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Snow and ice disrupts travel as cold spell continues Snow and ice causes disruption as cold spell continues
(40 minutes later)
Further snow and freezing temperatures are causing major problems for road, rail and air services in much of the UK, and hundreds of schools are shut.Further snow and freezing temperatures are causing major problems for road, rail and air services in much of the UK, and hundreds of schools are shut.
There are icy road warnings, and up to 15cm of snow could fall in some areas.There are icy road warnings, and up to 15cm of snow could fall in some areas.
Some 400 lorries are stuck on the M25 in Surrey, Gatwick and Edinburgh airports are closed and some rail passengers were stranded overnight.Some 400 lorries are stuck on the M25 in Surrey, Gatwick and Edinburgh airports are closed and some rail passengers were stranded overnight.
The Met Office has issued heavy snow warnings for much of the eastern side of Britain and some central areas.The Met Office has issued heavy snow warnings for much of the eastern side of Britain and some central areas.
In England, heavy snow warnings are in place for Yorkshire and Humber, the East Midlands and London, plus east, north-east and south-east England.In England, heavy snow warnings are in place for Yorkshire and Humber, the East Midlands and London, plus east, north-east and south-east England.
In Scotland the warnings apply to Grampian, Central, Tayside and Fife, south-west Scotland, Lothian and Borders. In Scotland the warnings apply to Grampian, Central, Tayside and Fife, Strathclyde, south-west Scotland, Lothian and Borders.
Thousands of Scottish children will have a third day off in a row as many councils keep schools closed.Thousands of Scottish children will have a third day off in a row as many councils keep schools closed.
Hundreds of skiers took to the slopes near Aviemore in the Scottish Highlands on Tuesday, and an avalanche warning has now been issued.Hundreds of skiers took to the slopes near Aviemore in the Scottish Highlands on Tuesday, and an avalanche warning has now been issued.
Superintendent Chris Moon, of Surrey Police, said the county's conditions were the worst he had ever seen and were likely to get worse. He said people should not travel unless they had to, adding: "I have put out several severe weather warnings in my career, but this one I really must stress."Superintendent Chris Moon, of Surrey Police, said the county's conditions were the worst he had ever seen and were likely to get worse. He said people should not travel unless they had to, adding: "I have put out several severe weather warnings in my career, but this one I really must stress."
Kent Police have issued the same advice, saying some roads in the west and north of the county are impassable due to snow and ice. Many roads are also impassable in parts of Yorkshire and Cumbria. Police have issued the same advice in Kent and in South Yorkshire. In Kent some roads in the west and north of the county are impassable due to snow and ice.
Thousands of rail commuters face severe disruption to their journeys in London and the south east of England, including delays and cancellations to Southeastern services operating out of London Victoria and Charing Cross.Thousands of rail commuters face severe disruption to their journeys in London and the south east of England, including delays and cancellations to Southeastern services operating out of London Victoria and Charing Cross.
BBC broadcast meteorologist Liam Dutton said up to 10cm of snow could fall in East Anglia and south-east England, with up to 15cm possible in north-east England and south-east Scotland.BBC broadcast meteorologist Liam Dutton said up to 10cm of snow could fall in East Anglia and south-east England, with up to 15cm possible in north-east England and south-east Scotland.
"Temperatures will be barely above freezing across the UK and when you add in the effect of the wind chill, it will feel much, much, colder than that," he said."Temperatures will be barely above freezing across the UK and when you add in the effect of the wind chill, it will feel much, much, colder than that," he said.
Overnight, temperatures hit a low of -20 in Altnaharra, in the Highlands.Overnight, temperatures hit a low of -20 in Altnaharra, in the Highlands.
However, south-west England, Wales, western Scotland and Northern Ireland should enjoy sunny spells.However, south-west England, Wales, western Scotland and Northern Ireland should enjoy sunny spells.
Airports closedAirports closed
On Tuesday across the UK, many commuters worked from home, thousands of children could not go to school and motorists faced travel chaos as a number of roads were impassable. The disruption on Wednesday includes:On Tuesday across the UK, many commuters worked from home, thousands of children could not go to school and motorists faced travel chaos as a number of roads were impassable. The disruption on Wednesday includes:
  • Severe disruption for air passengers at Gatwick Airport where its runways are closed. Edinburgh Airport is also closed until at least 1200 GMT, and Guernsey Airport is also shut, while other airports are disrupted. Passengers are advised to check with their airline.
  • In Scotland at least six councils are planning to close schools for a third day. Around 100 schools are closed in South Yorkshire, some 200 in Lincolnshire, and more than 200 in South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire. About 150 are closed in Essex.
  • The M3 southbound will be closed between J2 and J3 at Bagshot in Surrey until about 1000 GMT, following a police incident
  • The M8 motorway between Glasgow and Edinburgh is down to one lane in each direction and the Forth Road Bridge has been closed
  • The M25 in Essex is blocked with heavy traffic anti-clockwise between J30, A13 (Lakeside) and J29, A127 (Romford), because of a jack-knifed lorry
  • The Dartford River Crossing is closed with traffic being diverted through one of the Dartford tunnels
  • Massive delays on the A2 at Cobham after a lorry jack-knifed under the M25 flyover
  • Surrey Police advise motorists to avoid the clockwise section of the M25 between junction six and eight and the anti-clockwise section between junctions nine and seven because of congestion which built up overnight
  • In North Yorkshire, the A169 is shut in the Whitby area because of drifting snow.
  • In Cumbria, the A592 Kirkstone Pass is closed between the Troutbeck junction and the Hartsop junction, because of snow. One lane remains closed on the A66 between A6108 and A685 junctions. The A686 Hartside Pass Langwathby is also closed
  • There are delays and cancellations to Southeastern services, which operate out of London Victoria and Charing Cross. No Southeastern trains are running between Victoria and Dartford, Charing Cross and Hastings and between Strood and Paddock Wood.
  • Passengers trying to travel from Newark to Lincoln faced a night sleeping on the station after all connecting road and rail services cancelled.
  • Rail firm Southeastern said at least three of its trains travelling from London to Kent were stuck for around five hours overnight, stranding about 60 passengers, who have now been taken off the trains. Train services are still severely affected.
  • Severe disruption for air passengers at Gatwick Airport where its runways are closed. Edinburgh Airport is also closed until at least 1200 GMT, and Guernsey Airport is also shut, while other airports are disrupted. Passengers are advised to check with their airline.
  • In Scotland at least six councils are planning to close schools for a third day. Around 100 schools are closed in South Yorkshire, some 200 in Lincolnshire, and more than 200 in South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire. About 250 are closed in Essex.
  • The M3 southbound will be closed between J2 and J3 at Bagshot in Surrey until about 1000 GMT, following a police incident
  • The M8 motorway between Glasgow and Edinburgh is down to one lane in each direction and the Forth Road Bridge has been closed
  • The M25 in Essex is blocked with heavy traffic anti-clockwise between J30, A13 (Lakeside) and J29, A127 (Romford), because of a jack-knifed lorry
  • The Dartford River Crossing is closed with traffic being diverted through one of the Dartford tunnels
  • Massive delays on the A2 at Cobham after a lorry jack-knifed under the M25 flyover
  • Surrey Police advise motorists to avoid the clockwise section of the M25 between junction six and eight and the anti-clockwise section between junctions nine and seven because of congestion which built up overnight
  • In North Yorkshire, the A169 is shut in the Whitby area because of drifting snow.
  • In Cumbria, the A592 Kirkstone Pass is closed between the Troutbeck junction and the Hartsop junction, because of snow. One lane remains closed on the A66 between A6108 and A685 junctions. The A686 Hartside Pass Langwathby is also closed
  • There are delays and cancellations to Southeastern services, which operate out of London Victoria and Charing Cross. No Southeastern trains are running between Victoria and Dartford, Charing Cross and Hastings and between Strood and Paddock Wood.
  • Passengers trying to travel from Newark to Lincoln faced a night sleeping on the station after all connecting road and rail services cancelled.
  • Rail firm Southeastern said at least three of its trains travelling from London to Kent were stuck for around five hours overnight, stranding about 60 passengers, who have now been taken off the trains. Train services are still severely affected.
Drivers were stuck on the A2 near the M25 in Kent on Tuesday evening. Truck driver Nigel Waller, who was on his way to Bradford, told the BBC at 0100 GMT that traffic was slowly starting to move.Drivers were stuck on the A2 near the M25 in Kent on Tuesday evening. Truck driver Nigel Waller, who was on his way to Bradford, told the BBC at 0100 GMT that traffic was slowly starting to move.
"I'm doing 15 miles an hour which is the fastest I have driven in hours. I have been stuck since 1730 GMT," he said."I'm doing 15 miles an hour which is the fastest I have driven in hours. I have been stuck since 1730 GMT," he said.
"I haven't seen any gritters and it's getting slippery because it's freezing and there's slush. I saw a truck trying to overtake a broken down car - he went straight through the central reservation.""I haven't seen any gritters and it's getting slippery because it's freezing and there's slush. I saw a truck trying to overtake a broken down car - he went straight through the central reservation."
Motoring organisation, the AA, said it had received an average of 1,350 calls an hour on Tuesday. The RAC said callouts to breakdowns peaked at 2,000 an hour.Motoring organisation, the AA, said it had received an average of 1,350 calls an hour on Tuesday. The RAC said callouts to breakdowns peaked at 2,000 an hour.
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Map Key

  • Land
  • Cloud
  • Lakes, Rivers & Sea

Fog

Light Heavy

Frost

Light Heavy

Pressure Fronts

Cold Warm Occluded

Rain

Light Heavy Extreme

Snow

Light Heavy

Map Key

  • Land
  • Cloud
  • Lakes, Rivers & Sea

Fog

Light Heavy

Frost

Light Heavy

Pressure Fronts

Cold Warm Occluded

Rain

Light Heavy Extreme

Snow

Light Heavy
Temperature tab onlyTemperature tab only

Temperature (°C)

More details from BBC Weather

Temperature (°C)

More details from BBC Weather
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