Severe winter weather has caused significant disruptions across the UK, with snow, freezing rain, and icy conditions impacting rail and air travel as well as roadways. The Met Office has issued extended amber warnings for snow in northern England, alongside widespread yellow warnings for snow, ice, and rain covering much of the country.
Amber Weather Warnings and Regional Impacts
An amber alert, signalling a potential risk to life, remains in place for parts of Cumbria, Lancashire, and the Lake District until 06:00 GMT on Monday. Yellow warnings extend across Scotland, northern England, Wales, and parts of the Midlands. Southern England and Wales are facing additional yellow warnings for rain and potential flooding as snow melts amid slightly milder temperatures.
The Environment Agency has warned of swollen rivers nearing their capacity in southern England, with more than 200 flood alerts and several flood warnings issued. These alerts indicate potential and expected flooding, respectively.
Airports and Rail Services Impacted
The adverse weather led to temporary closures of runways at Manchester and Liverpool airports, which only reopened by Sunday morning. However, flight delays persisted throughout the day. Manchester Airport reported over 30 flight cancellations and significant delays to more than 300 departures and arrivals.
Liverpool, Bristol, Birmingham, Newcastle, and Leeds airports also experienced disruptions, with temporary closures due to overnight snowfall. Some Manchester-bound flights were diverted to Heathrow, Gatwick, Dublin, and Paris.
Travel Chaos on Roads and Railways
Severe snowfall forced the closure of the A628 Woodhead Pass, a crucial route linking Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire, and the A66 in County Durham and Cumbria. Rail services were also heavily impacted, with LNER, TransPennine Express, and Northern Rail experiencing significant delays.
Melting snow caused disruptions on southern rail lines, particularly between London St Pancras International and St Albans. In the southwest, Great Western Railway warned of flooded tracks between Frome and Taunton, resulting in reduced service speeds.
Record-Breaking Cold and Heavy Snowfall
The coldest temperature recorded over the weekend was in Loch Glascarnoch, Scotland, which plummeted to -11°C. Significant snow accumulation was reported in Bingley, West Yorkshire, with 16cm of snow, while Shap in Cumbria reported 10cm. Cities such as Leeds and York saw up to 5cm of snowfall.
Meanwhile, higher regions such as the Pennines, the Peak District, and the mountains of north Wales could see up to 40cm of snow in the coming days. The Met Office warned that rural communities in northern England may face power outages and risk being cut off by heavy snow.
National Efforts to Manage the Crisis
National Highways has deployed 500 gritting lorries across the UK and stockpiled over 240,000 tonnes of salt to manage icy conditions. Stuart Irons from National Highways emphasised that continuous monitoring and proactive responses are crucial to keep key routes operational.
Sports and Events
In Merseyside, concerns were raised about the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester United due to snow and icy conditions. After two safety assessments, the game was given the green light.
Colder Weather on the Horizon
The Met Office has warned of further temperature drops from Monday, with widespread frost and icy conditions expected. Snowfall is likely to continue in northern and higher-altitude areas, affecting parts of Scotland, northern England, and north Wales.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has maintained amber cold weather health alerts for all of England, urging residents to take precautions, particularly vulnerable populations.
