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Flights cancelled ahead of snowy conditions UK snow: Severe weather sweeps across country
(about 1 hour later)
Flights have been cancelled amid warnings of blizzard conditions set to sweep across the UK on Thursday. A blast of freezing weather is sweeping across the UK, bringing disruption as commuters try to get home.
London's Heathrow Airport said airlines had pre-emptively cancelled 80 out of 1,350 flights, with disruption expected from 15:00 GMT. Four flights at Gatwick Airport have also been cancelled. Large parts of the UK have already been hit by heavy snow, which has now to started to affect southern areas, with warnings over snow and ice during this evening's rush hour.
Heathrow Airport said without the cancellations it could not reschedule any flights delayed by the weather. The army is helping evacuate thousands of people from England's east coast, where a tidal surge is expected.
The Met Office has issued yellow warnings for snow for much of the UK. Earlier, flights were pre-emptively cancelled at Heathrow and Gatwick.
The "be aware" warnings are in place for many areas of the country until Saturday.
At Heathrow Airport, 6% of the usual daily flights are cancelled.
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Gatwick Airport said route restrictions had been put in place by air traffic control which might cause some delays and cancellations to flights. It advised passengers to check before travelling. Gatwick Airport said route restrictions had been put in place by air traffic control which might cause delays and cancellations to flights and advised passengers to check before travelling.
Airports including Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast International and Belfast City airports are operating as normal with no reported weather-related disruption. Heathrow Airport said its cancellations had been necessary so that flights could be rescheduled if the weather caused delays.
Frequent snow showers and strong winds are expected widely across Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and the north of England on Thursday and in the south, rain is forecast to turn to snow. Other airports, including Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast International and Belfast City airports are operating as normal.
The Environment Agency has issued three severe flood warnings, meaning there is a danger to life, and more than 40 flood warnings, meaning flooding is expected, along the east coast of England. There are also more than 60 flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible.
More than 3,000 residents on the Lincolnshire coast have been advised to leave with areas of Jaywick, Mistley Manningtree, Colchester, and Mersea in Essex also being evacuated amid flooding fears.
Essex County Council said its "main concern" was the tide at 13:00 on Friday.
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Heavy snow has already hit parts of Northern Ireland with Coleraine and Ballymena among the towns worst affected. Heavy snow hit parts of Northern Ireland earlier, with Coleraine and Ballymena among the towns worst affected and a snow and ice have caused disruption to travel networks and prompted school closures in parts of Scotland.
The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for wind and snow across Scotland, with gusts of up to 60mph in places as well as 10cm (4in) to 20cm (8in) of snow on higher ground. The tidal surge is expected down the east coast of England, where it is thought waves could overtop the flood defences and combine with wind-blown spray to cause localised flooding.
People living in southern England and Wales can expect a cold and wet day with some heavy rain on Thursday, which is forecast to turn into snow later. In Lincolnshire, about 100 soldiers are helping to prepare for the surge and the county's Chief Constable, Neil Rhodes, said evacuation plans had been drawn up.
A combination of high tides and strong winds are expected to result in a large tidal surge down the east coast of England, which the Environment Agency is monitoring.
It is thought waves could overtop the flood defences and combine with wind-blown spray to cause localised flooding.
The Environment Agency has issued more than 20 flood warnings, meaning flooding is expected, along the east coast of England, and more than 40 flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible.
In Lincolnshire, about 100 soldiers are helping to prepare for a predicted storm surge and the county's Chief Constable, Neil Rhodes, said evacuation plans had been drawn up.
Essex County Council said residents in flood-risk areas including the Tendring area of Jaywick, Mistley and Manningtree, Colchester, and Mersea would be evacuated.
It said its "main concern" was the tide at 13:00 on Friday.
BBC Weather's Thomasz Schafernaker said the snow had so far mainly hit more northern areas of the UK - with snow showers there set to continue.BBC Weather's Thomasz Schafernaker said the snow had so far mainly hit more northern areas of the UK - with snow showers there set to continue.
But he said rain would eventually start to turn to snow further south, particularly across the Midlands, parts of East Anglia and the South East.But he said rain would eventually start to turn to snow further south, particularly across the Midlands, parts of East Anglia and the South East.
"Then we are going to seeing clearing skies through this evening so some of the slushy weather we will get will start to freeze - so really nasty conditions on the way.""Then we are going to seeing clearing skies through this evening so some of the slushy weather we will get will start to freeze - so really nasty conditions on the way."
The Local Government Association said councils in England and Wales were well-prepared for the low temperatures and snow.The Local Government Association said councils in England and Wales were well-prepared for the low temperatures and snow.
It said about half of local authorities had full stocks of grit, having stored up 1.2 million tonnes of salt to prepare for winter.It said about half of local authorities had full stocks of grit, having stored up 1.2 million tonnes of salt to prepare for winter.
Scotland has been hit by heavy snow showers which have already caused travel disruption.
Police said there had been some minor road accidents in the Highlands, while the M74 was closed for a time at junction eight due to ice.
Ferry services have been affected, with Caledonian MacBrayne expecting "heavy disruption" and problems also likely on Northlink and Orkney Ferries.
The Forth Road Bridge, linking Edinburgh and Fife, has reopened after a lorry was blown over and damaged the central reservation on Wednesday.
Have you been affected by the weather conditions? Tell us your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.ukHave you been affected by the weather conditions? Tell us your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk
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