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Weather across UK to become "much, much colder" | Weather across UK to become "much, much colder" |
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The UK will be "much, much, colder" on Friday, forecasters say, as disruption caused by snow continues. | The UK will be "much, much, colder" on Friday, forecasters say, as disruption caused by snow continues. |
Overnight, temperatures fell as low as -20C in Braemar, Aberdeenshire and -7C in Birmingham. | Overnight, temperatures fell as low as -20C in Braemar, Aberdeenshire and -7C in Birmingham. |
Gatwick Airport has reopened after two days of closure, but passengers are warned of delays and cancellations. | Gatwick Airport has reopened after two days of closure, but passengers are warned of delays and cancellations. |
Southern and Southeastern rail have reduced services, trains in East Yorkshire are cancelled, and there are virtually no services north of Glasgow. | Southern and Southeastern rail have reduced services, trains in East Yorkshire are cancelled, and there are virtually no services north of Glasgow. |
Many schools are closed again in Scotland - including all schools in Fife, East Lothian, Midlothian, West Lothian, North Lanarkshire and the Borders - and more than 2,000 are closed in England. | Many schools are closed again in Scotland - including all schools in Fife, East Lothian, Midlothian, West Lothian, North Lanarkshire and the Borders - and more than 2,000 are closed in England. |
Several rail services in href="/news/uk-england-11908188" title="Disruption as temperatures drop" >England and href="/news/uk-scotland-11906384" title="Trains off as temperatures plunge" >Scotland are either cancelled or severely disrupted, and drivers are again warned of icy roads. | |
Snow showers in many areas have eased but the href="http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/uk_forecast_warnings.html" >Met Office is now warning of heavy snow in Strathclyde and Central, Tayside and Fife, and of widespread icy roads in south-west England and the Highlands. | |
Temperatures plunged overnight to -16C at Aberdeen airport and -15C in Edinburgh, while both Manchester airport and Yeovil recorded -10C. | |
Areas such as Northern Ireland, western Scotland and north-west England are set to be the next affected by snow during the course of Friday. | Areas such as Northern Ireland, western Scotland and north-west England are set to be the next affected by snow during the course of Friday. |
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Temperature (°C)More details from BBC Weather | Temperature (°C)More details from BBC Weather |
In East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire, heavy snowfall and icy conditions are causing problems on the roads and on public transport. At Brough, 23cm (9in) of snow fell overnight, blocking many roads. | |
The Independent Petrol Retailers Association claimed that up to 500 independent petrol retailers in Scotland and the east of England risked running out of petrol and diesel by the weekend. Filling stations in rural areas away from the main trunk roads were particularly vulnerable, it added. | The Independent Petrol Retailers Association claimed that up to 500 independent petrol retailers in Scotland and the east of England risked running out of petrol and diesel by the weekend. Filling stations in rural areas away from the main trunk roads were particularly vulnerable, it added. |
The easing of snow showers meant Gatwick Airport reopened on Friday morning, although major delays and cancellations were expected to continue to cause headaches for travellers. Smaller regional airports were closed on Friday morning, including Robin Hood Airport in Doncaster, which is now closed until Sunday. | |
A statement on Gatwick's website said: "Our advice to passengers remains - do not travel to the airport without first checking with your airline to make sure that your flight is departing today. | |
"Passengers should expect delays and cancellations and it is likely to take a few days before flight schedules return to normal. Train services to and from the airport continue to be limited and road networks are likely to remain severely affected by the weather." | "Passengers should expect delays and cancellations and it is likely to take a few days before flight schedules return to normal. Train services to and from the airport continue to be limited and road networks are likely to remain severely affected by the weather." |
Meanwhile police are investigating after two elderly people died in their gardens in freezing conditions in separate incidents in Cumbria this week. | |
Officers have said it appears that 80-year-old Lillian Jenkson, was found dead in Workington on Wednesday morning, might have fallen in her garden overnight. | |
On Tuesday an elderly man was found dead in his garden in Kirkby Stephen, and police - who are urging people to look out for each other in the cold weather - are trying to work out whether a fall or a medical condition may have contributed to his death. | |
In other developments: | In other developments: |
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Transport Secretary Philip Hammond told the BBC the travel problems were not caused by a lack of grit. | |
He said there was a million tonnes of salt in local authority depots, a further quarter of a million tonnes in Highways Agency depots, and about 150,000 tonnes on its way to the UK over the next five or six weeks. | |
"We have massive supplies of salt, there is no shortage of salt. If local authorities are not gritting minor roads, residential roads, pavements, that is because they've taken a decision not to grit those roads and pavements. | |
"No local authority has contacted us, and asked us for access to the strategic stockpile, and if they do, we have supplies ready to make available to them." | |
On Thursday Mr Hammond told the Commons he was doing everything he could to keep Britain moving, but his Labour shadow Maria Eagle accused him of "complacency". | |
The government said that "challenging" road conditions were making it difficult to supply fuel to some areas - even though the refineries themselves were operating without major disruption. | The government said that "challenging" road conditions were making it difficult to supply fuel to some areas - even though the refineries themselves were operating without major disruption. |
Mr Hammond said he had heard "far too many stories" of rail passengers being unable to obtain information about train services. | Mr Hammond said he had heard "far too many stories" of rail passengers being unable to obtain information about train services. |
The transport secretary has written to the train companies to remind them of their responsibilities, but he has played down suggestions that the firms could be punished with fines for their performance during the cold spell. | |
An active search by mountain rescue team volunteers for missing fell walker Gwenda Merriot, 60, from Wiltshire, has ended, but posters are being put up and hotels and B&Bs are being contacted. | An active search by mountain rescue team volunteers for missing fell walker Gwenda Merriot, 60, from Wiltshire, has ended, but posters are being put up and hotels and B&Bs are being contacted. |
She was last seen in Ambleside in the Lake District on Wednesday morning and there has been heavy snowfall since then. | She was last seen in Ambleside in the Lake District on Wednesday morning and there has been heavy snowfall since then. |
Have you noticed any problems arising from the cold weather? Has your business been affected? Send us your pictures and comments using the form below. | Have you noticed any problems arising from the cold weather? Has your business been affected? 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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