham
- The Maelor School, Wrexham
- Ysgol Bro Alun, Wrexham
- Ysgol Bryn Tabor, Wrexham
- Ysgol ID Hooson , Wrexham
- Ysgol Penrhyn, Wrexham
- Ysgol Y Grango, Wrexham
Scotland
- Alford Academy, Aberdeenshire
- Alford Primary School, Aberdeenshire
- Auchterless School, Aberdeenshire
- Crudie School, Aberdeenshire
- Drumblade School, Aberdeenshire
- Gordon Schools, Aberdeenshire
- Kennethmont School, Aberdeenshire
- Largue School, Aberdeenshire
- Rhynie School, Aberdeenshire
- Towie School, Aberdeenshire
- Turriff Academy, Aberdeenshire
- Auchtertyre Primary, Highland
- Auchtertyre Primary Nursery, Highland
- Bonar Bridge Primary, Highland
- Broadford Primary, Highland
- Broadford Primary Nursery - EM, Highland
- Broadford Primary Nursery - GM, Highland
- Kyle Primary, Highland
- Kyle Primary Nursery, Highland
- Kyleakin Primary, Highland
- Kyleakin Primary Nursery, Highland
- Lairg Primary, Highland
- Lairg Primary Nursery, Highland
- Lochcarron Nursery EM, Highland
- Lochinver Early Learning and Childcare, Highland
- Lochinver Primary, Highland
- Plockton High School, Highland
- Plockton Primary, Highland
- Plockton Primary Nursery - GM, Highland
- Rosehall Primary, Highland
Northern Ireland
- Holy Evangelists, Belfast
Boy, 16, missing amid freezing weather
A 16-year-old boy has vanished in freezing conditions on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland, where helicopters and police are frantically searching for him.
Aleksandr Benga was last seen wearing a jumper and jeans at around 8.45am on Monday near the water wheel in the grounds of Lews Castle.
Police Scotland said they are “increasingly concerned” about his whereabouts due to extremely cold temperatures.
Stornoway is currently under a yellow warning for snow and ice and facing temperatures as low as -5C, according to the Met Office.
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