Snow warnings continue across large parts of UK

Snow warnings continue across large parts of UK

Across much of the UK, snow and ice warnings remain active following an Arctic cold snap that caused the closure of hundreds of schools on Monday. Yellow alerts are in place from Penzance all the way to the Shetland Islands, with central and northern Scotland facing more intense amber warnings. In northern and eastern England, snow and ice alerts persist for Tuesday, and the Met Office has cautioned about potentially disruptive snow, wind, and rain hitting southern areas later in the week.

Most of the yellow alerts throughout the UK are set to expire at 11:00 GMT, while the warnings for Scotland are expected to continue into Tuesday night. Heavy snowfall is predicted in central and northern Scotland, with accumulations of 5 to 10 cm common and some locations forecast to receive up to 15 cm. The Met Office has urged residents in these regions to avoid driving and prepare for possible power outages. School closures remain widespread across the country.

Phillip McCullagh, principal of St Patrick and St Brigid’s College in Claudy, described the conditions as severe, stating, “It’s as bad as I’ve seen it,” during an interview on BBC Radio Ulster. More than 150 schools in Northern Ireland will remain closed on Tuesday, while councils in Aberdeenshire, Orkney, and Shetland have also confirmed school closures. In Wales, schools in areas including Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot, and Bridgend have been affected.

Travel disruptions were significant on Monday, impacting routes within and beyond the UK. Eurostar services were unable to reach the Netherlands, and Network Rail Scotland reported exceptionally deep snow hindering snowplough operations. LNER advised against travel between Edinburgh and Aberdeen until 14:00 GMT on Tuesday. Liverpool John Lennon Airport temporarily closed its runway because of snow and ice but reopened later in the day. Additionally, cold weather payments have been activated across 451 postcodes. Under this scheme, households receiving specific benefits are awarded £25 if local temperatures remain at or below 0°C for seven consecutive days. Further snowfall is predicted to affect England, Northern Ireland, and southern Scotland on Thursday and Friday

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