UK snow live: Road and rail chaos as more than 200 schools closed after severe weather alert issued
National Highways warned of disruption as London saw snow fall on Tuesday morning
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Your support makes all the difference.The UK is set for further travel chaos into Wednesday as the Met Office warned of more snowy and icy conditions across the country overnight.
The forecaster issued a yellow snow and ice warning across northern England, Northern Ireland and northern Scotland, with up to 20cm set to fall in some places.
It comes as motorists are facing disruption and train services have been cancelled with more than 200 schools forced to close on Tuesday.
National Highways warned of snow disruption for the North east and North west on Tuesday - with 10-15cm of snow expected to fall on some motorways.
Meanwhile, National Rail warned the cold climate would impact various routes on the Northern Rail until at least 2pm on Tuesday.
At least 141 schools have shut down in Wales, 50 in the West Midlands, 11 in Scotland and 19 in Derbyshire.
Why do schools close in the snow?
Schools are only allowed to close in “exceptional circumstances”, says the Department for Education - but it is the headteacher who makes the decision.
The head considers how safe the journey to school is, as well as the safety of the site itself. Staff often travel much further than pupils, and in all directions, so the area considered is larger than some parents might think.
Even if the snow seems safe in the morning, schools can close if conditions are forecast to get much worse.
Tips for driving in icy conditions
It is safer not to drive in heavy snow and icy conditions but if you absolutely must drive, keep yourself and others safe by:
- Using dipped headlights
- Accelerate gently, use low revs and change to higher gears as quickly as possible
- Starting in second gear will help with wheel slip
- Maintain a safe and steady speed. Keep your distance from other vehicles
- Keep a constant speed up hills. Leave plenty of room between cars
- Use a low gear to go down hill and try to avoid braking unless necessary
- Steer into skids. Do not take your hands of the wheel or slam on the brakes
Winter hazards likely throughout week, Met Office warns
Met Office Chief Meteorologist Neil Armstrong said: “With cold Arctic air firmly in place over the UK, continued winter hazards are likely through much of this week, with further updates to warnings likely in the coming days.
“The current focus for upcoming snow and ice risk is from later on Tuesday and overnight into Wednesday, with snow showers likely moving in off windward coasts in the north and east, as well as drifting into parts of Northern Ireland and Wales.
“In excess of 10cm of snow is possible over higher ground within the warning areas, with 1-2cm possibly settling at lower levels, which has the potential to lead to some travel disruption. Ice is an additional hazard and is likely to form quickly on untreated surfaces.”
Pictured: Aerial views of snow-covered towns and villages
Pictured: Family walk past snow-dusted church
More snow to fall as wintry showers seen across the UK in ‘first taste of winter’
More snow to fall as wintry showers seen across the UK
Further snow feature on the Met Office forecast for coming days
Rail: Long delays and cancellations due to severe weather
Rail services in the East Midlands and North of England, as well as North Wales, have been hit by adverse weather.
Northern Trains has reduced services across the Pennines, with West Yorkshire particularly affected.
Fewer trains are running between Hebden Bridge and Halifax, and links from Halifax to Hull are starting at Bradford Interchange.
In Cumbria, flooding in the Ulverston area means that trains from Manchester airport via Lancaster to Barrow-in-Furness are being delayed.
No trains are running between Nottingham and Worksop, with disruption expected until 12 noon. Rail replacement buses “have been sourced” but delays of up to an hour are expected.
No trains will run at all on Tuesday between Llandudno and Blaenau Ffestiniog due to “severe weather”. Buses are running instead.
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