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Fresh snow brings more disruption | Fresh snow brings more disruption |
(10 minutes later) | |
Fresh snow has hit many parts of the UK, causing more problems for transport amid further limits on road gritting. | Fresh snow has hit many parts of the UK, causing more problems for transport amid further limits on road gritting. |
Met Office warnings of heavy snow are in place for north-west England, the West Midlands and southern England. | Met Office warnings of heavy snow are in place for north-west England, the West Midlands and southern England. |
Rail and air travellers face delays and cancellations, with several airports shut, while many roads are closed, including the M48 old Severn Bridge. | Rail and air travellers face delays and cancellations, with several airports shut, while many roads are closed, including the M48 old Severn Bridge. |
Hundreds of schools are closed. Some pupils taking exams had difficult journeys on treacherous roads. | Hundreds of schools are closed. Some pupils taking exams had difficult journeys on treacherous roads. |
Runways at Gatwick, London City and, Birmingham International airports were closed because of snow, causing delays and cancellations. Southampton and Cardiff have now reopened. | Runways at Gatwick, London City and, Birmingham International airports were closed because of snow, causing delays and cancellations. Southampton and Cardiff have now reopened. |
Heathrow Airport reported the cancellation of 84 mostly short-haul or domestic flights, both arrivals and departures. | Heathrow Airport reported the cancellation of 84 mostly short-haul or domestic flights, both arrivals and departures. |
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 Drivers stuck in snow for hours Road jam not our fault say police Fresh snow: Your pictures | 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 Drivers stuck in snow for hours Road jam not our fault say police Fresh snow: Your pictures |
Most schools were open for students sitting A-level, AS-level and GCSE exams but many were closed to other pupils. | Most schools were open for students sitting A-level, AS-level and GCSE exams but many were closed to other pupils. |
More than 800 schools in Wales - half the total - did not open. | More than 800 schools in Wales - half the total - did not open. |
England's south-western counties were badly affected. In Gloucestershire, where snow ploughs were clearing two feet of snow on some routes, 215 were shut. | England's south-western counties were badly affected. In Gloucestershire, where snow ploughs were clearing two feet of snow on some routes, 215 were shut. |
A further 300 schools closed in Herefordshire and Worcestershire, where several roads are impassable. Ambulance crews reported difficulties and one team had to be rescued from snow by a 4x4 vehicle. | A further 300 schools closed in Herefordshire and Worcestershire, where several roads are impassable. Ambulance crews reported difficulties and one team had to be rescued from snow by a 4x4 vehicle. |
Much of Yorkshire is experiencing its worst disruption of the winter due to black ice, with many roads impassable. Four gritting lorries slid off North Yorkshire roads. | Much of Yorkshire is experiencing its worst disruption of the winter due to black ice, with many roads impassable. Four gritting lorries slid off North Yorkshire roads. |
Similarly, in West Yorkshire, two vehicles hit buildings and a taxi slid down an embankment onto a house roof. Some 187 West Yorkshire schools are shut and the ambulance service is reporting one of its busiest days so far. | Similarly, in West Yorkshire, two vehicles hit buildings and a taxi slid down an embankment onto a house roof. Some 187 West Yorkshire schools are shut and the ambulance service is reporting one of its busiest days so far. |
Yorkshire Ambulance Service said there had been a four-fold increase in calls during Wednesday morning and was on "a higher alert status". | Yorkshire Ambulance Service said there had been a four-fold increase in calls during Wednesday morning and was on "a higher alert status". |
Recent school closures prompted university admissions service Ucas to extend its application deadline for pupils at weather-hit schools by a week to 22 January. | Recent school closures prompted university admissions service Ucas to extend its application deadline for pupils at weather-hit schools by a week to 22 January. |
Police have admitted they were caught out by a blizzard which left hundreds of people stuck for hours on Haldon Hill and Telegraph Hill, near Exeter, during rush hour on Tuesday. | Police have admitted they were caught out by a blizzard which left hundreds of people stuck for hours on Haldon Hill and Telegraph Hill, near Exeter, during rush hour on Tuesday. |
A similar situation arose less than a year ago. | A similar situation arose less than a year ago. |
Brian Jarvis, from Torquay, was among those stuck. He said the situation was made worse because emergency crews and snow ploughs could not get through traffic. | Brian Jarvis, from Torquay, was among those stuck. He said the situation was made worse because emergency crews and snow ploughs could not get through traffic. |
"It was gridlocked by cars within minutes, the same problem as last year," he added. | "It was gridlocked by cars within minutes, the same problem as last year," he added. |
Devon Fire and Rescue Service and Dartmoor Rescue Group set up rest centres. | Devon Fire and Rescue Service and Dartmoor Rescue Group set up rest centres. |
BBC weather forecaster Matt Taylor said a covering of snow was possible everywhere in the UK on Wednesday, with up to 4cm (1.5in) forecast on lower ground and as much as 10cm (4in) possible in the hills. | BBC weather forecaster Matt Taylor said a covering of snow was possible everywhere in the UK on Wednesday, with up to 4cm (1.5in) forecast on lower ground and as much as 10cm (4in) possible in the hills. |
Risk of closure | Risk of closure |
He said it would be a little less cold during the weekend, but temperatures would drop again from Monday. | He said it would be a little less cold during the weekend, but temperatures would drop again from Monday. |
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. | 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. |
Councils that had already agreed to cut gritting by 25% are now having to almost halve the amount of salt used. | 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. | "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. |
Many police forces are advising drivers to stay off the roads for all but essential journeys: | Many police forces are advising drivers to stay off the roads for all but essential journeys: |
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People in Cockermouth, which was devastated by the floods that hit Cumbria in November, have said leaks are causing fresh misery. | People in Cockermouth, which was devastated by the floods that hit Cumbria in November, have said leaks are causing fresh misery. |
Several water companies say frozen pipes and mains leaks are a major problem, with Yorkshire Water dealing with 80 burst pipes in West Yorkshire alone. | Several water companies say frozen pipes and mains leaks are a major problem, with Yorkshire Water dealing with 80 burst pipes in West Yorkshire alone. |
Deep snow and bad weather are hampering efforts to restore power to 150 homes in County Durham after power cables came down on Tuesday night. | Deep snow and bad weather are hampering efforts to restore power to 150 homes in County Durham after power cables came down on Tuesday night. |
And the Institution of Civil Engineers said the cycle of freezing and thawing water would widen cracks in road surfaces, creating potholes. | 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. |
FORECAST FROM BBC WEATHER | FORECAST FROM BBC WEATHER |
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Map Key
FogLight HeavyFrostLight HeavyPressure FrontsCold Warm OccludedRainLight Heavy ExtremeSnowLight Heavy | Map Key
FogLight HeavyFrostLight HeavyPressure FrontsCold Warm OccludedRainLight Heavy ExtremeSnowLight Heavy |
Temperature tab only | Temperature tab only |
Temperature (°C)More details from BBC Weather | Temperature (°C)More details from BBC Weather |
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: |
A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
Send your pictures and video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to 61124 or you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to 61124 or you have a large file you can upload here. |
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