UK weather live: Heavy snow warnings as 40cm forecast while temperatures of -9C to bring rare freezing rain
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.Heavy snow warnings have been issued across the UK, as a cold blast is set to sweep the country over the weekend, bringing sub-zero temperatures, health risks and disruption.
An amber warning for snow and rare freezing rain covering most of Wales and central England is in place from 6pm on Saturday to midday on Sunday, the Met Office said.
Another amber snow alert will then be 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.
Seven yellow weather warnings for snow, ice or rain have also been issued across the UK, covering different periods of time over the weekend and into Monday.
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) has issued a Cold-Health Alert (CHA), warning of an “increase in risk to health”.
The Met Office also warned of likely disruption caused by the weather, including stranded vehicles on the roads, delayed or cancelled rail and air travel, power cuts, and rural communities getting cut off.
Emergency team meeting as Ireland braces for ‘multi-hazard weather event’
The government’s Emergency Planning Team is holding a meeting as Ireland braces for a “multi-hazard weather event”, which is due to hit the country later on Saturday.
Snow, ice, heavy rain and sleet are to sweep over the island of Ireland as temperatures continue to plummet.
A series of weather warnings will come into effect, with status orange snow and ice warnings issued for Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Wicklow, Clare, Limerick and Tipperary.
Read the full story here:
Emergency team meeting as country braces for ‘multi-hazard weather event’
Forecasters have warned that it will lead to very difficult travelling conditions.
Cold weather alerts remain in place across England meaning likely rise in deaths
Cold weather health alerts for all of England remain in place ahead of a week of low temperatures.
Amber alerts were issued on Thursday and will run until 8 January, meaning a rise in deaths is likely, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said.
Risk of rare freezing rain leading to ‘treacherous and extremely dangerous’ conditions
The Met Office has warned of a risk of rare freezing rain leading to “treacherous” and “extremely dangerous” conditions in places.
The weather service’s chief forecaster Jason Kelly: “There is a risk of freezing rain across parts of the Midlands and northern England, but especially Wales, adding to the risk of ice and leading to some treacherous conditions in places.
As the super-cooled rain droplets hit the surface they instantly freeze, covering everything in a layer of ice, making it extremely dangerous.”
He predicted some “significant accumulations” of snow are possible in parts of Wales, the Midlands and northern England, and the additional factor of strengthening winds could lead to drifting of lying snow.
Drivers urged to take care as snow and ice hit UK
National Highways has warned a “spell of disruptive snow” would spread across southern and central parts of the road network on Saturday night.
Drivers in high-altitude areas, particularly the Cotswolds and Peak District, were warned to take particular care. Gwent Police issued a warning for black ice on Friday.
Road users in England’s north were warned up to 25cm of snow could hit parts of the network including the A66 Old Spittal, A628 Woodhead Pass and M62 at Windy Hill.
Met Office warns of disruption this weekend caused by weather
Stranded vehicles on the roads, delayed or cancelled rail and air travel and power cuts are all likely as the country grapples with a week-long spell of wintry conditions, the Met Office has warned.
There is also a “good chance” that rural communities could be cut off thanks to the weather, with up to 40cm of snowfall expected in some areas.
Gwent Police issue warning for black ice
Gwent Police have issued a warning for black ice.
In a post on social media on Friday night, the force warned of “dangerous” roads caused by snow and ice.
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.
Excl: 20 flights cancelled at London Heathrow airport as 'flow rate' is reduced due to adverse weather
British Airways has made 20 cancellations of flights to and from London Heathrow because the “flow rate” of arriving aircraft has been cut due to expected adverse weather.
Grounded flights include domestic departures to Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newcastle, as well as European services to Barcelona and Rome. Passengers will be moved to other flights that are operating.
Because of the weather warnings, Loganair is offering flexibility to passengers booked to travel on Saturday or Sunday to or from five English airports – Bristol, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle – as well as Cardiff and the Isle of Man. The Glasgow-based regional airline said: “We are offering customers the opportunity to adjust travel plans without charge.”
The UK has seen some alarming airport snow closures in the past, including shortly before Christmas 2010 when hundreds of thousands of passengers had their flights cancelled. Snow also caused Manchester Airport to close both its runways in December 2022 and again in January 2023, with flights diverted as far away as Dublin and Paris.
Icy blast raises risk of death in elderly, health chiefs warn, as Age UK criticises winter benefit cut
A looming cold snap could increase the risk of elderly people dying, health chiefs are warning, as Age UK criticised the government’s limiting of winter fuel payments.
The UK Health Security Agency has issued cold-weather health alerts for all of England ahead of a week of expected low temperatures.
Amber alerts mean that a rise in deaths – particularly among people 65 and over, and those with health conditions – is likely. The agency has issued the alerts to run from Thursday until next Wednesday, 8 January.
Temperatures could fall as low as minus 8C on Thursday night in rural southern Scotland and northern England, the Met Office said. It will also be cold in rural Wales and southwest England, with minus 6C expected.
Jane Dalton reports:
Warning of deaths from icy blast as Age UK slates winter benefit cut
Pensioners already worrying about heating, says charity, as temperatures set to plummet to zero or below across UK
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