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London braced for snow and schools shut as yellow weather warnings extended across UK: Weather live

The warning for snow comes amid continued weather disruption at airports and schools across the UK

Simon Calder
Travel Correspondent
,Alex Croft
Wednesday 08 January 2025 11:34 GMT
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Snowfall on A3 in Surrey as weather causes flight delays and motorway chaos

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A blanket of up to 10cm of snow could fall across the south of England on Wednesday, with snow and ice warnings issued across the UK after temperatures plummeted to -5.5C overnight.

Four yellow weather warnings are in place as a cold snap continues to grip the UK, prompting mass school closures and travel disruption.

A yellow snow warning, in place until midnight covers almost the entire south coast and reaches London. On Wednesday morning, the warning was extended to areas in the south west and removed from east Kent.

Yellow warnings for snow and ice are also in place in Northern Ireland and western and northern Scotland until noon on Wednesday. Another warning for ice, also due to be lifted at noon, is in place for northern Wales and northern England.

The cold snap will continue until the end of this week, with amber health alerts from the UK Health Security Agency in place across England until midday on Sunday.

Hundreds of flood alerts and warnings are in place across the country due to rain and melting snow. As of Wednesday morning, the Environment Agency had 91 flood warnings and 178 flood alerts in place across England.

In pictures: A frozen lake in Liverpool amid snow and ice warnings

Gulls stand on the frozen boating lake at Sefton Park in Liverpool
Gulls stand on the frozen boating lake at Sefton Park in Liverpool (EPA)
A yellow warning for snow and ice is currently covering the area
A yellow warning for snow and ice is currently covering the area (EPA)
Alex Croft8 January 2025 11:34

What can southern England expect on Wednesday

With a snow warning in place for most of the southern English coast, uncertainty remains about how far north the snow will reach.

Here’s what southern England can expect, according to Met Office chief forecaster Jason Kelly: “Weather conditions will start to change from the southwest on Wednesday, with fronts from the Atlantic bringing milder air along with moisture.

“As this moisture encounters the cold air, snowfall is expected particularly over higher ground and away from the coast. However, there is still uncertainty about how far north these fronts will reach. They could either skirt the south or move into southern England”

“Currently, a snow warning is in place, but it is not guaranteed. The situation is being closely monitored. As the forecast is finely balanced, do stay up to date with the latest forecast for your area.”

Alex Croft8 January 2025 11:10

Fresh batch of weather warnings issued

A fresh batch of yellow weather warnings for snow and ice has

been isued across the UK for the next day.

Northern Scotland will be covered from 12pm on Wednesday until 23:59pm on Thursday. the northern part of Northern Ireland will have a warning issued from 4pm today until 11am on Thursday.

Meanwhile, yellow warnings will be issued for western and northern Wales and for Cornwall from 3am until 12pm on Thursday.

There is a risk of travel disruption and dangerous icy patches causing injuries from slips and falls in all the affected areas.

Fresh yellow weather warnings have been introduced for Wednesday and Thursday
Fresh yellow weather warnings have been introduced for Wednesday and Thursday (Met Office)
Alex Croft8 January 2025 10:47

Can and should you walk your dogs in the snow and freezing temperatures?

Temperatures are dropping across the UK with snow weather warnings in place.

Meteorologists had warned that temperatures overnight could have plummeted to as low as minus 8C as a week-long spell of wintry conditions hit the UK.

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) cold weather health alerts for all of England remain in place ahead of a week of low temperatures.

With this news, many will be thinking about how this chilly weather may affect our pets.

It’s important to prepare our dogs, as well as ourselves, for this forecast.

Read the full report:

Can and should you walk your dogs in the snow and freezing temperatures?

Tips for how to look after your pets during the cold weather

Alex Croft8 January 2025 10:20

In pictures: Snow blanket over Aberdeenshire

Wintry conditions in Aberdeen
Wintry conditions in Aberdeen (Beth Edmonston/PA Wire)
A snow warning is in place for southern England on Wednesday
A snow warning is in place for southern England on Wednesday (Beth Edmonston/PA Wire)
The cold snap will last until the weekend
The cold snap will last until the weekend (Beth Edmonston/PA Wire)
Alex Croft8 January 2025 09:53

Update to southern snow warning area

A small update has been made to the yellow snow warning covering southern England from 9am on Wednesday until midnight.

Parts of east Kent have been removed from the warning area, which has been extended in other areas of the south west.

“Outbreaks of sleet and snow are likely to push in from the southwest during Wednesday, affecting some places especially during the afternoon and evening,” the Met Office said.

“Many places will probably see relatively little or no snow settling, (especially on tarmac), but there could be 1-2 cm locally.”

A small update has been made to the weather warning area
A small update has been made to the weather warning area (Met Office)
Alex Croft8 January 2025 09:25

Weather warnings for Wednesday

Four weather warnings for snow and ice are in place on Wednesday, as a cold snap continues to grip the UK.

Yellow warnings for snow and ice covering Northern Ireland and northern and western Scotland will be lifted at 12pm today.

A yellow warning for ice, which was issued at 5pm yesterday and covers northern Wales along with parts of northern England, wil also be lifted at 12pm.

Meanwhile, a yellow warning for snow will cover nearly the entire south coast of England, stetching up towards south London.

Around 2-5cm of snow is expected widely, reaching up to 10cm on higher ground, the forecaster says. The warning will be lifted at 23:59.

Four warnings are in place for Wednesday
Four warnings are in place for Wednesday (Met Office)
Alex Croft8 January 2025 09:12

Snow mapped: Where freezing weather and flooding will hit UK with more snow forecast

A number of weather warnings are in place for parts of the UK on Wednesday, as more snow is forecast to fall across the country and flooding is expected.

The Met Office has issued three yellow weather warnings for snow and ice following a days of wintry conditions across the country weather.

A snow and ice warning has been issued from midday on Tuesday to midday on Wednesday, covering northern Scotland and parts of western Scotland.

Another yellow snow and ice warning has been issued for Northern Ireland from 3pm on Tuesday until noon on Wednesday.

A third yellow warning for snow and ice will come into effect at 5pm on Monday and will last until 10am on Tuesday, covering most of Wales and western England.

Read the full report:

Snow mapped: Where freezing weather and flooding will hit UK this week

Heavy snow and rain causes widespread disruption as cold temperatures return this week

Alex Croft8 January 2025 08:49

Temperatures low as -5.5C on Tuesday

Temperatures reached as low as -5.5C on Tuesday, the Met Office said.

Here’s their forecast for the past 24 hours.

Alex Croft8 January 2025 08:25

RAC say Monday was the busiest day for breakdowns this winter

Rod Dennis, RAC spokesperson, said: “Monday was our busiest day for breakdowns this winter so far, with our teams taking more calls from members than at any other point in the last 12 months. With cold conditions persisting, we expect today to be almost as busy with our patrols working incredibly hard to rescue our members and get people moving.

“Anyone unfortunate enough to break down should expect a longer wait than normal this week. It’s therefore more important than ever that drivers ensure they have an emergency breakdown kit in the boot – extra warm clothes including waterproofs, sturdy shoes, some food and drink and a fully charged power bank to keep a mobile phone charged up.

“With hundreds of flood warnings still in force, especially across central and southern parts of the UK, drivers need to remain vigilant. They should never drive through standing water unless they can be totally sure all of it is shallow, which can be impossible on roads that aren’t perfectly flat.

“If in any doubt about the water’s depth, turn around and find another safer route. We also urge everyone to obey road closures which are in place to keep them away from floodwater.”

(Joe Giddens/PA Wire)
Jabed Ahmed8 January 2025 08:00

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