UK weather live: Roads flooded and trains cancelled as flight disruption continues amid snow and ice warnings
Hundreds of flood warnings and alerts in place after most of country saw heavy snow or icy rainfall over weekend and consequent disruption
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.Travel chaos is continuing on the first Monday of the new year as weather warnings for snow, ice and rain remain in force across much of the UK.
Hundreds of flood warnings and alerts have been issued as a result of heavy rain and thawing snow, leading to fears of further disruption as key roads have already flooded this morning.
Millions of commuters in the UK are facing difficult journeys as trains have also been cancelled.
Meanwhile, disruption continues at major UK airports, where flights have been delayed for a second day, with Manchester, the country’s third-busiest airport, closed for a second morning due to heavy snow, although it has now reopened.
Most of the UK saw heavy snow or icy rainfall over the weekend that caused travel chaos, with runways shut, rail services cancelled, and stranded vehicles and collisions also blocking key roads across northern England.
Today, again, almost all areas of the UK are facing a weather warning, as seven yellow alerts remain in place, with the Met Office warning of travel disruption.
The Environment Agency issued 173 flood warnings, meaning flooding is expected, and 304 flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible, across England as of 9am on Monday. At the same point, National Resources Wales had issued three flood warnings and 35 flood alerts.
Mea Culpa: The Japanese knotweed of weather reporting
We made a mess of saying ‘It’s cold’ in The Independent last week, according to John Rentoul
Mea Culpa: The Japanese knotweed of weather reporting
We made a mess of saying ‘It’s cold’ in The Independent last week, according to John Rentoul
Skier takes to Northampton hill as snow hits parts of the UK
Met Office updates amber weather warning for snow
The Met Office has updated an amber weather warning for snow in northern England to run into Monday morning.
The warning - which covers parts of Lancashire, Cumbria and the Lake District - warns that travel delays, stranded vehicles and power cuts are all likely and rural communities could be cut off.
It will stay in place until 6am on Monday, with up to an additional 15cm of snow falling during the period over higher ground, the forecaster said.
An earlier amber warning covering a larger area of northern England had been due to expire at midnight.
Forecasters warn of disruption to travel in areas covered by weather warnings in Scotland
Forecasters have warned of potential disruption to travel in the areas covered by the weather warnings in Scotland.
ScotRail advised people to check their journeys before travelling.
It said: “Yellow weather warnings for snow and ice are in place across the country until midday on Monday January 6.
“If you’re planning to to travel, check your entire journey using our app or website as delays & alterations to services are possible.
Take care when out and about.”
Network Rail Scotland said it has made preparations to deal with the weather.
In a post on X, it said: “We’re expecting snow move into central Scotland this morning, light initially, but getting heavier. It’ll continue into the evening.
“We’ll see heavy snow across the lines out of Inverness tonight and overnight. A normal service is operating today.
“Locomotives with ploughs are standing by at strategic locations, ready to clear tracks if it’s needed.
“Snow showers remain likely across parts of the West Highland Line and lines out of Inverness for the first half of the week.”
Snow and ice warnings issued for Scotland
Forecasters are warning of potential travel disruption with snow and ice alerts in force across much of Scotland.
The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for such conditions across the north east and east of the country as far south as Edinburgh, which is in place until midday on Monday.
It warns that more than 10cm could fall on ground above 200 metres in northern areas, while further south snowfall accumulation is likely to be “patchier” and generally between 1cm to 2cm.
The latest warnings come after days of wintry weather, which saw temperatures drop to minus 11.1C at Loch Glasgarnoch in the Highlands early on Sunday morning, according to Met Office data.
A warning of snow across northern, western and south-west Scotland is in force until 11am on Monday.
Areas in the south west could see 2-5 cm of snow in some places, mainly above 200 metres, while areas further north could see 1-4cm accumulate.
A warning of snow in south-eastern Scotland, extending from Edinburgh to Lanark and Lockerbie and down to the border, will be in force from midnight on Sunday until midday on Monday.
The Met Office said that 2-5 cm of snow could accumulate widely, with as much as 10-20 cm over the higher ground of the Borders and the southern edge of the Lothians.
Met Office chief forecaster Frank Saunders said: “Cold conditions in Scotland will continue, with snow showers in many coastal areas, and more persistent snow for a time in the southeast.”
Watch: Snowfall on A3 in Surrey as weather causes flight delays and motorway chaos
Ill person sledged to safety after home cut off by snow, according to local rescue team
An ill person whose house was cut off by the snow in Marsden was sledged to safety this morning, according to a local rescue team.
In a post on social media, Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team said: “This morning, the team assisted Yorkshire Ambulance Service in Marsden during the UK snow when a local person took ill, but whose house was cut-off by deep drifts. The team sledged them in our Lyon Equipment Bell stretcher to a waiting crew.
“Everyone wishes them a speedy recovery.”
Met Office updates amber weather warning for snow
The Met Office has updated an amber weather warning for snow in northern England to run into Monday morning.
The warning - which covers parts of Lancashire, Cumbria and the Lake District - warns that travel delays, stranded vehicles and power cuts are all likely and rural communities could be cut off.
It will stay in place until 6am on Monday, with up to an additional 15cm of snow falling during the period over higher ground, the forecaster said.
An earlier amber warning covering a larger area of northern England had been due to expire at midnight.
Ryanair and Jet2 issue warnings amid travel disruption as extreme weather hits UK
Both Ryanair and Jet2 have issued warnings amid widespread travel disruption caused by the extreme weather hitting the UK.
Ryanair writes on its website: “Potential disruptions to/from the UK (Saturday 4 January - Sunday 5 January) due to snow and ice.
“Affected passengers will be notified and any passengers travelling to/from the UK on Saturday 4 January - Sunday 5 January should check their Ryanair app for the latest updates on their flight.”
Meanwhile, Jet2 writes: “The overnight snowfall across the UK has resulted in temporary closures of many UK airports.
“Our operations teams are working closely with our airport partners to get you on your way as soon as possible.
“However our flights are experiencing severe delays in some parts of the UK.”
Voters will thank Labour for scrapping winter fuel payments, Wes Streeting claims
The public will thank Sir Keir Starmer for scrapping winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners and other “unpopular decisions”, the health secretary has claimed.
Wes Streeting said Labour had to make decisions that were unpopular in its first six months in power, blaming “the massive hole Britain was left in” by the Conservatives.
Since being elected with a landslide majority in July, Sir Keir’s government has stripped winter fuel payments of up to £300 for millions of elderly people, introduced inheritance tax changes dubbed a “family farm tax”, which critics fear will force farmers into selling up, and hiked employer national insurance contributions.
My colleague political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:
Voters will thank Labour for scrapping winter fuel payments, Wes Streeting claims
Health secretary says Labour were forced to make unpopular decisions in its first six months in power
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments