This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6343871.stm

The article has changed 19 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 15 Version 16
Fresh snow causes more disruption Fresh snow causes more disruption
(about 3 hours later)
Fresh snow has caused further disruption across Wales and central England as forecasters warn of more bad weather to come later on Friday. Heavy snow has intensified across Wales and central England as forecasters warned poor weather was moving north.
Commuters had a better start to the day than on Thursday, but face a difficult journey home. Many commuters were facing a difficult journey home with 10cm of snow expected to fall across the Midlands.
There are reports of jack-knifed lorries and abandoned cars in Malvern, Worcestershire, due to snow. But the snowfall could reach up to 20cm over the Pennines later as a Met Office severe weather warning remained in place on Friday evening.
The M4 in Wales has just one lane open both ways from junctions 47-49. With black ice and freezing fog forecast, motorists in affected areas were urged not to drive.
The Met Office forecasts 5-10cm more snow in the Midlands and parts of Wales, with drivers told to take care. 'Next in line'
Several hundred schools remain closed for a second day. Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire and south Wales were all the worst affected, with 25cm of snow recorded in Sennybridge, Powys.
More than 750 schools were closed in Wales, after 800 had shut the previous day. But Sue Powell from the BBC Weather Centre said it will hit other parts of the country as Friday evening progresses.
Many of the schools closed in England on Thursday remained shut for a second day, including in the West Midlands where Birmingham City Council said all its 400 schools would stay shut. She added: "The North Midlands, north Wales and the Pennines are all next in line.
The poor weather is expected to last into the weekend and early next week, although it will be milder with snow giving way to sleet and rain. "The snowfall has intensified across west and central parts today, but people further up the country should prepare for it to reach them."
Drivers warned She added that there was a risk of flooding in Wales, south-west England and the West Midlands with rain forecast for Saturday and a thaw likely.
On Friday morning, freezing fog and black ice formed in areas that saw heavy snow on Thursday.
But the Highways Agency said there were no "weather-related incidents" in England on Friday morning and described road conditions as "pretty good".
Motorway closes in Wales More of your snow picturesMotorway closes in Wales More of your snow pictures
It said there were around 400 gritters out on the roads and urged motorists to check travel conditions on the radio and the agency's website before venturing out. Roads had been quiet early in the day as many workers commuters staggered their journeys. The Highways Agency said there were 400 gritters out in the morning.
The roads were quieter than usual as commuters stayed at home or chose an alternative way to get into work. But workers slipping off home early led to gridlock in some places, with the M5 solid for 15 miles from junction five at Bromsgrove.
A spokeswoman for traffic monitoring company, Trafficmaster, said: "Everyone seems to be staying off the roads. "The volume of traffic is very low." A British Legion Club near Malvern, Worcestershire, is offering warmth and refreshment to stranded drivers, with many of the steep hills on the main route to Hereford impassable.
Most of Wales has seen more wintry weather with another band of heavy snow from the south-west. The Met Office said the worst affected areas in the West Midlands and Wales could see a further 20-30cm of snow on Friday. On Friday evening Birmingham Airport's runway was closed so slush could be cleared from it.
And the BBC Weather Centre said rain turned to snow in parts of Somerset, Wiltshire, west Berkshire, Bristol and Oxfordshire. HAVE YOUR SAY I have not been affected in the slightest and my school refuses to listen to the pupils and closed down for the day David, London class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5491&edition=1">Has your school been closed?
Angry parents But across England and Wales most flights returned to normal, although travellers were warned to take extra time because of a possible backlog from disruption on Thursday.
Network Rail later said the situation was as "good as normal" for train companies.
The poor weather is expected to last into the weekend and early next week, although it is expected to be milder with snow giving way to sleet and rain.
However, Aberdeen and Angus in north-east Scotland could be set for further snowfall on Saturday.
Cope better
Thousands of children were off school for a second day in Wales, Birmingham, Buckinghamshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Oxfordshire.Thousands of children were off school for a second day in Wales, Birmingham, Buckinghamshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Oxfordshire.
Some parents, forced to take time off work to care for their children - or pay others to do so - feel that some schools have been over-reacting.Some parents, forced to take time off work to care for their children - or pay others to do so - feel that some schools have been over-reacting.
HAVE YOUR SAY I have not been affected in the slightest and my school refuses to listen to the pupils and closed down for the day David, London class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5491&edition=1">Has your school been closed? Disruption caused by the thick blanket of snow since Thursday is thought to have cost hundreds of millions of pounds.
Virgin Trains said that, due to "important track maintenance work required because of the extreme weather conditions", an hourly service was operating between London Euston and Birmingham between 10am and 3pm and London Euston to Manchester between 10am and 1pm. Commons Leader Jack Straw admitted that Britain could cope better with this type of weather.
First Great Western reported minor delays and Network Rail later said the situation was as "good as normal".
Airports have also returned to normal, but travellers are being warned to take extra time because of a possible backlog from Thursday's disruption, when many flights were cancelled or delayed.
Cost of disruption
Kirsty McCabe of the BBC Weather Centre predicted snow would be less of a problem on Saturday, while parts of Scotland would face some snowfall on Sunday.
Disruption caused by a thick blanket of snow on Thursday is thought to have cost hundreds of millions of pounds.
The deepest snow recorded was at Sennybridge, in the Brecon Beacons, which had 10cm (4in).
Motorists, air and rail passengers faced delays, and Commons Leader Jack Straw admitted that Britain could cope better with this type of weather.