Fresh weather warnings issued as icy weather brings travel disruption
Yellow weather warnings for ice have been issued for large parts of the UK on Thursday and Friday.
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Your support makes all the difference.Fresh weather warnings have been issued as the UK continues to be hit by icy weather.
Yellow weather warnings for ice have been issued for large parts of the UK on Thursday and Friday as poor weather brings travel disruption and school closures.
The majority of Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as large parts of the east of England, are covered from 4pm on Thursday until 10am on Friday.
A separate warning covering south and west Wales down to Plymouth from 3am to 11am tomorrow is also in place.
The Met Office has warned to expect icy patches on untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths, as well as scattered wintry showers.
A yellow warning for snow and ice in Scotland, which was due to end at midnight, has been extended until 10am on Friday.
Snow and winds have brought travel disruption, with rail lines forced to close.
Manchester Airport closed both its runways on Thursday morning “due to significant levels of snow” but they were later reopened.
The airport warned that some flights may be delayed, and advised passengers to check with their airline for the latest information.
At least 14 departures and five arrivals scheduled to operate at the airport on Thursday have been cancelled.
Transport for Wales closed some rail lines in the country due to track damage following a period of “heavy wind, rain and snow”.
Buses are replacing trains between Llandudno Junction and Blaenau Ffestiniog until at least Monday.
A fault with the signalling system is also causing major disruption between Crewe and Wilmslow, affecting Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, Northern and Transport for Wales services.
Great Western Railway said flooding means the line between Liskeard and Looe in Cornwall is closed.
Hundreds of schools in Scotland and around 90 in Wales were shut on Thursday.
The Met Office has said Wednesday night’s coldest temperature was recorded at Shap in Cumbria at minus 11.2C.
Temperatures had been forecast to plummet as low as minus 16C.
A Met Office spokeswoman told the PA news agency they are “expecting tonight to be another very cold night”.
Temperatures are expected to turn less cold from the North West over the weekend.
As icy conditions persist, motorists are being urged to stick to major roads that are most likely to have been gritted.
Car insurer RAC said it has seen the highest levels of demand for rescues in a three-day period since December 2022.
“Cold conditions will last until at least the weekend, so we urge drivers to remain vigilant of the risks posed by ice and, in some locations, snow,” said RAC breakdown spokeswoman Alice Simpson.
“Black ice on rural roads can be impossible to spot, leaving very little time to react if driving at speed. Sticking to major roads that are most likely to have been gritted is strongly recommended.”
This weather can have a serious impact on the health of some people, including those aged 65 and over and those with pre-existing health conditions, and it is therefore vital that we continue to check in on friends, family and neighbours that are most vulnerable
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has extended its cold weather health alert for all of England until Sunday.
Amber alerts have been extended and will now run until January 12, meaning a rise in deaths is likely, the agency said.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA, said: “We are extending the duration of our Cold-Health Alert, since the Met Office are forecasting that the low temperatures we are seeing will continue further into this week, with snow and icy conditions likely to persist.
“This weather can have a serious impact on the health of some people, including those aged 65 and over and those with pre-existing health conditions, and it is therefore vital that we continue to check in on friends, family and neighbours that are most vulnerable.
“These people could be more at risk of heart attacks, stroke and chest infections as a result of cold temperatures.”
The country has been hit by widespread flooding in recent days and a danger to life flood warning was issued for Barrow upon Soar in Leicestershire as firefighters had to rescue dozens of people stranded in rising water.
Scores of flood warnings and alerts remain in place for England but hundreds have been removed and the weather is set to be drier over the next few days.
Two alerts for possible flooding remain in place in Wales, but three warnings have been removed in the last 24 hours.