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Snow expected across much of Britain | Snow expected across much of Britain |
(40 minutes later) | |
Most parts of the UK are due to see heavy snow later, bringing disruption to roads, rail and air travel. | Most parts of the UK are due to see heavy snow later, bringing disruption to roads, rail and air travel. |
Forecasters say 5-10cm (up to 4in) will fall in central, eastern and southern England, including London, with the heaviest falls expected after dusk. | Forecasters say 5-10cm (up to 4in) will fall in central, eastern and southern England, including London, with the heaviest falls expected after dusk. |
The Met Office has issued more than a dozen severe weather warnings, spreading across much of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. | The Met Office has issued more than a dozen severe weather warnings, spreading across much of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. |
BAA has cancelled one-third of Sunday's flights from Heathrow Airport. | BAA has cancelled one-third of Sunday's flights from Heathrow Airport. |
Heathrow's chief operating officer Normand Boivin said the decision to introduce a revised flight schedule before snow had fallen was taken in an effort to minimise disruption to passengers. | Heathrow's chief operating officer Normand Boivin said the decision to introduce a revised flight schedule before snow had fallen was taken in an effort to minimise disruption to passengers. |
A list of which flights will operate will be available on the Heathrow website from around 1800 GMT on Saturday. | A list of which flights will operate will be available on the Heathrow website from around 1800 GMT on Saturday. |
Passengers at London Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted are advised to contact their airline for more information. | |
Sporting postponements | |
Air travel has already been disrupted across the whole of Europe - flights from Rome and Amsterdam's Schiphol airports to UK destinations, and Saturday morning flights to Amsterdam from Birmingham, Manchester and Heathrow were cancelled or delayed. | Air travel has already been disrupted across the whole of Europe - flights from Rome and Amsterdam's Schiphol airports to UK destinations, and Saturday morning flights to Amsterdam from Birmingham, Manchester and Heathrow were cancelled or delayed. |
Due to the worsening conditions, British Airways says it will allow passengers booked on Sunday flights to re-book for journeys between Monday and Thursday. | Due to the worsening conditions, British Airways says it will allow passengers booked on Sunday flights to re-book for journeys between Monday and Thursday. |
A spokeswoman said the airline would assess flying conditions throughout the weekend. | A spokeswoman said the airline would assess flying conditions throughout the weekend. |
Sporting fixtures have been badly affected, with many football and race meetings cancelled. | Sporting fixtures have been badly affected, with many football and race meetings cancelled. |
The Met Office has issued amber "be prepared" snow warnings for Yorkshire and Humber, north-west England, north-east England, west and east Midlands, eastern England, south-west England, London and south-east England, Wales, Grampian, Strathclyde, Tayside and Fife, south-west Scotland and the Lothian Borders. | The Met Office has issued amber "be prepared" snow warnings for Yorkshire and Humber, north-west England, north-east England, west and east Midlands, eastern England, south-west England, London and south-east England, Wales, Grampian, Strathclyde, Tayside and Fife, south-west Scotland and the Lothian Borders. |
Yellow "be aware" warnings were issued for the Highlands and Northern Ireland. | Yellow "be aware" warnings were issued for the Highlands and Northern Ireland. |
Ice danger | |
Light snow flurries began falling in Manchester around midday, leaving a covering over rooftops. | Light snow flurries began falling in Manchester around midday, leaving a covering over rooftops. |
Forecasters say there is potential for transport disruption and warn motorists to take shovels, warm clothes and fully charged phones. | |
BBC forecaster Lousie Lear said a band of wet weather would fall as snow as it moved south and east through England, with the bulk falling after Saturday teatime. | |
"We could see five to 10cm of snow quite quickly across central and eastern England, and maybe as much as 10 to 15cm on higher ground." | |
Ice would become an added danger on the roads by Sunday morning, she added. | |
The RAC's Kevin Andrews said the situation was likely to deteriorate throughout Saturday and urged drivers to stay at home where possible. | |
"It looks like we're going to get a dangerous cocktail of driving conditions this weekend, with heavy snow and sub-zero temperatures making the roads extremely treacherous." | |
The motoring organisation was attending 70% more breakdowns than usual. An AA spokesman said it was dealing with around 1,500 vehicles per hour on Saturday morning and was expecting double the normal level of callouts. | |
'Gritter Twitter' | |
February, traditionally the coldest month of winter, has seen daytime temperatures plunge four or five degrees lower than average over the past few days. | February, traditionally the coldest month of winter, has seen daytime temperatures plunge four or five degrees lower than average over the past few days. |
A temperature of -12.4C (9.7F) was recorded in South Newington, Oxfordshire, overnight - the lowest this season, the Met Office said. | |
The cold conditions are likely to continue into the early part of next week. | The cold conditions are likely to continue into the early part of next week. |
The Local Government Association said motorists were being advised to check the latest weather and gritting updates on council websites and "gritter Twitter" feeds. | The Local Government Association said motorists were being advised to check the latest weather and gritting updates on council websites and "gritter Twitter" feeds. |
British Gas said its engineers were on stand-by in all-weather 4x4s, and the Department for Transport said Britain's salt stocks stood at more than 2.4 million tonnes - a million more than last year. | British Gas said its engineers were on stand-by in all-weather 4x4s, and the Department for Transport said Britain's salt stocks stood at more than 2.4 million tonnes - a million more than last year. |
The charity Age UK said it was a dangerous time for older people with low temperatures raising blood pressure, which put people at greater risk of heart attacks and strokes as well as the risk of flu. | The charity Age UK said it was a dangerous time for older people with low temperatures raising blood pressure, which put people at greater risk of heart attacks and strokes as well as the risk of flu. |
Racing off | |
In Championship football, Saturday's games at Portsmouth and Doncaster have been postponed. | |
In League One, matches at Bournemouth, Bury, Colchester, Charlton, Colchester, Notts County, Oldham, Preston and Scunthorpe were all called off. | In League One, matches at Bournemouth, Bury, Colchester, Charlton, Colchester, Notts County, Oldham, Preston and Scunthorpe were all called off. |
Aldershot, Cheltenham, Crewe, Gillingham, Morecambe, Northampton, Oxford, Rotherham, Shrewsbury and Swindon in League Two are also off. | Aldershot, Cheltenham, Crewe, Gillingham, Morecambe, Northampton, Oxford, Rotherham, Shrewsbury and Swindon in League Two are also off. |
Horse racing at Ffos Las, Sandown and Wetherby on Saturday were called off. Sunday's meeting at Kempton will be subject to an inspection at 0800 GMT | Horse racing at Ffos Las, Sandown and Wetherby on Saturday were called off. Sunday's meeting at Kempton will be subject to an inspection at 0800 GMT |
The weather warnings in Britain follow a big freeze across many parts of Europe, where temperatures have fallen as low as -30C in some parts, and scores of people have died, including more than 100 in Ukraine. | The weather warnings in Britain follow a big freeze across many parts of Europe, where temperatures have fallen as low as -30C in some parts, and scores of people have died, including more than 100 in Ukraine. |
Freezing weather has led to a shortage of vital Russian gas supplies to several countries, and Italy has seen its coldest week for 27 years. | Freezing weather has led to a shortage of vital Russian gas supplies to several countries, and Italy has seen its coldest week for 27 years. |
UK weather maps: click on Key and tabs for extra detail | UK weather maps: click on Key and tabs for extra detail |
The enhanced content on this page requires Javascript and Flash Player 9 | The enhanced content on this page requires Javascript and Flash Player 9 |
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 |
Have you been affected by the cold weather conditions? You can send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | Have you been affected by the cold weather conditions? You can send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (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 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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