UK weather live: Heavy snow causes travel chaos as flights grounded in Bristol and crashes on M5
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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The airport said flights have been suspended until later on Saturday night as it tried to clear the runway of snowfall.
There have also been collisions up and down the M5, with traffic closed in both directions at one point during Saturday evening.
It comes as a Met Office 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 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”.
Mapped: Where snow will hit UK this weekend
Nine weather warnings have been issued by the Met Office with snow and ice set to strike the UK, as temperatures plummet over the first weekend of 2025.
Two amber weather warnings have been issued, including a warning for snow and ice from 6pm on Saturday until 12pm on Sunday, covering most of the Midlands, Wales and parts of northern England.
Another amber snow warning will be issued across northern England and parts of the Midlands from 9pm on Saturday until the end of Sunday.
Here are all the weather warnings mapped:
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
In pictures: Parts of country already blanketed in white as more snow on its way
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.
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.
Camilla Foster reports:
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
Met Office’s forecast for this evening as disruption likely
The Met Office has forecast rain, sleet and snow will move northeastwards across much of the UK this evening.
The weather service warned disruption is likely in places.
Public urged to take ‘extra care’ as Ireland braces for severe weather
The public has been urged to take extra care this weekend following warnings of a “multi-hazard weather event” due to hit Ireland on Saturday.
It comes as the Government’s national emergency co-ordination group (NECG) met on Saturday to prepare for the severe weather forecast across the country.
Taoiseach Simon Harris was also briefed by the emergency director about their plans.
Snow, ice, heavy rain and sleet are to sweep over the island of Ireland as temperatures continue to plummet.
Amber snow and ice warnings in place in two hours’ time
Amber snow and ice warnings will be in place in two hours’ time.
The Met Office has issued the weather warnings for large parts of England and Wales from 6pm this evening through into Sunday.
RSPCA warns householders that salt and antifreeze kill pets
The RSPCA has warned householders that antifreeze and salt can be poisonous to pets – as snow and freezing temperatures are forecast to sweep the UK this weekend.
Amber severe weather warnings for ice and snow have been issued for parts of England and Wales amid a cold snap gripping the country.
Most of the Midlands, Wales, and parts of northern England will be covered by an amber warning for snow and ice from 6pm on Saturday until noon on Sunday.
My colleague Jane Dalton reports:
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
Horse racing at Sandown Park in Surrey 'abandoned due to frozen ground’
Horse racing at Sandown Park in Surrey was abandoned on Saturday, with the racecourse saying the weather meant there “would not be sufficient time for the ground to become raceable”.
In a statement posted on social media, the racecourse added: “Following this morning’s inspection, sadly racing today has been abandoned due to frozen ground.”
Met Office forecasts cold conditions across UK this afternoon including snow
The Met Office has forecast cold conditions across the UK this afternoon, including the arrival of snow in some parts.
In a post on X, the weather service said: “Most places dry and cold this afternoon, with freezing fog patches persisting across Northern Ireland.
“Wintry showers in the north and west, most frequent in the far north.
“Thicker cloud with rain, sleet and snow arriving into southwest England and Wales.”
Further weather warnings could be issued for start of next week
Further weather warnings could be issued for the start of next week as the plummeting temperatures are expected to continue.
Milder air will briefly cover some southern areas during the weekend before a new northerly flow allows colder conditions to return across the UK next week, the Met Office said.
Deputy chief forecaster Dan Holley said temperatures would remain below average with some areas struggling to get above freezing for several days.
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