Snow joke – more disruption expected today
RAC EXPECTING 11,000 CALLOUTS IN ICY WEATHER
TEMPERATURES PLUMMETED across Yorkshire as the region was gripped by an icy blast which saw snow fall in parts of the county.
Heavy snow fell in some areas, including Sheffield, but Leeds, which forecasters predicted would be hit badly earlier in the week, saw just a sprinkling of snow yesterday.
Weather experts have today enforced a yellow warning of ice for the region this morning.
Commuters are expected to face further disruption today with ‘severe frost’ likely to cause treacherous conditions.
Temperatures were expected to fall to -6C in the region last night, as the Met Office forecast a “bitterly cold night with a sharp frost”. Breakdown cover provider RAC is dubbing today ‘Black Monday’, as it predicted it to be one of its busiest days in a decade, with almost 11,000 call-outs expected. It comes after parts of Britain were hit by what forecasters described as a “snow bomb” yesterday, meaning anything above four inches of snow falling in three of hours, bringing roads and runways to a standstill.
Today is expected to be mostly dry but very cold with light winds, with a maximum temperature of 2C. The Met Office said: “There will be long periods of sunshine but still a small risk of further coastal wintry showers. A widespread frost at first and again later.”
HEAVY SNOWFALL brought widespread disruption across large parts of the UK yesterday as temperatures continued to drop.
In some areas the Met Office predicted up to 11 inches of snow was expected to build up, with many roads becoming impassable.
Flights were temporarily suspended at two UK airports – Birmingham and Luton– due to bad weather, causing widespread delays for passengers.
Major roads were also crippled by the weather, with the M1 briefly closed near Leicestershire and the A5 in Shropshire also forced to shut down.
Motorists were stranded on the M40 motorway, the A34 in Oxfordshire and the A5 in Milton Keynes, according to Thames Valley Police.
A passenger ferry ran aground, forcing the closure of the Port of Calais in France. A total of 316 people were reported to have been on board the ship, but there were no injuries.
In the West Midlands, an NHS trust was forced to put an appeal out for 4x4 drivers to help stranded nurses get to hospitals.
Londoners also unexpectedly woke up to snowfall, as forecasters initially predicted the capital and Southern England and Wales would instead be lashed by strong winds and rain.
Rail routes into London were disrupted by the snow, including Great Northern, Virgin Trains East Coast, London Overground, Thameslink and Transport for London Rail services.
In the Midlands, rail passengers had been advised by National Rail not to travel yesterday, as disruption hit Cross Country, London Northwestern Trains, Virgin Trains and West Midlands Railways services.
The Met Office issued an updated amber warning lasting from just after 8am to 6pm yesterday, which covered parts of Wales, the Midlands and areas of Northern and Eastern England.
The heaviest snowfall was found in Sennybridge, South Wales, where 28cm of snow was recorded, the forecaster said.
The majority of Yorkshire
Pack first aid kits, shovels, food and blankets before setting out. Advice from Highways England for motorists forced to travel by road.