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Snow brings further travel misery Snow brings further travel misery
(about 1 hour later)
Travellers across parts of the UK face further misery as airports, roads and rail continue to be badly hit by snow. Travellers are facing further misery as airports, roads and rail continue to be badly hit by snow in parts of the UK.
Gatwick Airport will remain closed until at least 0600 GMT on Friday, after 15cm of snow fell overnight. Gatwick Airport will remain closed until at least 0600 GMT on Friday after 15cm (6in) of snow fell overnight.
In England, Southern trains has suspended its services and Southeastern is running an emergency timetable. Southern and Southeastern train services in south-east England are severely disrupted, and at least 6,500 schools across the UK have been closed.
Severe snow warnings have been issued for parts of Scotland as well as north-east and east England. At least 6,500 schools across the UK have been closed. Severe snow warnings have been issued for parts of Scotland as well as north-east, east and south-east England.
Transport Secretary Phillip Hammond told the Commons he was doing everything he could to keep Britain moving, but his Labour shadow minister Maria Eagle accused him of "complacency".Transport Secretary Phillip Hammond told the Commons he was doing everything he could to keep Britain moving, but his Labour shadow minister Maria Eagle accused him of "complacency".
In England, the Met Office has issued heavy snow warnings for the North East, Yorkshire and Humber, and East Midlands. In England, the Met Office has issued heavy snow warnings for the North East, Yorkshire and Humber, East Midlands, East, and London and South East.
In Scotland the warnings apply to Central, Tayside and Fife, and South West, Lothian and Borders.In Scotland the warnings apply to Central, Tayside and Fife, and South West, Lothian and Borders.
The BBC weather centre said temperatures down to -25C (-13F) in Grampian are forecast for Thursday night. BBC weather forecaster Helen Willetts said there would be further heavy snow showers in eastern areas of the UK on Thursday evening, with ice being the major problem overnight.
Temperatures could plunge to as low as -20C (-4F) in parts of Scotland, northern England and north Wales.
Areas such as Northern Ireland and western Scotland are set to be the next affected by heavy snow into the morning.
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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
Snow has been particularly heavy around Gatwick, with 25cm (10in) recorded in some places - 15cm (6in) of this falling overnight. Snow has been particularly heavy around Gatwick, with 25cm (10in) recorded in some places.
A Gatwick spokesman said: "We are doing everything we can to resume operations. However, conditions have deteriorated considerably.A Gatwick spokesman said: "We are doing everything we can to resume operations. However, conditions have deteriorated considerably.
"Our teams are working around the clock to make the runway safe for aircraft to use and get our airlines and passengers flying again.""Our teams are working around the clock to make the runway safe for aircraft to use and get our airlines and passengers flying again."
Edinburgh airport will not reopen until at least 1600 GMT, and Robin Hood Airport near Doncaster will not be open until midday at the earliest. Southampton airport is closed until 1600 GMT at least.Edinburgh airport will not reopen until at least 1600 GMT, and Robin Hood Airport near Doncaster will not be open until midday at the earliest. Southampton airport is closed until 1600 GMT at least.
Train troublesTrain troubles
The Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc) said that at Thursday lunchtime 70% of normal services were running and 58% of those were on time.The Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc) said that at Thursday lunchtime 70% of normal services were running and 58% of those were on time.
Atoc chief executive Michael Roberts said: "Our priority for today and the coming days will be to get as many services as possible running.Atoc chief executive Michael Roberts said: "Our priority for today and the coming days will be to get as many services as possible running.
"Staff will continue to work round the clock to keep as much of the network up and running as possible.""Staff will continue to work round the clock to keep as much of the network up and running as possible."
In other developments:In other developments:
  • Southern trains, which travel in south London and between central London and the south coast, are not running south of East Croydon until further notice. A limited service is being run on its Metro network in London
  • Southeastern trains, which runs out of London Victoria and Charing Cross, is operating an emergency timetable
  • National Rail Enquiries has set up a hotline for information about snow-related disruption on 08453 017 641, and also has updates at @nationalrailenq on Twitter
  • Half of Eurostar's services between London and Brussels on Thursday have been cancelled, as have seven out of 17 services each way between London and Paris
  • In London, the Tube network is running but there are severe delays on the Circle line, and parts of the Overground are suspended
  • Police were advising people not to travel unless absolutely necessary - especially in the worst-hit areas of Scotland, Yorkshire, Derbyshire and south-east England
  • Police in Kent advised freight traffic not to enter the county unless absolutely necessary as gale force winds were forecast. Some roads in the west and north of the county were impassable due to snow and ice
  • In Wales, Royal Mail said snow and ice could hit mail deliveries and collections in parts of four postcode areas - LL, LD, SY and SA. The postcodes cover north Wales from Anglesey to Wrexham, parts of Powys and Ceredigion and south-west Wales including Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire
  • Jersey airport runway will remain shut during Thursday
  • Apart from Edinburgh and Southampton, BAA said all of its airports were open, including Heathrow, but there are some delays and cancellations, mainly due to problems elsewhere in the UK and Europe
  • Nottinghamshire's coroner Dr Nigel Chapman has said seven elderly people have died of hypothermia in the county over the past few days. That compares to a total of 16 in 2009
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  • Southern trains, which travel in south London and between central London and the south coast, are not running south of East Croydon until further notice. A limited service is being run on its Metro network in London
  • Southeastern trains, which runs out of London Victoria and Charing Cross, is operating an emergency timetable
  • National Rail Enquiries has set up a hotline for information about snow-related disruption on 08453 017 641, and also has updates at @nationalrailenq on Twitter
  • Half Eurostar's services between London and Brussels on Thursday have been cancelled, as have seven out of 17 services each way between London and Paris. It said its timetable would be significantly reduced, with cancellations and delays, until Sunday
  • In London, the Tube network is running but parts of the Overground are suspended
  • Police were advising people not to travel unless absolutely necessary - especially in the worst-hit areas of Scotland, Yorkshire, Derbyshire and south-east England
  • Police in Kent advised freight traffic not to enter the county unless absolutely necessary as gale force winds were forecast. Some roads in the west and north of the county were impassable due to snow and ice
  • In Wales, Royal Mail said snow and ice could hit mail deliveries and collections in parts of four postcode areas - LL, LD, SY and SA. The postcodes cover north Wales from Anglesey to Wrexham, parts of Powys and Ceredigion and south-west Wales including Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire
  • Jersey airport runway remains shut
  • Edinburgh and Southampton airports are closed, but BAA said its four other airports were open, including Heathrow. There were some delays and cancellations, mainly due to problems elsewhere in the UK and Europe
The AA said it had attended 10,500 breakdowns across the UK by 1500 GMT on Thursday, with the busiest areas in the the south coast of England.The AA said it had attended 10,500 breakdowns across the UK by 1500 GMT on Thursday, with the busiest areas in the the south coast of England.
Meanwhile, about 100 drivers spent the night at South Anston Methodist chapel near Sheffield, after being stranded on the A57 since Tuesday evening. An active search by mountain rescue team volunteers for missing fell walker Gwenda Merriot, 60, from Wiltshire, has now ended, but posters are being put up and hotels and B&Bs are being contacted.
On the trains, passengers on one early evening service to Brighton had to sleep in carriages overnight. She was last seen in Ambleside in the Lake District on Wednesday morning and there has been heavy snowfall since then.
Police said they were increasingly concerned about fell walker Gwenda Merriot, 60, from Wiltshire, who was last seen in Ambleside in the Lake District on Wednesday morning. Heavy snowfall was forecast for the area overnight.
Some 1,200 schools are closed in Scotland, representing 45% of the total number of schools. Some children in the north-east are missing out on lessons for a sixth day and about 250,000 Scottish pupils are having the day off.Some 1,200 schools are closed in Scotland, representing 45% of the total number of schools. Some children in the north-east are missing out on lessons for a sixth day and about 250,000 Scottish pupils are having the day off.
More than 4,000 schools are closed in England on Thursday.More than 4,000 schools are closed in England on Thursday.
One of the worst-affected areas of England is South Yorkshire, where snowfall of up to 30cm (12in) brought parts of the county to a standstill.One of the worst-affected areas of England is South Yorkshire, where snowfall of up to 30cm (12in) brought parts of the county to a standstill.
A total of 38cm (15in) of snow has fallen in Sheffield, the most recorded in December since records began in 1882.A total of 38cm (15in) of snow has fallen in Sheffield, the most recorded in December since records began in 1882.
Overnight, temperatures hit lows of -11C (12F) in County Tyrone and -14C (7F) in the north-western Highlands.Overnight, temperatures hit lows of -11C (12F) in County Tyrone and -14C (7F) in the north-western Highlands.
Have you been stranded by the snow? Have your travel plans been disrupted by the weather? Send us your pictures and comments using the form below.Have you been stranded by the snow? Have your travel plans been disrupted by the weather? Send us your pictures and comments using the form below.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
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