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More snow sweeping across Britain More snow sweeping across Britain
(about 1 hour later)
Britain is bracing itself for further disruption as fresh bands of snow sweep across the country. Britain is bracing itself for further disruption as fresh bands of snow sweep across parts of the country.
South-east England has been hit by the heaviest snow in 18 years, causing trains and buses to be cancelled, and airports and schools to be closed.South-east England has been hit by the heaviest snow in 18 years, causing trains and buses to be cancelled, and airports and schools to be closed.
Parts of London may see a foot (30cm) of snow, while the Pennines and parts of the north may see 20 inches (50cm). Snow is now moving north, with the Pennines, north-east England and the Scottish Borders at risk of seeing up to 12 inches (30cm) of snowfall.
The Met Office has issued an extreme weather warning for England, Wales and parts of eastern Scotland. The Met Office has issued an extreme weather warning for much of the UK.
Earlier at a press conference in Downing Street, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "We are doing everything in our power to ensure services, road, rail and airports are open as quickly as possible, and we are continuing to monitor this throughout the day."A snowman greeted BBC website reader David Shipway on his doorstep As well as heavy snow in many areas, there is a risk of widespread ice in London and south-east England as temperatures fall as low as -7C overnight.
BBC weather forecaster Tomasz Schafernaker said the worst-affected area had been the Thames Valley and Greater London, where the transport network is at its most concentrated. The ice could make road travel treacherous and pavements hazardous, although conditions may ease slightly later on Tuesday with temperatures expected to hit 4C or 5C in some places.
He said some parts of London had already seen up to eight inches (20 cm) of snow. At a press conference in Downing Street on Monday, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "We are doing everything in our power to ensure services, road, rail and airports are open as quickly as possible, and we are continuing to monitor this throughout the day."A snowman greeted BBC website reader David Shipway on his doorstep
Further snowfall in northern England and the Pennines could be made worse by strong winds which will cause snow to drift, he added. Weather forecasters said the worst-affected area on Monday had been the Thames Valley and Greater London, where the transport network is at its most concentrated.
More heavy snow was forecast to hit the eastern part of England, including East Anglia, London and the Home Counties, accompanied by strong winds. This will work its way up through the Midlands, northern England and eastern Scotland. Some parts of London saw up to eight inches (20 cm) of snow.
Parts of the Midlands, East and South will experience temperatures between -4C and -7C on Monday night. DEPTH OF SNOW AT 0900 GMT North Downs: 11 inches (28cm)London: 8 inches (20cm)Berkshire: 6 inches (15cm)East Anglia: 4 inches (10cm)Midlands: 2 inches (6cm)Northern England: 2 inches (6cm) The BBC's Alex Deakin said northern England, especially the Pennines, could see between four and 12 inches (10 and 30cm) on Tuesday, with up to eight inches (20cm) in eastern Scotland and the Borders.
"Our message is still don't travel unless your journey is essential," a spokeswoman for the Highways Agency said. "If you do have to travel, be prepared." Strong winds could make conditions worse in these areas, causing snow to drift.
The weather will turn icy by Tuesday morning, making road travel treacherous and pavements hazardous. Snow will also continue across south Wales and south-west England, and spread into Northern Ireland, our forecaster said.
Later in the day, temperatures are expected to hit 4C, although minor snow showers are still likely. More snow is likely in northern Scotland on Wednesday, he added. DEPTH OF SNOW AT 0900 GMT North Downs: 11 inches (28cm)London: 8 inches (20cm)Berkshire: 6 inches (15cm)East Anglia: 4 inches (10cm)Midlands: 2 inches (6cm)Northern England: 2 inches (6cm)
The Met Office said it expects the rest of the winter to continue to be colder than average.The Met Office said it expects the rest of the winter to continue to be colder than average.
Thousands of children across England and Wales missed school on Monday as schools were closed for the day. Train trouble
All schools in Birmingham and all 403 state schools in Surrey are also expected to be closed on Tuesday. Thousands of children missed lessons on Monday as more than 3,000 schools across the UK were closed for the day.
Many are expected to remain closed on Tuesday, including all schools in Birmingham, Bradford and the Borders, and all 403 state schools in Surrey.
Travel disruption is also set to continue. The BBC's Tom Symonds said trains in East Anglia and on the East Coast Mainline between London and Edinburgh could be worst hit on Tuesday.
A limited rail service is set to resume south of London.
Hospitals in London asked extra staff to come into work because of an increase in 999 calls on Monday.Hospitals in London asked extra staff to come into work because of an increase in 999 calls on Monday.
London Ambulance Service is running a reduced service and its assistant chief ambulance officer, John Pooley, said its staff were under a great deal of pressure.London Ambulance Service is running a reduced service and its assistant chief ambulance officer, John Pooley, said its staff were under a great deal of pressure.
The Federation of Small Businesses estimates almost 6.5m people - a fifth of Britain's workforce - took the day off work as a result of the weather. The Federation of Small Businesses estimates almost 6.5m people - a fifth of Britain's workforce - took the day off work as a result of the weather on Monday.
It also believes the snowfalls will cost the economy about £3.5bn. It also believes that three days of disruption caused by snowfalls will cost the economy about £3.5bn.
Several London theatres cancelled performances and many offices sent staff home early.Several London theatres cancelled performances and many offices sent staff home early.
All flights at London's Heathrow Airport were cancelled until 1700 GMT and customers whose flights had been cancelled were advised not to go to the airport. KEY LINKS BAALondon City AirportLuton AirportTransport for LondonNational Rail EnquiriesAround the UK: Latest updatesSchools' round-upBBC WeatherAll flights at London's Heathrow Airport were cancelled until 1700 GMT and customers whose flights had been cancelled were advised not to go to the airport. KEY LINKS BAALondon City AirportLuton AirportTransport for LondonNational Rail EnquiriesAround the UK: Latest updatesSchools' round-upBBC Weather
London City and Luton airports are closed. Norwich and Leeds Bradford airports have now re-opened.
  • BAA has warned passengers travelling to and from Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports to expect "significant delays and cancellations".
  • Heathrow cancelled almost 800 flights on Monday.
  • BMI, Heathrow's second largest airline, has cancelled all flights to and from the airport.
  • Heathrow Express rail services have been suspended, while Heathrow Connect, Gatwick Express and Stansted Express are operating a limited service.
London City and Luton airports are closed. Norwich and Leeds Bradford airports have now re-opened.
  • BAA has warned passengers travelling to and from Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports to expect "significant delays and cancellations".
  • Heathrow cancelled almost 800 flights on Monday.
  • BMI, Heathrow's second largest airline, has cancelled all flights to and from the airport.
  • Heathrow Express rail services have been suspended, while Heathrow Connect, Gatwick Express and Stansted Express are operating a limited service.
On the roads, motorists have been warned of dangerous driving conditions.On the roads, motorists have been warned of dangerous driving conditions.
The Highways Agency is continuing to warn drivers not to travel unless their journey is essential. "If you do have to travel, be prepared," a spokeswoman added.
There have been a string of accidents on many motorways and A roads, causing road closures, long delays and vehicles to become stranded.There have been a string of accidents on many motorways and A roads, causing road closures, long delays and vehicles to become stranded.
And there was more bad news for people trying to use public transport in the South East of England.And there was more bad news for people trying to use public transport in the South East of England.
Drivers are being urged to only travel if absolutely necessary, and to listen to BBC radio bulletins for regular weather updates.
David Brown, of Transport for London, said the situation was "exceptional".David Brown, of Transport for London, said the situation was "exceptional".
He added: "We were prepared in the sense that all our cold weather plans on the Underground were put into place.He added: "We were prepared in the sense that all our cold weather plans on the Underground were put into place.
"But I think that actually the volume of the snow falling during the middle of the night was very difficult for us.""But I think that actually the volume of the snow falling during the middle of the night was very difficult for us."
Gritting costsGritting costs
Liberal Democrat shadow transport secretary, Norman Baker said it was "an absolute disgrace" the country's transport networks were unable to cope with bad weather.Liberal Democrat shadow transport secretary, Norman Baker said it was "an absolute disgrace" the country's transport networks were unable to cope with bad weather.
"The lack of preparedness is astounding and damaging for the economy. I have travelled from Stockholm to the Arctic Circle on a train that arrived five minutes early, yet Britain lapses into chaos at the first hint of snow," he said."The lack of preparedness is astounding and damaging for the economy. I have travelled from Stockholm to the Arctic Circle on a train that arrived five minutes early, yet Britain lapses into chaos at the first hint of snow," he said.
Edward Welsh, of the Local Government Association, said councils had been "working flat out" since Sunday morning.Edward Welsh, of the Local Government Association, said councils had been "working flat out" since Sunday morning.
"If we had hundreds of gritters on stand-by for a day like this, a day which happens once in every 18 years, we'd have to divert resources from somewhere else," he said."If we had hundreds of gritters on stand-by for a day like this, a day which happens once in every 18 years, we'd have to divert resources from somewhere else," he said.
Eurostar services are currently operating between the UK and the continent, but are subject to possible delays due to the heavy snow in the UK and northern France.Eurostar services are currently operating between the UK and the continent, but are subject to possible delays due to the heavy snow in the UK and northern France.
But not everyone has been inconvenienced by the weather - Erik Anderson, from Richmond upon Thames, contacted the BBC News website to say many people and their children had enjoyed "a fabulous once-in-a-lifetime winter wonderland in central London".But not everyone has been inconvenienced by the weather - Erik Anderson, from Richmond upon Thames, contacted the BBC News website to say many people and their children had enjoyed "a fabulous once-in-a-lifetime winter wonderland in central London".
Show us your snow by sending your pictures and videos using the form below.Show us your snow by sending your pictures and videos using the form below.
You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial +44 (0)7725 100 100.You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial +44 (0)7725 100 100.
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