This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jan/30/uk-weather-forecast-manchester-liverpool-airport-runways-shut-snow-northern-england

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
UK weather: runways and schools shut in snowy north UK weather: warnings of significant snowfall on Thursday
(about 9 hours later)
Runways at two of the UK’s busiest airports have been closed as snow brought widespread disruption to swathes of northern England, Scotland and Wales. Britain is braced for the coldest night of the winter so far, with “significant snowfall” likely to cause travel delays and school closures.
Britain is expected to have significant snowfall this week, with temperatures forecast to plunge to negative double figures. Snow brought widespread disruption to swathes of northern England, Scotland and Wales on Wednesday, temporarily closing two of the UK’s busiest airports.
Manchester and Liverpool airports stopped flights and closed runways as snow continued to fall in the morning rush hour on Wednesday. The airports urged people to check the status of their flights before travelling. Temperatures were forecast to plunge to negative double figures overnight in northern Scotland, and potentially parts of England.
Manchester and Liverpool airports halted flights and closed runways as snow fell during the morning rush hour on Wednesday, and Greater Manchester police reported multiple collisions on motorways. Two vehicles crashed into a snowy canyon in the Yorkshire Dales as snowfall began on Tuesday night.
Manchester Airport currently closed due to snow 🙈 #manchesterairport pic.twitter.com/Dc5kFA0ogSManchester Airport currently closed due to snow 🙈 #manchesterairport pic.twitter.com/Dc5kFA0ogS
In Greater Manchester, more than 100 schools were shut for the day, while more than 40 were at least partly shut in Lancashire. In Wales, children at more than 50 schools were given a snow day, while more than 40 schools in Scotland were unable to open. In Greater Manchester, more than 100 schools were shut for the day, and more than 40 were at least partly shut in Lancashire. In Wales, children at more than 50 schools were given the day off, and more than 40 schools in Scotland were unable to open.
The icy weather could break the record low this winter of -10.8C (12.6F) and bring up to 10cm (4in) of snow to parts of the country.
The Met Office issued yellow weather warnings covering the majority of the UK for snow and ice on Wednesday.
Trains and trams were delayed due to signal failures and police warned of hazardous driving conditions across much of the north-west of England and Wales.Trains and trams were delayed due to signal failures and police warned of hazardous driving conditions across much of the north-west of England and Wales.
Greater Manchester police told of “multiple crashes” on motorways, while there were reports of two vehicles crashing into a snowy canyon in the Yorkshire Dales as snowfall began on Tuesday night. The disruption caused by the snow is expected to deepen with a weather system arriving from the south-west and set to push north on Thursday, bringing a widespread harsh frost along with freezing fog and the potential for several centimetres of snowfall across parts of England, according to the Met Office.
The warning for Scotland, Northern Ireland and most of the UK ran until 11am on Wednesday, while the south-east, London and East Anglia were covered until midday. Further warnings were issued for Thursday. Yellow weather warnings covering the majority of the UK for snow and ice were issued on Wednesday and there were further warnings for most of England and Wales on Thursday and Friday, taking effect from 1pm on Thursday until 9pm on Friday.
Cold weather payments have already been trigged this winter. An estimated 3.8 million people are eligible for the payment that offers people on certain benefits £25 for each period of unseasonably cold weather. An estimated 1.6 million of these claimants, are in receipt of pension credit. As of 25 January 2019 there had been 14 cold weather triggers, according to the Department for Work and Pensions. “It’s what happens on Thursday that has the potential to be more disruptive. It does have the potential to bring some very significant snow,” said Alex Burkill, a Met Office meteorologist.
The Met Office said road journeys could take a lot longer and should be avoided if possible. “It’s worth bearing in mind there will be some disruption, particularly to travel. If you’re heading out on the roads, be aware your journey will take a lot longer than normal.
Alex Burkill, a Met Office meteorologist, said: “Looking further ahead, it’s what happens on Thursday that has the potential to be more disruptive. It does have the potential to bring some very significant snow. We have already got a warning out in force for it. “There’s an ice risk which is going to cause some problems so even if there is no snow it could be icy on the roads and pavement which people need to be aware of.”
“It’s currently just a yellow warning, but it’s not out of the question that will be ramped up nearer the time.” Cold weather welfare payments have already been trigged this winter. An estimated 3.8 million people are eligible for the payment that offers people on certain benefits £25 for each period of unseasonably cold weather. An estimated 1.6 million of these claimants are in receipt of pension credit. As of 25 January 2019 there had been 14 cold weather triggers, according to the Department for Work and Pensions.
While Scotland is predicted to be the coldest place in the UK, temperatures in parts of England could reach negative double figures. The icy weather could break this winter’s record low of -10.8C (12.6F), recorded in Braemar, Aberdeenshire, on 18 January. The deepest snowfall recorded by the Met Office at 9am on Wednesday was 11cm at Tulloch Bridge in Inverness-shire. Benson in Oxfordshire and Santon Downham in Suffolk could see England’s coldest temperatures.
The record low for 2019 so far, recorded in Braemar, Aberdeenshire, on 18 January, is likely to be beaten. Benson in Oxfordshire and Santon Downham in Suffolk could see England’s coldest temperatures.
Areas of higher ground could receive up to 10cm of snow. Met Office figures showed the worst-hit areas on Tuesday were Tulloch Bridge in Inverness-shire, with 11cm, and Spadeadam in Cumbria, with 10cm.
Councils have prepared for heavy snowfall, with more than 1.4m tonnes of salt stockpiled and gritters and street cleaning teams ready to keep roads safe, the Local Government Association said.
WeatherWeather
TransportTransport
Air transportAir transport
SnowSnow
ManchesterManchester
LiverpoolLiverpool
Greater ManchesterGreater Manchester
newsnews
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content