UK weather live: Amber warnings in place as snow and freezing rain hits Britain
Major health warning issued and disruption including travel chaos and power cuts likely as Met Office issues alerts across the country for first weekend in 2025
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Your support makes all the difference.Two amber weather warnings are in place across the UK as heavy snow and freezing rain has started to hit Britain.
The first amber warning for snow and rare freezing rain covering most of Wales and central England came into place from 6pm on Saturday to midday on Sunday.
Another amber snow alert is in place across most of northern England from 9pm on Saturday until the close of Sunday.
Up to 40cm of snow is expected in the worst affected areas, while much of the warning area can expect 3cm to 7cm, the Met Office predicted.
The alerts come after the forecaster confirmed temperatures plunged to as low as -8.6C in Aboyne in Aberdeenshire overnight.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) also issued a Cold-Health Alert (CHA), warning of an “increase in risk to health”.
Meanwhile, Bristol Airport was forced to suspend flights after heavy snowfall as a “number of collisions” were reported across Somerset.
Three hillwalkers rescued after walking through blizzard in freezing temperatures
Three hillwalkers rescued after walking through blizzard in freezing temperatures
Three people were rescued on a mountain in Scotland on Thursday (2 January), after they got into difficulty in the wind and snow. Braemar Mountain Rescue team had their first callout of the year 2025 to rescue three hillwalkers in the Cairngorms. Videos and photos shared by Braemar Mountain Rescue showed how heavy the snow is on the ground and the challenging conditions they faced rescuing the walkers. New snow warnings have been issued across the UK, on top of two amber alerts, as a cold blast is set to sweep the country over the weekend, bringing sub-zero temperatures, health risks and disruption.
Photo: Street covered in snow
A photo from Godalming Town Council in Surrey, posted by Paul Follows, leader of Waverley borough council shows the local town centre covered in snow.
RSPCA warns householders that salt and antifreeze kill pets
RSPCA warns that salt and antifreeze kill pets – as snow and ice forecast
Animal charity says pets die needlessly every year from spills and leaks
Sunday forecast: Rain and snow set to cause disruptions
Snow and ice is set to lead to some disruption through Sunday morning, according to Met Office, as the UK is under two amber weather warnings.Here’s today’s forecast:
Can and should you walk your dogs in the snow and freezing temperatures?
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
Baby boy dies after A1 car crash in icy conditions
Baby boy dies after A1 car crash in icy conditions
Temperatures were below freezing at time of crash on Thursday
Snow mapped: Where freezing weather will hit UK this weekend with up to 40cm snowfall forecast
Snow mapped: Where freezing weather will hit UK this weekend
Large parts of country will be hit by heavy snow and freezing rain that could lead to disruption over first weekend in 2025 amid two amber and seven yellow weather warnings
UK braced for power cuts amid heavy snow and freezing rain
UK braced for power cuts amid heavy snow and freezing rain
Up to 30cm of snowfall is expected in some areas as the Met Office warned of rare freezing rain across England and Wales
Rail problems in Devon, Wiltshire and Shropshire
On the trains, Great Western Railway says severe weather in the Dawlish area of south Devon is delaying trains by up to half an hour and causing the odd cancellation.
GWR also warns that most rail replacement buses in the Westbury area – deployed because of engineering work – won’t run because of heavy snow.
The rail link between Shrewsbury and Chester has been blocked by a landslip at Gobowen in Shropshire, with buses running instead between the two stations as well as to Wrexham.
What is freezing rain and why is it dangerous?
What is freezing rain and why is it dangerous?
Freezing rain could lead to treacherous conditions across the UK over the weekend, the Met Office warned
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