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UK snow: Further disruption predicted for Friday rush hour UK snow: Further disruption predicted for Friday rush hour
(35 minutes later)
Heavy snow around the UK is set to cause further travel disruption as the Friday rush hour gets going.Heavy snow around the UK is set to cause further travel disruption as the Friday rush hour gets going.
The Highways Agency is warning drivers to take extra care, while the RAC says reaching stranded motorists was now a "real challenge".The Highways Agency is warning drivers to take extra care, while the RAC says reaching stranded motorists was now a "real challenge".
More than 3,000 schools have been closed in England and Wales as a band of heavy snow affects most of the UK.More than 3,000 schools have been closed in England and Wales as a band of heavy snow affects most of the UK.
Flights at Heathrow, Southampton and Bristol airports have been cancelled and some rail services are delayed. Flights at many airports, including Heathrow, have been cancelled and some rail services are delayed.
Heavy snow is falling in Wales, where a rare Met Office red warning for severe disruption has been issued.Heavy snow is falling in Wales, where a rare Met Office red warning for severe disruption has been issued.
There is an amber warning for Northern Ireland and most of England, with snow also due in parts of Scotland.There is an amber warning for Northern Ireland and most of England, with snow also due in parts of Scotland.
There have been widespread school closures in England, with more than 500 in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, href="/news/uk-england-norfolk-21062927" title="Schools shut as snow hits Norfolk" >300 in Norfolk, 110 in Northamptonshire, and 300 schools and colleges in Gloucestershire. In Wales, 1,200 schools have been closed and three in Scotland. There have been widespread school closures in England, with more than 500 in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, href="/news/uk-england-norfolk-21062927" title="Schools shut as snow hits Norfolk" >300 in Norfolk, 209 in Buckinghamshire, 110 in Northamptonshire, and 300 schools and colleges in Gloucestershire. In Wales, 1,200 schools have been closed and three in Scotland.
In other developments:In other developments:
  • Many major roads are being affected by snow, with hazardous conditions on the M5, the BBC travel centre reports
  • The RAC says it has rescued a number of stranded motorists in west Wales and parts of Wiltshire, South Gloucestershire and Hampshire. The AA says it is currently receiving calls at a rate of around 900 an hour from stranded drivers in England and Wales
  • 5,000 households in parts of south Wales are being affected by power cuts; as well as 1,000 Hampshire and in Gloucestershire 300 homes are without electricity
  • 322 flights have been cancelled at London's Heathrow Airport. Birmingham Airport is closed until 18:00 GMT, Southampton Airport until at least 17:00 GMT, while there are also delays and cancellations at London City and Leeds/Bradford and Bristol airports
  • Eurostar cancelled four journeys between London and Brussels
  • Southeastern trains is operating a reduced service from Victoria and there is major disruption on all of its routes, bar one. South West Trains has published a revised timetable and Southern Railways is operating a "less frequent service" between London and the south coast of England. Greater Anglia has a revised service out of London's Liverpool Street
  • In Hampshire and Surrey on the A3, drivers stuck northbound from the Liphook services have been told by police not to abandon their vehicles after two coaches broke down
  • Outside Bristol, the Mall shopping centre, at Cribbs Causeway, is closing early at 16:00 GMT because of snow
  • A number of football matches have been postponed - including Friday nights's Conference fixture between Braintree against Grimsby. On Saturday, six matches in League One, five in League Two and one league match in Scotland have already been called off
  • Many major roads are being affected by snow, with hazardous conditions on the M5, the BBC travel centre reports
  • The RAC says it has rescued a number of stranded motorists in west Wales and parts of Wiltshire, South Gloucestershire and Hampshire. The AA says it is currently receiving calls at a rate of around 900 an hour from stranded drivers in England and Wales
  • 5,000 households in parts of south Wales are being affected by power cuts; as well as 1,000 Hampshire and in Gloucestershire 300 homes are without electricity
  • 322 flights have been cancelled at London's Heathrow Airport. Birmingham Airport is closed until 18:00 GMT, Southampton Airport until at least 17:00 GMT, while there is also disruption at London City, Jersey, Belfast, Exeter, Leeds/Bradford and Bristol airports
  • Eurostar cancelled four journeys between London and Brussels
  • Southeastern trains is operating a reduced service from Victoria and there is major disruption on all of its routes, bar one. South West Trains has published a revised timetable and Southern Railways is operating a "less frequent service" between London and the south coast of England. Greater Anglia has a revised service out of London's Liverpool Street
  • In Hampshire and Surrey on the A3, drivers stuck northbound from the Liphook services have been told by police not to abandon their vehicles after two coaches broke down
  • Outside Bristol, the Mall shopping centre, at Cribbs Causeway, is closing early at 16:00 GMT because of snow
  • A number of football matches have been postponed - including Friday nights's Conference fixture between Braintree against Grimsby. On Saturday, six matches in League One, five in League Two and one league match in Scotland have already been called off
The Met Office's red warning for snow, which is unusual and means all non-essential travel should be avoided, applies to the south-eastern side of the Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains until 21:00 GMT on Friday.The Met Office's red warning for snow, which is unusual and means all non-essential travel should be avoided, applies to the south-eastern side of the Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains until 21:00 GMT on Friday.
Red warning areas could see up to 30cm (12 ins) of snow and blizzards.Red warning areas could see up to 30cm (12 ins) of snow and blizzards.
Amber severe weather warnings, which mean be prepared for disruption and only travel if necessary, are also in place until at least 21:00 GMT across large parts of central, western and southern England and Wales, as well as Northern Ireland.Amber severe weather warnings, which mean be prepared for disruption and only travel if necessary, are also in place until at least 21:00 GMT across large parts of central, western and southern England and Wales, as well as Northern Ireland.
BBC Weather said Northern Ireland would experience rain early on Friday, which would turn to snow during the course of the day, with between 10cm and 15cm expected in most areas and about 20cm over hills.BBC Weather said Northern Ireland would experience rain early on Friday, which would turn to snow during the course of the day, with between 10cm and 15cm expected in most areas and about 20cm over hills.
BBC weather forecaster Mike Silverstone said much of England and Wales would experience between 5cm and 15cm of snow on Friday, whereas Northern Ireland could see up to 20cm (8 ins) by Saturday morning.BBC weather forecaster Mike Silverstone said much of England and Wales would experience between 5cm and 15cm of snow on Friday, whereas Northern Ireland could see up to 20cm (8 ins) by Saturday morning.
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The snow is expected to ease off later on Friday, although it is set to remain in eastern areas, forecasters said.The snow is expected to ease off later on Friday, although it is set to remain in eastern areas, forecasters said.
He added it was likely to stay very cold over the weekend, with snow likely to be confined to Scotland, north-eastern England and Northern Ireland on Saturday.He added it was likely to stay very cold over the weekend, with snow likely to be confined to Scotland, north-eastern England and Northern Ireland on Saturday.
The Highways Agency has put road ploughs and snow blowers on stand-by to clear major routes.The Highways Agency has put road ploughs and snow blowers on stand-by to clear major routes.
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Steve Crosthwaite, who heads the agency's National Traffic Operations Centre, urged drivers to allow more time for travel.Steve Crosthwaite, who heads the agency's National Traffic Operations Centre, urged drivers to allow more time for travel.
RAC spokesman Simon Williams said reaching stranded motorists was now a "real challenge".RAC spokesman Simon Williams said reaching stranded motorists was now a "real challenge".
"In order to deal with an expected increase in calls for assistance later in the day, we have also put every technically qualified engineer normally based in the office back out on the road again in patrol vehicles," he said."In order to deal with an expected increase in calls for assistance later in the day, we have also put every technically qualified engineer normally based in the office back out on the road again in patrol vehicles," he said.
For more information on the weather and transport situation in your area, visit the BBC Weather website and BBC Travel News.For more information on the weather and transport situation in your area, visit the BBC Weather website and BBC Travel News.
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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
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Temperature (°C)

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