This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/8419764.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Travellers facing snow disruption | Travellers facing snow disruption |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Travellers are facing severe transport disruption as heavy snow falls across much of the UK, with south-east and north-east England worst affected. | Travellers are facing severe transport disruption as heavy snow falls across much of the UK, with south-east and north-east England worst affected. |
| The Met Office issued severe warnings for heavy snowfall in those two areas, London and the East Midlands. | |
| Up to 20cm (8in) is possible in Kent, Sussex, Surrey, London and East Anglia, with gale-force winds causing drifts. | |
| About 200 drivers on the M20 and M2 in Kent were stuck in tailbacks overnight and flights have also been diverted. | |
| Conditions are expected to be at their worst in much of the UK during the Friday morning rush hour. | Conditions are expected to be at their worst in much of the UK during the Friday morning rush hour. |
| The weather has already caused transport problems in several parts of the country - particularly in south-east England. | The weather has already caused transport problems in several parts of the country - particularly in south-east England. |
| A lorry jackknifed on the A21, near Tunbridge Wells, leaving motorists stuck in the snow for three hours. | A lorry jackknifed on the A21, near Tunbridge Wells, leaving motorists stuck in the snow for three hours. |
| And a 20mph speed limit was put in place on parts of the M1 overnight. | And a 20mph speed limit was put in place on parts of the M1 overnight. |
| The A1081, which is the main road connecting Luton Airport to the M1, was gridlocked in the early hours of Friday due to the large number of jackknifed vehicles. | The A1081, which is the main road connecting Luton Airport to the M1, was gridlocked in the early hours of Friday due to the large number of jackknifed vehicles. |
| ADVICE TO ROAD USERS Do not travel in severe weather unless journey is essentialCheck local and national weather forecasts before setting out and take warm clothes, food, water, boots, a torch and spadeDrive with care even after roads are salt treated and keep your distance - it can take 10 times longer to stop in icy conditions Source: Highways Agency Are you affected? | ADVICE TO ROAD USERS Do not travel in severe weather unless journey is essentialCheck local and national weather forecasts before setting out and take warm clothes, food, water, boots, a torch and spadeDrive with care even after roads are salt treated and keep your distance - it can take 10 times longer to stop in icy conditions Source: Highways Agency Are you affected? |
| And TV presenter Davina McCall was among those stuck on the A21 in Kent for three hours after a lorry blocked the road. | |
| She told BBC Radio Five Live: "We got wedged in a whole series of cars and it was pelting down with snow." | |
| Flights and trains were disrupted in London and south-east England and motorists spent hours stranded in their cars in the worst affected areas. | Flights and trains were disrupted in London and south-east England and motorists spent hours stranded in their cars in the worst affected areas. |
| A Gatwick Airport spokesman said 16 incoming flights were diverted to other UK airports due to bad weather and three outgoing flights had been cancelled. | A Gatwick Airport spokesman said 16 incoming flights were diverted to other UK airports due to bad weather and three outgoing flights had been cancelled. |
| He said: "Flights are being diverted to Manchester, Birmingham and other airports as a result of the weather," adding that passengers are being bussed back to London. | He said: "Flights are being diverted to Manchester, Birmingham and other airports as a result of the weather," adding that passengers are being bussed back to London. |
| Flights to and from Luton Airport have also been cancelled or diverted. | Flights to and from Luton Airport have also been cancelled or diverted. |
| Driving winds and sub-zero temperatures brought blizzard conditions to much of the UK late on Thursday and in the early hours of Friday. | Driving winds and sub-zero temperatures brought blizzard conditions to much of the UK late on Thursday and in the early hours of Friday. |
| BBC Weather forecaster Sarah Keith-Lucas said: "We have already seen snow arriving across south-east and north-east England." | BBC Weather forecaster Sarah Keith-Lucas said: "We have already seen snow arriving across south-east and north-east England." |
| She said the worst affected areas in south-east England were Greater London, Medway and parts of Kent, which are seeing "extremely heavy snowfall". | She said the worst affected areas in south-east England were Greater London, Medway and parts of Kent, which are seeing "extremely heavy snowfall". |
| The forecaster said up to 20cm could fall in the worst-hit parts of south-east England and East Anglia, while up to 15cm could fall overnight on the North York Moors and the Pennines. | The forecaster said up to 20cm could fall in the worst-hit parts of south-east England and East Anglia, while up to 15cm could fall overnight on the North York Moors and the Pennines. |
| Snow has caused disruption on some roads. Photo: Rosie Marr. | |
| Met Office severe warnings for heavy snow have also been issued for Yorkshire and Humber. | Met Office severe warnings for heavy snow have also been issued for Yorkshire and Humber. |
| Some 10cm of snow fell on Thursday night in parts of East Anglia, which made driving treacherous. | Some 10cm of snow fell on Thursday night in parts of East Anglia, which made driving treacherous. |
| The Met Office said the heaviest snowfall overnight was in Norfolk, Bedford and Buckinghamshire. | The Met Office said the heaviest snowfall overnight was in Norfolk, Bedford and Buckinghamshire. |
| And a second band is causing severe problems across the Thames Estuary, North Kent and Surrey. | And a second band is causing severe problems across the Thames Estuary, North Kent and Surrey. |
| Snow also fell in the Brecon area of mid Wales and in the Neath area of south Wales. | Snow also fell in the Brecon area of mid Wales and in the Neath area of south Wales. |
| Meanwhile, high winds caused snow drifts to form in parts of Cambridgeshire. | Meanwhile, high winds caused snow drifts to form in parts of Cambridgeshire. |
| Snow is also forecast in parts of central and northern England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. | Snow is also forecast in parts of central and northern England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. |
| Conditions in the south east of the country are expected to ease during Friday, with more cold and icy weather predicted for Saturday and Sunday. | Conditions in the south east of the country are expected to ease during Friday, with more cold and icy weather predicted for Saturday and Sunday. |
| Further snow is predicted over the weekend, particularly across the north of the UK. | Further snow is predicted over the weekend, particularly across the north of the UK. |
| However, the Met Office said it was too early to say whether there would be a white Christmas. | However, the Met Office said it was too early to say whether there would be a white Christmas. |
| A Met Office spokesman said: "Current indications show an ongoing battle between the colder air currently over the UK and milder air pushing in from the west. As a result the forecast for Christmas Day is still too close to call." | A Met Office spokesman said: "Current indications show an ongoing battle between the colder air currently over the UK and milder air pushing in from the west. As a result the forecast for Christmas Day is still too close to call." |
| UK WEATHER WARNINGS For more information, visit BBC Weather | UK WEATHER WARNINGS For more information, visit BBC Weather |
| The Highways Agency said it had 94 winter maintenance compounds across England, with 25 in the south-east, and was able to treat all roads within three hours of severe forecasts. | The Highways Agency said it had 94 winter maintenance compounds across England, with 25 in the south-east, and was able to treat all roads within three hours of severe forecasts. |
| A spokesman told the BBC road users had to "play their part" and "drive appropriately". | A spokesman told the BBC road users had to "play their part" and "drive appropriately". |
| "We are asking drivers to carry out simple vehicle checks before they set out; to carry a severe weather emergency kit in their vehicles and to monitor the traffic and weather conditions," he said. | "We are asking drivers to carry out simple vehicle checks before they set out; to carry a severe weather emergency kit in their vehicles and to monitor the traffic and weather conditions," he said. |
| Earlier this week, the AA motoring organisation said half of the UK's local authorities only had enough road salt for six days of continuous freezing. | Earlier this week, the AA motoring organisation said half of the UK's local authorities only had enough road salt for six days of continuous freezing. |
| It said councils had 250,000 tonnes less salt than a decade ago - a claim dismissed as "scaremongering" by the Local Government Association. | It said councils had 250,000 tonnes less salt than a decade ago - a claim dismissed as "scaremongering" by the Local Government Association. |
| The Highways Agency has advised drivers to carry out simple vehicle checks before setting out, to carry a severe weather emergency kit in their vehicles, and to monitor the traffic and weather conditions. | The Highways Agency has advised drivers to carry out simple vehicle checks before setting out, to carry a severe weather emergency kit in their vehicles, and to monitor the traffic and weather conditions. |
| Return to top | Return to top |
| Have you been affected by the snowy conditions? Let us know using the form below. You can also send in your snow pictures and video. | Have you been affected by the snowy conditions? Let us know using the form below. You can also send in your snow pictures and video. |
| Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions. | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions. |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |