UK weather – latest: Snow and ice warnings as Brits warned conditions ‘worse rather than better’
Saturday and Sunday slapped with fresh set of alerts for snow and ice
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Britain has been warned of more snow and ice this weekend after temperatures plummeted to -10C overnight.
Conditions are “actually going to get worse rather than better”, said Andrew Page-Dove of the National Highways, as there is risk of freezing rain on the roads after Storm Larisa.
The Met Office has issued yellow warnings for snow and ice which cover large swathes of the country.
Met Office meteorologist Matthew Box said rain, sleet and snow will push northeast across the country during the weekend, likely falling on the hills and mountains of the Pennines, the Cumbrian vales and some parts of Scotland.
But added snowfall would be “nothing to the same extent as what we saw on Thursday”.
It comes after persistent snowfall caused “absolute carnage” on the M62 trans-Pennine motorway on Friday.
Storm Larisa brought with it “treacherous conditions”, with 50mph winds and up to 40cm of snow forecast in some areas.
In pictures: Britons wake to another morning of snow
Motorists stuck for hours on M62 overnight after heavy snow
Drivers remain stuck on the M62 motorway after more than seven hours in miles-long tailbacks caused by a night of heavy snowfall.
Traffic was brought to a standstill on long stretches of the road running through Yorkshire and Greater Manchester in the early hours of Friday morning, with some drivers said to have abandoned their cars.
National Highways said two lanes had been closed between junctions 20 and 22, estimated at one point congestion on the eastbound carriageway between Rochdale and Saddleworth stretched to around eight miles.
Martha McHardy has more:
Motorists stuck for hours on M62 overnight after heavy snow
Some drivers described other motorists becoming impatient and attempting to drive through the snow on the lanes that had been closed
Watch: Heavy snow coats Dublin mountains as hazardous conditions hit Ireland
Derbyshire Police urge caution on roads
Derbyshire Constabulary urged drivers not to travel in the Peak District on Friday morning “unless absolutely necessary” as most roads in the High Peak and Derbyshire Dales areas were “impassable”.
The force said it is working with mountain rescue teams to respond to reports of stranded vehicles.
Major roads shut across north and mid-Wales
Several major roads in north and mid-Wales were closed due to snow.
They include:
- The A55 westbound between Broughton and Dobshill
- The A458 between Buttington and Middletown
- The A470 between Llanidloes and Llangurig
- The A44 between Llandegley and New Radnor
North Wales Police said “driving conditions remain poor” across its area due to “significant snowfall overnight”.
It added: “We are advising motorists to only travel if necessary.”
Plan ahead, check forecast and allow more time for journeys, National Highways says
National Highways, the Government-owned organisation responsible for England’s motorways and major A roads, told motorists: “We are currently experiencing very high call volumes to our call centre, so you may encounter a delay if trying to get through to us.”
The organisation’s executive director of operations, Duncan Smith, said: “We are well prepared and our gritters have been out in full force since Friday March 3 and will continue to treat the roads.
“We are asking drivers to plan ahead, check the forecast and allow more time for their journeys.”
Salt spread by gritters does not stop snow from settling on road surfaces, but it does make it easier to remove with snowploughs.
Snow causes ‘absolute carnage’ on M62
Persistent snowfall is continuing to cause “absolute carnage” on the M62 trans-Pennine motorway.
Here are some of the latest Twitter dispatches from the jam:
East Midlands airport reopens
East Midlands Airport has reopened after being closed for around three hours on Friday morning.
Flights were suspended at Birmingham Airport for around an hour to clear snow from the runway.
There were also delays to flights at Bristol Airport.
Watch: Cars stranded on motorway as M62 at standstill following heavy snow
M62 standstill being made worse by drivers’ actions, says RAC
RAC says the situation on the M62 was likely caused by a large amount of snow falling in a short period, but was being made worse by drivers’ actions.
Breakdown spokesman Rod Dennis told the PA news agency: “A substantial amount of snow falling in a very short space of time can quickly lead to problems even if a road has been treated, and it looks like that’s what happened on the M62 overnight.
“The situation was made worse by drivers overtaking slower moving traffic only to find themselves stuck in a lane of fresh snow.
“Things are thankfully now improving but the scenes of stranded drivers is the perfect reminder of why it’s so important to carry a warm blanket, a winter coat, extra layers, food and drink and a power bank and phone charging cable.
“Today we’re seeing a sharp rise in drivers stuck in the snow in Yorkshire, especially around Sheffield, Leeds, Bradford and Hull. Breakdown volumes are also very high in the East Midlands and north of London as drivers attempt to start their vehicles.
“We strongly recommend motorists think carefully before setting out today. Waiting until conditions to improve may well be the best policy.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments