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UK snow: Further disruption affects Friday rush hour UK snow: Further disruption affects Friday rush hour
(35 minutes later)
Heavy snow around the UK is causing further travel disruption during the Friday rush hour. Heavy snow around the UK has caused further travel disruption during the Friday rush hour.
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 warned drivers to take extra care, while the RAC said reaching stranded motorists was now a "real challenge".
There are many delays on the rail network and flights at several airports have been cancelled as a band of heavy snow affects most of the UK. Rail companies reported many delays and flights at several airports were cancelled as a band of heavy snow affected most of the UK.
Upwards of 3,000 schools have been closed in England, Wales and Scotland. Upwards of 3,000 schools were closed in England, Wales and Scotland.
Heavy snow is falling in Wales, where a rare Met Office red warning for severe disruption has been issued. Heavy snow has been falling in Wales, where a rare Met Office red warning for severe disruption was 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 forecast in parts of Scotland.
There have been widespread school closures in England, with more than 500 in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, 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. There have been widespread school closures in England, with more than 500 in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, 300 in Norfolk, href="http://apps1.buckscc.gov.uk/eforms2005/SSSchoolStatus/default.aspx" >209 in Buckinghamshire, href="http://www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/en/councilservices/EducationandLearning/Parents/advice/Pages/closures.aspx" > 110 in Northamptonshire, and href="http://ww3.gloucestershire.gov.uk/closedschools/" >300 schools and colleges in Gloucestershire. In Wales, 1,200 schools have been closed and three in Scotland.
Transport Minister Stephen Hammond said while there had been some travel disruption caused by the snow, the agencies had done "better than they usually do". Sennybridge, in Powys, saw 26cm of snow during Friday. Elsewhere, there was 16cm in Filton, near Bristol, 12cm in Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, and 10cm in Nottingham, the BBC Weather Centre says.
Transport Minister Stephen Hammond said there had been some travel disruption caused by the snow, but transport authorities had done well.
In other developments:In other developments:
  • Many major roads are being affected by snow, with hazardous conditions on the M5, and the M48 Severn Bridge closed, 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
  • A 16-year-old girl has been airlifted to hospital with serious head and back injuries after a snowboarding accident near Wrightington, Lancashire
  • 405 flights have been cancelled at London's Heathrow Airport. Birmingham and Southampton airports were closed for most of the day, while there was also disruption at London City, Jersey, Belfast, Exeter, Leeds/Bradford and Bristol airports
  • Some Eurostar services have been cancelled, while other services are delayed due to speed restrictions
  • There are extensive delays across the rail network. Operators affected include First Great Western, which is running a reduced service between London Paddington and Cardiff; Southeastern trains, which has major disruption on all of its routes, bar one; South West Trains, which has a revised timetable; Southern Railways; and Greater Anglia
  • In Hampshire and Surrey on the A3, href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-21063457" >drivers stuck northbound from the Liphook services have been told by police not to abandon their vehicles after two coaches broke down
  • In Shropshire, snow forced the Telford ski centre to close its ski slope
  • A number of football matches have been postponed - including Friday nights's Conference fixture between Braintree and 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, and the M48 Severn Bridge closed, 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 said it was 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 in Hampshire; in Gloucestershire 300 homes are without electricity
  • A 16-year-old girl has been airlifted to hospital with serious head and back injuries after a snowboarding accident near Wrightington, Lancashire
  • 405 flights have been cancelled at London's Heathrow Airport. Birmingham and Southampton airports were closed for most of the day, while there was also disruption at London City, Jersey, Belfast, Exeter, Leeds/Bradford and Bristol airports
  • Some Eurostar services have been cancelled, while other services are delayed due to speed restrictions
  • There are extensive delays across the rail network. Operators affected include First Great Western, which is running a reduced service between London Paddington and Cardiff; Southeastern trains, which has major disruption on most of its routes; South West Trains, which has a revised timetable; Southern Railways; and Greater Anglia
  • In Shropshire, snow forced the Telford ski centre to close its artificial ski slope
  • A number of football matches have been postponed - including Friday night's Conference fixture between Braintree and 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 the public must 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 the so-far light snow in Northern Ireland would become heavy overnight, 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.
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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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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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