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Heavy snow and ice bring travel chaos across UK Heavy snow and ice bring travel chaos across UK
(40 minutes later)
Christmas travellers are facing severe disruption as heavy snow falls across many parts of the UK.Christmas travellers are facing severe disruption as heavy snow falls across many parts of the UK.
Heathrow and Gatwick airports were forced to close all runways amid severe Met Office warnings for parts of London, the Home Counties and Surrey.Heathrow and Gatwick airports were forced to close all runways amid severe Met Office warnings for parts of London, the Home Counties and Surrey.
Roads, railways and airports were all affected across Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England.Roads, railways and airports were all affected across Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England.
And hundreds of drivers spent much of the night stuck on the M6 in Greater Manchester as temperatures plummeted. Airports in Germany, France, Denmark and the Netherlands are also suffering cancellations and delays.
Heathrow Airport said it closed its runways to allow snow clearing and to keep the airport safe, advising passengers to check with airlines before travelling to the airport. Meanwhile hundreds of drivers were stranded overnight on the M6 motorway in Greater Manchester. Similar conditions in Germany and Italy also saw drivers stuck on icy roads, as temperatures plummeted.
Airport operator BAA said they would remain closed until at least 1600 GMT. Heathrow Airport said it closed its runways to allow snow clearing and to keep the airport safe, advising passengers to check with airlines before travelling to the airport. Airport operator BAA said they would remain closed until at least 1600 GMT.
Gatwick, meanwhile, said its runway would shut until at least 1500 GMT while crews de-iced and assessed ground conditions.Gatwick, meanwhile, said its runway would shut until at least 1500 GMT while crews de-iced and assessed ground conditions.
British Airways has cancelled all flights leaving Heathrow and Gatwick until 1700 GMT.
'Mayhem''Mayhem'
There was also disruption at Exeter, London City, Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bristol and Cardiff airports.There was also disruption at Exeter, London City, Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bristol and Cardiff airports.
In Wales, staff at several hospitals have been struggling to get into work, with two health boards appealing for medical staff to help out over the weekend.In Wales, staff at several hospitals have been struggling to get into work, with two health boards appealing for medical staff to help out over the weekend.
Cwm Taf and Cardiff and Vale said they needed help running the Royal Glamorgan, Prince Charles, University Hospital of Wales and Llandough hospitals.Cwm Taf and Cardiff and Vale said they needed help running the Royal Glamorgan, Prince Charles, University Hospital of Wales and Llandough hospitals.
Several roads across the country remain closed and bus services were disrupted in the south.Several roads across the country remain closed and bus services were disrupted in the south.
What's the weather in your area?Source: BBC WeatherWhat's the weather in your area?Source: BBC Weather
In Northern Ireland freezing conditions continue to make travel difficult following some of the heaviest snowfall for 25 years - with more forecast.In Northern Ireland freezing conditions continue to make travel difficult following some of the heaviest snowfall for 25 years - with more forecast.
Belfast International Airport has reopened, although delays and cancellations are expected, and Belfast City Airport has reopened for the "forseeable future".Belfast International Airport has reopened, although delays and cancellations are expected, and Belfast City Airport has reopened for the "forseeable future".
The Northern Ireland Roads Service said slush from Friday had re-frozen overnight and Christmas shoppers should think carefully before setting out by car.The Northern Ireland Roads Service said slush from Friday had re-frozen overnight and Christmas shoppers should think carefully before setting out by car.
Jon Caudwell, from the Highways Agency, said they were doing their best to keep major roads in England clear but needed help from motorists.Jon Caudwell, from the Highways Agency, said they were doing their best to keep major roads in England clear but needed help from motorists.
He told 5 live: "We've obviously got more and more snow coming, so we're really going to have to work very, very hard. He told BBC Radio 5 live: "We've obviously got more and more snow coming, so we're really going to have to work very, very hard.
"We are asking the public to really seriously consider whether they do need to come out in these conditions and if they do come out in these conditions they really must take extra care.""We are asking the public to really seriously consider whether they do need to come out in these conditions and if they do come out in these conditions they really must take extra care."
There were problems overnight on the M61, M58 and M57, with police advising people not to travel unless absolutely necessary.There were problems overnight on the M61, M58 and M57, with police advising people not to travel unless absolutely necessary.
Commuter Stephen Derbyshire, who was stranded on the M6 for five hours, told BBC Radio 5 live: "It is absolute mayhem."
The M6 and M61 reopened at around 0700 GMT after junctions 22-27 and 6-8 respectively had been closed.The M6 and M61 reopened at around 0700 GMT after junctions 22-27 and 6-8 respectively had been closed.
Earlier, British Airways said it was cancelling all Heathrow flights until 1700 GMT.Earlier, British Airways said it was cancelling all Heathrow flights until 1700 GMT.
It advised all passengers on BA flights during times affected not to travel to Heathrow on Saturday, and warned of severe disruption at all London airports.It advised all passengers on BA flights during times affected not to travel to Heathrow on Saturday, and warned of severe disruption at all London airports.
BA spokesman Phillip Allport said the airline was the biggest at Heathrow and even a short closure of an hour or two at short notice would be chaotic for passengers.BA spokesman Phillip Allport said the airline was the biggest at Heathrow and even a short closure of an hour or two at short notice would be chaotic for passengers.
"Thousands of people would be inconvenienced because BA runs so many flights. A smaller airline can take a chance on the weather not behaving as forecast - BA can't," he said."Thousands of people would be inconvenienced because BA runs so many flights. A smaller airline can take a chance on the weather not behaving as forecast - BA can't," he said.
Passenger Jade Price, whose BA flight to the US capital Washington DC was amongst those cancelled, said Heathrow's Terminal 5 was "absolute chaos".Passenger Jade Price, whose BA flight to the US capital Washington DC was amongst those cancelled, said Heathrow's Terminal 5 was "absolute chaos".
The mother-of-two, from Uxbridge in Middlesex, told the BBC: "We sat on the tarmac with our two small children for four hours with no food before being told that we would not fly because the queue for de-icing was too long.The mother-of-two, from Uxbridge in Middlesex, told the BBC: "We sat on the tarmac with our two small children for four hours with no food before being told that we would not fly because the queue for de-icing was too long.
'Heartbreaking' "Terminal 5 was absolute chaos. All luggage was lost - with no information about how or when it would be returned to us - and people were not given food, travel, or hotel vouchers...".
"Terminal 5 was absolute chaos. All luggage was lost - with no information about how or when it would be returned to us - and people were not given food, travel, or hotel vouchers...
"The disappointment on my four-year-old son's face when he found out that we we wouldn't get to see his grandparents was heartbreaking."
Other problems caused by the weather include:Other problems caused by the weather include:
  • The North West Ambulance Service warned of delays reaching emergency patients
  • Brent Cross shopping centre in London was forced to close, angering Christmas shoppers
  • Lincolnshire County Council said it had already used about 60% of its grit stocks despite starting the winter with 31,600 tonnes - 8,000 more than usual
  • The AA said it had attended 4,000 breakdowns across the UK by 1030 GMT, with calls peaking at 1,200 every hour - twice the normal rate
  • Rail operators Southern, Southeastern and South West Trains cancelled services
    •
  • A number of weekend sporting fixtures were cancelled including Premiership football matches and the National Hunt meeting at Haydock
  • An urgent appeal is being made for blood donors, particularly those who are O negative, as stocks are running low
  • Companies have warned of a backlog of deliveries which may not reach customers before Christmas
  • Rail operators Southern, Southeastern and South West Trains cancelled services
  • For rail information the Association of Train Operating Companies said passengers could call a new number, 08453 017 641
    •
  • The North West Ambulance Service warned of delays reaching emergency patients
  • Brent Cross shopping centre in London was forced to close, angering Christmas shoppers
  • Lincolnshire County Council said it had already used about 60% of its grit stocks despite starting the winter with 31,600 tonnes - 8,000 more than usual
  • The AA said it had attended 4,000 breakdowns across the UK by 1030 GMT, with calls peaking at 1,200 every hour - twice the normal rate
  • A number of weekend sporting fixtures were cancelled including Premiership football matches and the National Hunt meeting at Haydock
  • An urgent appeal is being made for blood donors, particularly those who are O negative, as stocks are running low
  • Companies have warned of a backlog of deliveries which may not reach customers before Christmas
A Gatwick Airport spokesman said: "Over 3cm of snow has now accumulated on the runway and it is now unsafe to operate aircraft.A Gatwick Airport spokesman said: "Over 3cm of snow has now accumulated on the runway and it is now unsafe to operate aircraft.
"With planes travelling at speeds of more than 100mph when they land or take off, it is critically important that the runway is safe as they do so.""With planes travelling at speeds of more than 100mph when they land or take off, it is critically important that the runway is safe as they do so."
Met Office warnings for heavy snow remain in place across Northern Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and parts of England - with up to 25cm forecast for some areas.Met Office warnings for heavy snow remain in place across Northern Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and parts of England - with up to 25cm forecast for some areas.
And it issued severe "very heavy" snow warnings for Bedfordshire, Bracknell Forest, Buckinghamshire, Greater London, Hertfordshire, Luton, Slough, Surrey, Windsor and Maidenhead, and Wokingham.And it issued severe "very heavy" snow warnings for Bedfordshire, Bracknell Forest, Buckinghamshire, Greater London, Hertfordshire, Luton, Slough, Surrey, Windsor and Maidenhead, and Wokingham.
Overnight, temperatures reached minus 17.2C just north of Norwich, minus 14C in Castlederg, Northern Ireland, and minus 13C in Chesham, Buckinghamshire.Overnight, temperatures reached minus 17.2C just north of Norwich, minus 14C in Castlederg, Northern Ireland, and minus 13C in Chesham, Buckinghamshire.
Temperatures in England, Wales and Northern Ireland averaged between minus 5C and minus 10C, whilst in Scotland they typically fell to between minus 15C and minus 20C.Temperatures in England, Wales and Northern Ireland averaged between minus 5C and minus 10C, whilst in Scotland they typically fell to between minus 15C and minus 20C.
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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
Have you been affected by the heavy snow and ice or have your travel plans been disrupted? You can send us your experiences using the form below:Have you been affected by the heavy snow and ice or have your travel plans been disrupted? You can send us your experiences using the form below:
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