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Britain braced for further snow Fresh snow brings more disruption
(about 4 hours later)
More snow is expected across the whole of the UK making conditions tough for drivers and pedestrians once again. Fresh snow - forecast for the whole of the UK - has begun to fall, creating more problems for transport as road salt rationing increases.
Snowfall in south Wales and south-west England on Tuesday brought traffic to a standstill and shut the Severn Bridge. Forecasters are expecting up to 4cm (1.5in) of snow in some parts, before the weather eases at the weekend.
Police opened emergency centres for stranded drivers near Exeter and main routes into Cornwall were affected. Met Office severe weather warnings apply to north-west England, the West Midlands, Wales and southern England.
Forecasters are expecting up to 4cm (1.5ins) of snow, before the wintry weather eases over the weekend. Another snowy spell is expected from Monday. The M48 old Severn Bridge is shut after snow in south-west England and south Wales, which stranded drivers in Devon.
The Met Office has severe weather warnings in place for south Wales and south-west England. Police and the Highways Agency apologised to motorists after hundreds of people became stuck for hours in blizzards on Haldon Hill and Telegraph Hill, near Exeter, during rush hour on Tuesday.
BBC weather forecaster Matt Taylor said a covering of snow was possible everywhere in the UK on Wednesday, with 1-4cm (0.4-1.5ins) forecast on lower ground and as much as 10cm (4ins) possible in the hills.
He said it would be a little less cold over the weekend but temperatures would drop again from Monday.
The transport secretary has told local authorities and the Highways Agency to protect salt supplies amid forecasts of 10 more days of freezing weather.
And the deadline for UK university applications has been extended by a week because of the adverse weather, the admissions service Ucas has said.
WEATHER AND TRAVEL INFO Get the latest on school closures and travel problems via your BBC Local websiteCheck if snow is forecast in your area at BBC Weather Details of motorway and local road closures and public transport disruption are available at BBC Travel News For advice on handling difficult driving conditions, see the Highways Agency websiteFor information about severe weather warnings, see the Met Office websiteFor information about staying healthy in the cold weather, see the NHS Winter Health website Pothole warning after UK freeze Traffic 'gridlock' as snow fallsWEATHER AND TRAVEL INFO Get the latest on school closures and travel problems via your BBC Local websiteCheck if snow is forecast in your area at BBC Weather Details of motorway and local road closures and public transport disruption are available at BBC Travel News For advice on handling difficult driving conditions, see the Highways Agency websiteFor information about severe weather warnings, see the Met Office websiteFor information about staying healthy in the cold weather, see the NHS Winter Health website Pothole warning after UK freeze Traffic 'gridlock' as snow falls
The Severn Bridge is currently closed in both directions while the road is treated, according to the Highways Agency. A similar situation arose less than a year ago.
Heavy snow started to fall in parts of Devon on Tuesday afternoon, causing widespread travel problems including flight cancellations at Plymouth Airport. Devon Fire and Rescue Service and Dartmoor Rescue Group set up rest centres.
There were problems on the M4 near Cardiff, with traffic stationary. By Wednesday morning, runways at London's Gatwick, Birmingham International and Cardiff airports were closed because of snow, with some cancellations and delays possible.
Hundreds of drivers were stranded on Telegraph Hill and Haldon Hill, near Exeter from about rush hour. The number of school closures, which had fallen this week, is likely to rise again in some areas.
Police urged motorists to stay in their cars while traffic officers could take them to rest centres. About 140 are shut in Gloucestershire, where snow ploughs were clearing 2ft of snow on some routes, although secondary schools were open for exam pupils.
There were also problems on the A361 between Rackenford and Knowstone in Devon and East Cornwall around Bodmin and Liskeard was also badly affected by the weather conditions. A further 300 were shut in Herefordshire and Worcestershire, where ambulance crews reported difficulties and one team had to be rescued from snow by a 4x4 vehicle.
In south Wales, police urged motorists not to travel after snowfall caused severe traffic problems around the M4 and other major routes. More than 450 schools in Wales are closed. One school in Rhondda Cynon Taf has cancelled its exam sitting.
Snow started falling in Pembrokeshire at lunchtime, and moved eastwards within a couple of hours. Recent closures prompted university admissions service Ucas to extend its application deadline for pupils at weather-hit schools by a week to 22 January.
If we did not act decisively reserves would run down fast and essential roads would be at risk of closure if the freeze continues Lord Adonis, Transport Secretary BBC weather forecaster Matt Taylor said a covering of snow was possible everywhere in the UK on Wednesday, with 1-4cm (0.4-1.5in) forecast on lower ground and as much as 10cm (4in) possible in the hills.
Bus services were suspended in Swansea and Pembrokeshire in the evening, and curtailed in neighbouring counties. He said it would be a little less cold during the weekend, but temperatures would drop again from Monday.
Councils have closed many schools on Wednesday in Rhondda Cynon Taf in the South Wales Valleys and Merthyr Tydfil in south Wales because of the weather. Transport Secretary Lord Adonis has told local authorities and the Highways Agency to protect salt supplies further amid forecasts of 10 more days of freezing weather.
Meanwhile, plumbers and utilities firms across the UK say they have taken thousands of calls about frozen pipes. Frozen pipes
And the Institution of Civil Engineers said the cycle of freezing and thawing water will widen cracks in road surfaces, creating potholes. Councils that had already agreed to cut gritting by 25% are now having to almost halve the amount of salt used.
"If we did not act decisively, reserves would run down fast and essential roads would be at risk of closure if the freeze continues," said Lord Adonis.
Meanwhile, plumbers and utilities companies across the UK say they have taken thousands of calls about frozen pipes.
People in Cockermouth, which was devastated by the floods that hit Cumbria in November, have said leaks are causing fresh misery.
And the Institution of Civil Engineers said the cycle of freezing and thawing water would widen cracks in road surfaces, creating potholes.
The London-bound M20 in Kent - one of the UK's busiest roads - underwent emergency repair work because of damage caused by the snow.The London-bound M20 in Kent - one of the UK's busiest roads - underwent emergency repair work because of damage caused by the snow.
Local authorities and the Highways Agency have agreed to almost halve the amount of salt they use on England's roads compared with last week.
Transport Secretary Lord Adonis said the reductions were to give "a firm assurance" that roads can be kept open.
"If we did not act decisively, reserves would run down fast and essential roads would be at risk of closure if the freeze continues," he said.
Councils across Wales, meanwhile, have had to resort to rationing salt.
But First Minister Carwyn Jones said extra gritting salt was expected to arrive by the end of the week.
Are you stuck in traffic? Or have you been affected by the snow in south-west England and south Wales? You can send us your experiences using the form below:Are you stuck in traffic? Or have you been affected by the snow in south-west England and south Wales? You can send us your experiences using the form below:
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