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/8440601.stm
The article has changed 36 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
Next version
Version 32 | Version 33 |
---|---|
Snow and ice cause travel chaos | Snow and ice cause travel chaos |
(12 minutes later) | |
Heavy snow and icy roads are causing chaos across most of the UK, where Met Office severe weather warnings are in place as the "deep freeze" continues. | Heavy snow and icy roads are causing chaos across most of the UK, where Met Office severe weather warnings are in place as the "deep freeze" continues. |
Hundreds of schools closed, many roads are hazardous, and buses, trains and planes have been delayed. Several airports have suspended flights. | Hundreds of schools closed, many roads are hazardous, and buses, trains and planes have been delayed. Several airports have suspended flights. |
Snow fell in Scotland, and large parts of England and Wales, in what is said to be the coldest snap in decades. | Snow fell in Scotland, and large parts of England and Wales, in what is said to be the coldest snap in decades. |
Snowfalls of up to 30cm (12in) have been forecast for southern England. | Snowfalls of up to 30cm (12in) have been forecast for southern England. |
Forecasters say the band will stretch from London to Cardiff, and warn some areas may even see 40cm (16in) of snow on higher ground on Tuesday evening. | Forecasters say the band will stretch from London to Cardiff, and warn some areas may even see 40cm (16in) of snow on higher ground on Tuesday evening. |
As the weather deteriorates in the south of England, South West Trains have said they will be operating a revised timetable on Wednesday. The company hopes to run about 70% of its services. | As the weather deteriorates in the south of England, South West Trains have said they will be operating a revised timetable on Wednesday. The company hopes to run about 70% of its services. |
Southeastern Trains will also be on a revised timetable. It said only a "limited number of services" would arrive in London before 0900 GMT. | Southeastern Trains will also be on a revised timetable. It said only a "limited number of services" would arrive in London before 0900 GMT. |
Southampton Airport closed on Tuesday evening, and there is widespread congestion on many of Hampshire's roads due to heavy snow. | Southampton Airport closed on Tuesday evening, and there is widespread congestion on many of Hampshire's roads due to heavy snow. |
The A27 was blocked in both directions between the M27 junction and Segensworth because of abandoned cars. | The A27 was blocked in both directions between the M27 junction and Segensworth because of abandoned cars. |
All flights in and out of Gatwick and London Luton airports have been suspended. | All flights in and out of Gatwick and London Luton airports have been suspended. |
Gas supplies | Gas supplies |
On Monday the National Grid issued a gas balancing alert (GBA) for only the second time, asking power suppliers to use less gas as more was sourced overseas. | On Monday the National Grid issued a gas balancing alert (GBA) for only the second time, asking power suppliers to use less gas as more was sourced overseas. |
CHECK LOCAL DISRUPTION Notts: Latest weather information Wiltshire: Severe weather advice Wales: School closures Lincs: Extreme weather advice Staffs: School closures due to snow Cornwall: Weather Information Devon: Severe weather information Lancs: Weather disruption Tyne: Travel and school closures Check for disruption in your area | CHECK LOCAL DISRUPTION Notts: Latest weather information Wiltshire: Severe weather advice Wales: School closures Lincs: Extreme weather advice Staffs: School closures due to snow Cornwall: Weather Information Devon: Severe weather information Lancs: Weather disruption Tyne: Travel and school closures Check for disruption in your area |
Extra gas - including supplies from Belgium and Norway - was necessary to meet rising demand after a 30% rise on normal seasonal use during the cold snap. | Extra gas - including supplies from Belgium and Norway - was necessary to meet rising demand after a 30% rise on normal seasonal use during the cold snap. |
Prime Minister Gordon Brown denied the UK was facing a gas supply crisis, adding: "There are always difficulties when we have a long spell of bad weather." | Prime Minister Gordon Brown denied the UK was facing a gas supply crisis, adding: "There are always difficulties when we have a long spell of bad weather." |
Commuters faced major delays on Tuesday, with accidents and jams on several motorways, including the M60 in Greater Manchester where a lorry driver died in a crash. | Commuters faced major delays on Tuesday, with accidents and jams on several motorways, including the M60 in Greater Manchester where a lorry driver died in a crash. |
There were also delays on the M58 and M6 in Lancashire, the M1 in West Yorkshire and the M20 in Kent, while heavy snow forced the closure of part of the A66 in Cumbria. | There were also delays on the M58 and M6 in Lancashire, the M1 in West Yorkshire and the M20 in Kent, while heavy snow forced the closure of part of the A66 in Cumbria. |
On Tuesday evening, the M6 was closed in both directions between Newton-le-Willows and the Croft interchange near Warrington. | On Tuesday evening, the M6 was closed in both directions between Newton-le-Willows and the Croft interchange near Warrington. |
Earlier, a pregnant woman gave birth on the M53 after getting stuck in traffic. Within minutes of the ambulance arriving, the baby was delivered. | Earlier, a pregnant woman gave birth on the M53 after getting stuck in traffic. Within minutes of the ambulance arriving, the baby was delivered. |
In North Yorkshire, a driver escaped uninjured after his car was hit by a train when it skidded on snow and onto rail tracks at a level crossing near Selby. The 44-year-old man managed to get out of his car before it was hit by a Hull-to-Manchester train. | In North Yorkshire, a driver escaped uninjured after his car was hit by a train when it skidded on snow and onto rail tracks at a level crossing near Selby. The 44-year-old man managed to get out of his car before it was hit by a Hull-to-Manchester train. |
A six-year-old boy is in a critical condition in hospital after he fell into an ice-covered garden pond in Crookham Common near Thatcham in Berkshire. It is thought the boy had been underwater for 30 minutes. | A six-year-old boy is in a critical condition in hospital after he fell into an ice-covered garden pond in Crookham Common near Thatcham in Berkshire. It is thought the boy had been underwater for 30 minutes. |
Train operators including Virgin Trains and East Coast - which link London and Scotland - Arriva Trains Wales, Cross Country, First TransPennine Express, Northern and Scotrail were all reporting disruption. | Train operators including Virgin Trains and East Coast - which link London and Scotland - Arriva Trains Wales, Cross Country, First TransPennine Express, Northern and Scotrail were all reporting disruption. |
Other problems have included: | Other problems have included: |
|
|
Manchester and Leeds Bradford airports were closed temporarily, and passengers at London Heathrow, Gatwick, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Durham Tees Valley and Newcastle airports all faced disruptions. | Manchester and Leeds Bradford airports were closed temporarily, and passengers at London Heathrow, Gatwick, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Durham Tees Valley and Newcastle airports all faced disruptions. |
Production at one of the largest factories in the UK, Airbus at Broughton in North Wales, was halted by the wintry weather when staff were sent home following the advice of North Wales Police. | Production at one of the largest factories in the UK, Airbus at Broughton in North Wales, was halted by the wintry weather when staff were sent home following the advice of North Wales Police. |
Airbus, which employs 6,500 at the site, says it hopes to be working as normal on Wednesday. | Airbus, which employs 6,500 at the site, says it hopes to be working as normal on Wednesday. |
Snow fell overnight in Scotland - where temperatures were -15C (5F) in places - in north Wales and northern England. | Snow fell overnight in Scotland - where temperatures were -15C (5F) in places - in north Wales and northern England. |
Large parts of the Highlands and north-east Scotland have been cut off, with the main route - the A9 - shut in several places. Around Aviemore and Kingussie there is more than a metre (4ft) of snow. | Large parts of the Highlands and north-east Scotland have been cut off, with the main route - the A9 - shut in several places. Around Aviemore and Kingussie there is more than a metre (4ft) of snow. |
Most of Scotland's trunk routes are open but many minor roads and pavements are treacherous. | Most of Scotland's trunk routes are open but many minor roads and pavements are treacherous. |
Analysis: Why so cold? | Analysis: Why so cold? |
Rob Varley, the government services director for the Met Office, said the UK was seeing the worst cold snap for at least 20 years. | Rob Varley, the government services director for the Met Office, said the UK was seeing the worst cold snap for at least 20 years. |
"It's a long time since we've been stuck in this kind of rut for this long through a winter," he said. | "It's a long time since we've been stuck in this kind of rut for this long through a winter," he said. |
School closures were commonplace across Scotland due to the continued sub-zero conditions, councils said. | School closures were commonplace across Scotland due to the continued sub-zero conditions, councils said. |
And schools in Aberdeenshire, East Lothian and the Borders, and Dumfries and Galloway will remain closed on Wednesday. | And schools in Aberdeenshire, East Lothian and the Borders, and Dumfries and Galloway will remain closed on Wednesday. |
Hundreds of schools in northern England and the south-west were also closed on Tuesday after heavy snowfall. More than 250 schools closed in West Yorkshire, and 102 in Cornwall. | Hundreds of schools in northern England and the south-west were also closed on Tuesday after heavy snowfall. More than 250 schools closed in West Yorkshire, and 102 in Cornwall. |
Sporting fixtures have been affected, with the first leg of both Carling Cup semi-finals postponed because of extreme weather. | Sporting fixtures have been affected, with the first leg of both Carling Cup semi-finals postponed because of extreme weather. |
Blackburn were due to host Aston Villa on Tuesday, and Manchester City were to play Manchester United on Wednesday. | Blackburn were due to host Aston Villa on Tuesday, and Manchester City were to play Manchester United on Wednesday. |
Tuesday's National Hunt meetings at Leicester and Taunton have been abandoned, along with Southwell and Hexham on Wednesday and Ludlow on Thursday. | Tuesday's National Hunt meetings at Leicester and Taunton have been abandoned, along with Southwell and Hexham on Wednesday and Ludlow on Thursday. |
Huntingdon's meeting on Thursday has also been abandoned due to a frozen track. | Huntingdon's meeting on Thursday has also been abandoned due to a frozen track. |
Meanwhile, motorists in many areas were being warned to make only essential journeys and to prepare themselves with warm clothes and blankets in case of breakdown. | Meanwhile, motorists in many areas were being warned to make only essential journeys and to prepare themselves with warm clothes and blankets in case of breakdown. |
Driving conditions worsened with rain, sleet and snow falling on already icy roads and pavements. | Driving conditions worsened with rain, sleet and snow falling on already icy roads and pavements. |
By 1300 GMT the AA had attended about 9,000 breakdowns since midnight and predicted its total for the day would be around 16,000. | By 1300 GMT the AA had attended about 9,000 breakdowns since midnight and predicted its total for the day would be around 16,000. |
This compares with around 9,000 for a normal Tuesday. The motoring organisation's busiest areas were Manchester, Liverpool, Warrington, Leeds and Stoke. | This compares with around 9,000 for a normal Tuesday. The motoring organisation's busiest areas were Manchester, Liverpool, Warrington, Leeds and Stoke. |
The freezing weather has triggered cold weather payments in several areas, including Greater Manchester, Guilford in Surrey, Sheffield and Dundee. | The freezing weather has triggered cold weather payments in several areas, including Greater Manchester, Guilford in Surrey, Sheffield and Dundee. |
The government gives £25 to people on benefits when the average temperature has been recorded as, or is forecast to be, 0C or below over seven consecutive days. | The government gives £25 to people on benefits when the average temperature has been recorded as, or is forecast to be, 0C or below over seven consecutive days. |
The payment threshold was triggered in London on Monday, meaning more than half a million people will receive payments totalling more than £13m. | The payment threshold was triggered in London on Monday, meaning more than half a million people will receive payments totalling more than £13m. |
Why the cold weather?
| Why the cold weather?
|
Are you in the affected areas? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | Are you in the affected areas? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos 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 | 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. |
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 |