Snow and ice yellow weather warnings have been issued across large parts of the UK, after snow and sleet caused travel disruption on Wednesday.
The UK has experienced a cold snap as northly airflows bring sustained low temperatures into the UK, reaching as low as -12.4C overnight, according to the BBC.
Four weather warnings are in place for Thursday, including snow and ice warnings covering parts of Northern Ireland, western and northern Wales and south west England, in place until 11am.
An ice warning for most of southern England will be lifted at 10:30am, northern Scotland remains under a snow and ice warning until 23:59.
Temperatures may plummet to -20C in the coming days, the broadcaster reported, as snow and ice warnings grip the UK prompting mass school closures and travel disruption.
The cold snap will continue until the end of this week, with more snow and ice warnings expected on Friday and Saturday according to the Met Office’s Wedneasday forecast.
An amber cold weather health alert from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) will remain in place until 12pm on Sunday.
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Fog warning lifted in Northern Ireland
A fog warning which covered most of Northern Ireland overnight has now been lifted.
Snow and ice warnings remain in place in Wales, northern parts of Northern Ireland, southern England and northern Scotland today.
Alex Croft9 January 2025 09:03
Thursday morning weather warnings
Five weather warnings are in place for Thursday, as the UK’s cold snap continues.
Snow and ice warnings cover western and northern Wales, Cornwall and northern parts of Northern Ireland until 11am.
An ice warning across most of southern England will be in place until 10:30am, and a snow and ice warning in northern Scotland will be lifted at 23:59.
The Met Office warns of an increased likelihood of injuries due to icy surfaces and travel disruption in the affected areas.
Southern parts of Northern Ireland will also see a fog warning lifted at 9am.
There are four weather warnings in place for Thursday (Met Office)Alex Croft9 January 2025 08:42
Highest level of rescue demand since December 2022, says RAC
Car insurer RAC said it has seen the highest levels of demand for rescues in a three-day period since December 2022.
“Cold conditions will last until at least the weekend, so we urge drivers to remain vigilant of the risks posed by ice and, in some locations, snow,” said RAC breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson.
“Black ice on rural roads can be impossible to spot, leaving very little time to react if driving at speed. Sticking to major roads that are most likely to have been gritted is strongly recommended.”
People view a former fishing boat on the shore of Loch Linnhe in front of Ben Nevis on 8 January 2025 in Corpach, United Kingdom (Getty Images)Namita Singh9 January 2025 08:00
UK snow map: Where and when heavy snow, rain and flooding will hit the strongest
A number of weather warnings are in place for parts of the UK on Thursday, as more snow is forecast to fall across the country and flooding is expected.
The Met Office has issued three yellow weather warnings for snow and ice following a days of wintry conditions across the country weather.
A snow and ice warning has been issued from midday on Wednesday to Thursday evening, covering northern Scotland.
UK snow map: Where and when heavy snow, rain and flooding will hit
Heavy snow and rain causes widespread disruption as cold temperatures return this week
Namita Singh9 January 2025 07:30
List of schools closed due to snow, ice and rain as UK hit by icy blast
Hundreds of schools are closed for the fourth day running as the UK endures an icy blast, with temperatures hitting as low as -16C.
Pupils across the country have had their Christmas holidays extended as classrooms have failed to reopen due to flooding, icy conditions and bad weather. With warnings now covering large parts of Wales, Somerset and Cornwall, more areas are likely to face the brunt of Britain’s icy blast on Thursday.
Report:
List of schools closed due to snow, ice and rain as UK hit by icy blast
Overnight on Wednesday, temperatures fell to as low as minus 12C at Tulloch Bridge in Scotland
Namita Singh9 January 2025 07:15
Ice, snow, and -16C temperatures: full Met Office forecast
Icy conditions, snowfall and temperatures as low as-16C have all been forecast for the week ahead, the Met Office said.
In their forecast published on Thursday afternoon, deputy chief forecaster Christoph Almond said: “Thursday will see another cold night, with potentially the lowest temperatures of the Winter so far, -15°C – possibly -16°C is likely in locations with lying snow in Scotland or northern England.
“In the early hours of Friday, a front arriving from the west will encounter the cold air in place over the UK. This could bring further sleet or snowfall for some regions in the south and west, as well as a risk of ice for a time as it moves north-eastwards into central parts, but the extent of this is still uncertain.”
“By Sunday, milder air will have moved in across much of the UK, meaning rain is more likely than snow as we get to the end of the weekend. Northern Ireland and Western Scotland are most likely to see some showery outbreaks of rain and breezy conditions through Sunday and Monday, with conditions further south and east drier and more settled, but with some overnight fog and frost.”
Alex Croft9 January 2025 07:00
Mapped: How many flu cases are in my area as hospitals declare critical incidents?
The number of flu cases has soared across England, with 5,074 patients with the virus being treated in hospital at the end of December.
This marks an increase of 305 per cent from the end of November, and is up by 352 per cent from the same day last year (1,458 patients).
The numbers are in line with 2022’s flu crisis, when 5,508 patients were in hospital with flu at end of December that year.
In the midst of this surge, eight hospitals across the country have declared critical incidents with “sustained pressures” are leading to waits of up to 50 hours.
The Independent’s data correspondent Alicja Hagopian reports:
Mapped: How many flu cases are in my area as hospitals declare critical incidents?
The number of people admitted to hospital with flu has quadrupled over the past month with health services feeling the strain
Alex Croft9 January 2025 06:30
In pictures: Leicestershire floods
Caravans are surrounded by water as water levels begin to drop after heavy rain caused flooding in Barrow-Upon-Soar (REUTERS)An abandoned car on a flooded road in Mountsorrel in Leicestershire (Joe Giddens/PA Wire)Alex Croft9 January 2025 06:00
Cold weather health alert extended to Sunday
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has extended its cold weather health alert for all of England until Sunday.
Amber alerts have been extended and will now run until January 12, meaning a rise in deaths is likely, the agency said.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at the UKHSA, said: “We are extending the duration of our Cold-Health Alert, since the Met Office are forecasting that the low temperatures we are seeing will continue further into this week, with snow and icy conditions likely to persist.
Weather warnings for snow and ice are in force across much of the UK after severe flooding and snow caused travel disruption and school closures (PA Wire)
“This weather can have a serious impact on the health of some people, including those aged 65 and over and those with pre-existing health conditions, and it is therefore vital that we continue to check in on friends, family and neighbours that are most vulnerable.
“These people could be more at risk of heart attacks, stroke and chest infections as a result of cold temperatures.”
Namita Singh9 January 2025 05:44
Met predicts ‘bitterly cold’ Thursday night
It will be “bitterly cold” on Thursday night, said Oli Claydon, spokesperson for the Met Office.
He told the PA news agency the lowest temperatures will be recorded in rural Scotland and rural northern England where there is lying snow, cloudless skies and very cold airflow.
Freezing temperatures continue in parts of the UK (EPA)
A temperature of -14C would equal the lowest seen in this month last year, recorded in Dalwhinnie in the Scottish Highlands on 17 January 2024.
But a temperature of -16C would be the lowest recorded in January in the UK for 15 years, since -22.3C was logged in Altnaharra in the Highlands on 8 January 2010, according to Met Office data.
Namita Singh9 January 2025 05:35Newer1 / 6Older