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/england/manchester/8440643.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 5 | Version 6 |
---|---|
Airports closed after heavy snow | Airports closed after heavy snow |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Three airports have suspended flights and hundreds of schools have been closed after heavy snowfall across large areas of England. | |
Manchester Airport has suspended flights until at least 1200 GMT and there are no flights out of Liverpool John Lennon or Leeds Bradford. | Manchester Airport has suspended flights until at least 1200 GMT and there are no flights out of Liverpool John Lennon or Leeds Bradford. |
The snow has begun to move into the Midlands and is expected to continue south throughout the day. | |
The Met office has issued severe weather warnings across the country. | |
Up to 10cm (4ins) is predicted in parts of the Midlands later and motorists have been warned not to travel unless necessary. | |
Avoid areas | Avoid areas |
Air passengers have been urged to check their flight status with their airline. | |
Gritters have tried to open those roads up and, I'll be honest with you, they are really, really poor Police spokesman | |
Bus operator Stagecoach said it had suspended many of its services across Greater Manchester because of the conditions, but was trying to operate on main routes into the city. | Bus operator Stagecoach said it had suspended many of its services across Greater Manchester because of the conditions, but was trying to operate on main routes into the city. |
Roads in higher ground in Greater Manchester have been described as "poor" in some areas. | Roads in higher ground in Greater Manchester have been described as "poor" in some areas. |
A police spokesman said: "Our advice is if you don't have to travel today - please don't. | A police spokesman said: "Our advice is if you don't have to travel today - please don't. |
"In Oldham and Rochdale - particularly higher ground areas - the snowfall has been really quite heavy. | "In Oldham and Rochdale - particularly higher ground areas - the snowfall has been really quite heavy. |
"Gritters have tried to open those roads up and, I'll be honest with you, they are really, really poor. If you can avoid these areas please do." | "Gritters have tried to open those roads up and, I'll be honest with you, they are really, really poor. If you can avoid these areas please do." |
Greater Manchester Police also urged the public to only call 999 in an emergency, where there was a threat to life or a crime in progress. | Greater Manchester Police also urged the public to only call 999 in an emergency, where there was a threat to life or a crime in progress. |
Traffic was at a standstill on the A1 in Newcastle following heavy snowfall | |
Supt Karan Lee said: "I would like to reassure the public that we will attend all emergencies however our response vehicles could also be hindered by the adverse weather conditions and it may take us a little longer to get you." | Supt Karan Lee said: "I would like to reassure the public that we will attend all emergencies however our response vehicles could also be hindered by the adverse weather conditions and it may take us a little longer to get you." |
Police have been dealing with a "multitude" of minor collisions, as well as a number of serious crashes, she told BBC Radio Manchester. | Police have been dealing with a "multitude" of minor collisions, as well as a number of serious crashes, she told BBC Radio Manchester. |
Elsewhere in the country 10 train services between London and Leeds on the East Coast Main Line have been cancelled. | Elsewhere in the country 10 train services between London and Leeds on the East Coast Main Line have been cancelled. |
Budget airline easyJet has cancelled eight flights at its operations at Manchester and Luton airports. | |
Roads closed | Roads closed |
More than 100 schools have been closed in Greater Manchester and a similar number in Lancashire. In Merseyside and Cheshire, about 90 were shut. | More than 100 schools have been closed in Greater Manchester and a similar number in Lancashire. In Merseyside and Cheshire, about 90 were shut. |
In Cumbria, about 140 schools have been closed and more than 50 have been closed across Northumberland, County Durham and Tyne and Wear. | In Cumbria, about 140 schools have been closed and more than 50 have been closed across Northumberland, County Durham and Tyne and Wear. |
About 250 schools have been closed across West Yorkshire. | About 250 schools have been closed across West Yorkshire. |
The Highways Agency also said the A66 in Cumbria is closed both ways between the junctions with the A1 and A685. | The Highways Agency also said the A66 in Cumbria is closed both ways between the junctions with the A1 and A685. |
Lanes were closed on parts of the M6 and M60 in Greater Manchester after a number of lorries jack-knifed. The M58 was shut completely because of snow on the carriageways. | |
Some roads in higher remote areas of Oldham and Rochdale have been described as impassable. | Some roads in higher remote areas of Oldham and Rochdale have been described as impassable. |
The Highways Agency said continuous salt treatment was being undertaken on the motorway network in high risk areas. | The Highways Agency said continuous salt treatment was being undertaken on the motorway network in high risk areas. |
Spokeswoman Jenny Hart said there were "very difficult" driving conditions on many roads and urged motorists to avoid travel wherever possible. | Spokeswoman Jenny Hart said there were "very difficult" driving conditions on many roads and urged motorists to avoid travel wherever possible. |
"Despite constant gritting we have accumulations of snow on the carriageways but our snow ploughs have been out through the night," she said. | "Despite constant gritting we have accumulations of snow on the carriageways but our snow ploughs have been out through the night," she said. |
FORECAST FROM BBC WEATHER | |
The enhanced content on this page requires Javascript and Flash Player 9 | |
Map Key
FogLight HeavyFrostLight HeavyPressure FrontsCold Warm OccludedRainLight Heavy ExtremeSnowLight Heavy | |
Temperature tab only | |
Temperature (°C)More details from BBC Weather |