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Schools closed as blizzards hit Schools closed as blizzards hit
(10 minutes later)
Hundreds of schools remain closed and travellers are facing another day of disruption after blizzards swept across central and southern England. Hundreds of schools remain closed and travellers have been hit by major disruption after further heavy snowfall hit large parts of the UK.
More snow has also fallen in the parts of Scotland and northern England worst affected by Tuesday's wintry weather. Parts of Scotland and northern England have had more snow, which has now also spread to southern areas of the UK.
Hundreds were stranded in their cars overnight on the A3 in Hampshire, and on the A697 in the Scottish Borders. The military was called in after up to 1,000 vehicles were stranded when snow blocked the A3 in Hampshire overnight.
Some rail operators have announced reduced services, and delays and cancellations are expected at airports.Some rail operators have announced reduced services, and delays and cancellations are expected at airports.
Hospitals across the country have implemented major incident plans to deal with the weather.Hospitals across the country have implemented major incident plans to deal with the weather.
Among the airports closed is Bristol, which will remain shut until at least 1000 GMT, and Exeter.Among the airports closed is Bristol, which will remain shut until at least 1000 GMT, and Exeter.
London Gatwick is currently closed until 0830 GMT, while Heathrow, Birmingham and Southampton are open but suffering delays and cancellations. London Gatwick is currently closed until 0830 GMT, while Heathrow, Birmingham, Luton and Southampton are open but suffering delays and cancellations.
Some 300 schools were confirmed closed in Lancashire early on Wednesday, as well as 120 in Solent, 200 in the West Midlands, nearly 200 in West Yorkshire, 125 in Hertfordshire, and more than 100 in Gloucestershire and Liverpool.
All schools in Bath and North East Somerset are shut.
In Scotland, all schools in central Borders, East and Midlothian, Shetland and Aberdeenshire are so far closed, as well as half the schools in Dumfries and Galloway.
More announcements were expected across the UK later in the morning.
Cold snapCold snap
On the roads, North Yorkshire Police said a serious accident had closed parts of the A1. On the roads, North Yorkshire Police said a serious accident had closed parts of the A1. The road was shut southbound between the junctions with the A6136 and the A684, and northbound between junction 49 and the A6136.
The Highways Agency said the A66 in Cumbria was also shut between the A1 and the A685.The Highways Agency said the A66 in Cumbria was also shut between the A1 and the A685.
The UK is in the grip of its longest cold snap for almost 30 years. Police in the Borders said conditions were so bad, people should not travel unless it was a matter of life or death.
On Tuesday up to 20cm (8in) of snow fell in parts of Scotland and northern England, causing travel chaos for millions of people.
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 areaCHECK 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
The UK is in the grip of its longest cold snap for almost 30 years, and extreme or severe weather warnings are still in place across the UK.
On Tuesday up to 20cm (8in) of snow fell in parts of Scotland and northern England, causing travel chaos for millions of people.
Another 40cm (16in) has been forecast in some areas as the snowfalls spread from north to south.Another 40cm (16in) has been forecast in some areas as the snowfalls spread from north to south.
The Met Office said Dorset, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Wiltshire could see "exceptionally heavy" snow.The Met Office said Dorset, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Wiltshire could see "exceptionally heavy" snow.
Between 15cm (6in) and 30cm (12in) of snow is expected in some places but there could be as much as 40cm (16in).Between 15cm (6in) and 30cm (12in) of snow is expected in some places but there could be as much as 40cm (16in).
The Met Office said: "This is expected to cause widespread disruption to the transport network and could lead to problems with power supplies."The Met Office said: "This is expected to cause widespread disruption to the transport network and could lead to problems with power supplies."
Parts of Surrey, Hampshire, West Sussex, East Sussex, Buckinghamshire and the Isle of Wight are also expected to be affected.Parts of Surrey, Hampshire, West Sussex, East Sussex, Buckinghamshire and the Isle of Wight are also expected to be affected.
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, Berkshire on Tuesday.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, Berkshire on Tuesday.
It is thought he had been under water for 30 minutes.It is thought he had been under water for 30 minutes.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on the Downing Street Twitter site: "As public services do all they can in this extreme weather, please look out for neighbours and relatives in need of assistance."Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on the Downing Street Twitter site: "As public services do all they can in this extreme weather, please look out for neighbours and relatives in need of assistance."
Among other developments:Among other developments:
• Flights were delayed at Heathrow, Gatwick, Glasgow and Leeds-Bradford • National Rail Enquiries have set up a special number for information about trains affected by the weather, on 08453 017 641
• A section of the A66 in Cumbria was was shut in both directions • Twelve lorries jack-knifed on the A1 near the Angel of the North overnight, and police also had to deal with two dozen lorries stuck on the main A1 across the River Tyne at Blaydon Bridge
Gatwick and Birmingham airports were also shut. London Luton was reopened on Wednesday morning but passengers are being advised to check with their airlines. • All First Bus services in Bristol, Bath, Weston Super Mare and Somerset were suspended because of heavy snow.
Many train operators will run revised timetables as they cope with the freezing conditions. Train operators are running revised timetables as they cope with the freezing conditions.
These include East Coast, East Midlands, Chiltern Railways, First Great Western, National Express East Anglia, South West Trains, Southeastern and Southern. These include East Coast, East Midlands, Chiltern Railways, First Great Western, National Express East Anglia, South West Trains, Southeastern, Southern and First Capital Connect.
Special de-icer trains ran through the night to keep tracks and overhead cables free of snow and ice. However, special de-icer trains ran through the night to try to keep tracks and overhead cables free of snow and ice.
Among the roads affected by the weather were the A1 northbound at Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, A30 eastbound in Cornwall, A27 westbound in West Sussex, and the M27 eastbound and A3 northbound in Hampshire.Among the roads affected by the weather were the A1 northbound at Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, A30 eastbound in Cornwall, A27 westbound in West Sussex, and the M27 eastbound and A3 northbound in Hampshire.
A jack-knifed lorry caused the the M54 eastbound in Staffordshire to be closed.A jack-knifed lorry caused the the M54 eastbound in Staffordshire to be closed.
In sport, Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final between Manchester City and Manchester United has been postponed, and horse racing has been abandoned at Southwell and Hexham on Wednesday, and Huntingdon and Ludlow on Thursday.In sport, Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final between Manchester City and Manchester United has been postponed, and horse racing has been abandoned at Southwell and Hexham on Wednesday, and Huntingdon and Ludlow on Thursday.

Why the cold weather?

The current big chill is a result of high pressure over the polar region, which has pushed cold air out of the Arctic towards much of northern Europe, parts of Asia and the US. Winds from the north and north east, rather than from the south and south west, have brought temperatures up to 5C colder than average.
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Provisional Met Office figures for December show temperatures for much of the UK were 1.5C and 2.5C below the mean temperatures for the last 30 years. Scotland saw temperatures dip still lower - from 2.5C to 3.5C. On Tuesday, temperatures in Scotland plunged to -15C in places, while parts of Germany dropped to -19C.
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Winds from the north also brought cold weather to parts of Asia this week, with Beijing receiving its heaviest snowfall for nearly 60 years. Up to 30cm (12 inches) of snow fell in China's capital and its neighbouring port city of Tianjin over the weekend. Dozens of people have also died a cold snap in northern India.
However, while parts of the world suffer freezing temperatures, the seesaw patterns mean other areas are warmer than usual, including Alaska, northern Canada and the Mediterranean. Met Office figures for the end of 2009 show some places dropped 10C below the average, while others were 10C above.
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Why the cold weather?

The current big chill is a result of high pressure over the polar region, which has pushed cold air out of the Arctic towards much of northern Europe, parts of Asia and the US. Winds from the north and north east, rather than the south and south west, have brought freezing temperatures to the UK.
class="dslideshow-entry">
Provisional Met Office figures for December show temperatures for much of the UK were 1.5C and 2.5C below the mean temperatures for the last 30 years. Scotland saw temperatures dip still lower - from 2.5C to 3.5C. On Tuesday, temperatures in Scotland plunged to -15C in places.
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Winds from the north also brought cold weather to parts of Asia, with Beijing receiving its heaviest snowfall for nearly 60 years. At the weekend, up to 30cm (12in) of snow fell in China's capital and its neighbouring port city of Tianjin. Dozens of people have also died in a cold snap in northern India.
However, while parts of the world suffer freezing temperatures, the seesaw patterns mean other areas are warmer than usual, including Alaska, northern Canada and the Mediterranean. Met Office figures for the end of 2009 show some places dropped 10C below the average, while others were 10C above.
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