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Snow and ice causes disruption as cold spell continues | Snow and ice causes disruption as cold spell continues |
(40 minutes later) | |
Further snow and freezing temperatures are causing major problems for road, rail and air services in much of the UK, and thousands of schools are shut. | Further snow and freezing temperatures are causing major problems for road, rail and air services in much of the UK, and thousands of schools are shut. |
There are icy road warnings, and up to 15cm of snow could fall in some areas. | There are icy road warnings, and up to 15cm of snow could fall in some areas. |
Many roads are gridlocked, some trains and buses have been cancelled, and Gatwick and Edinburgh airports will be closed until at least Thursday morning. | Many roads are gridlocked, some trains and buses have been cancelled, and Gatwick and Edinburgh airports will be closed until at least Thursday morning. |
The Met Office has issued heavy snow warnings for much of the eastern side of Britain and some central areas. | The Met Office has issued heavy snow warnings for much of the eastern side of Britain and some central areas. |
Avalanche warning | Avalanche warning |
In England, heavy snow warnings are in place for Yorkshire and Humber, the East Midlands and north-east England. | In England, heavy snow warnings are in place for Yorkshire and Humber, the East Midlands and north-east England. |
In Scotland the warnings apply to Grampian, Central, Tayside and Fife, Strathclyde, south-west Scotland, Lothian and Borders. | In Scotland the warnings apply to Grampian, Central, Tayside and Fife, Strathclyde, south-west Scotland, Lothian and Borders. |
Thousands of Scottish children will have a third consecutive day off as many councils keep schools closed. | Thousands of Scottish children will have a third consecutive day off as many councils keep schools closed. |
Hundreds of skiers took to the slopes near Aviemore in the Cairngorms on Tuesday, and an avalanche warning has now been issued. | Hundreds of skiers took to the slopes near Aviemore in the Cairngorms on Tuesday, and an avalanche warning has now been issued. |
Supt Chris Moon of Surrey Police said the county's conditions were the worst he had ever seen and were likely to get worse. He said people should not travel unless they had to, adding: "I have put out several severe weather warnings in my career, but this one I really must stress." | Supt Chris Moon of Surrey Police said the county's conditions were the worst he had ever seen and were likely to get worse. He said people should not travel unless they had to, adding: "I have put out several severe weather warnings in my career, but this one I really must stress." |
Police have issued the same advice in Kent and in South Yorkshire. In Kent some roads in the west and north of the county are impassable due to snow and ice. | Police have issued the same advice in Kent and in South Yorkshire. In Kent some roads in the west and north of the county are impassable due to snow and ice. |
Thousands of rail commuters face severe disruption to their journeys in Scotland and northern England - particularly in the Sheffield area. London and the south-east has also suffered, including delays and cancellations to Southeastern services operating out of London Victoria and Charing Cross. | Thousands of rail commuters face severe disruption to their journeys in Scotland and northern England - particularly in the Sheffield area. London and the south-east has also suffered, including delays and cancellations to Southeastern services operating out of London Victoria and Charing Cross. |
There are delays on the East Coast Main Line, with an hourly service between London and Edinburgh, and reduced services between London and Leeds and London and Newcastle. | There are delays on the East Coast Main Line, with an hourly service between London and Edinburgh, and reduced services between London and Leeds and London and Newcastle. |
Passengers face delays of up to an hour on Eurostar services. | Passengers face delays of up to an hour on Eurostar services. |
National Rail Enquiries (NRE) has set up a phone hotline to provide passengers with up to date information about snow-related disruption, on 08453 017 641, and also has updates at @nationalrailenq on Twitter. | |
One of the worst affected areas of England is South Yorkshire, where snowfall of up to 30cm (12 inches) has brought parts of the county to a standstill. | One of the worst affected areas of England is South Yorkshire, where snowfall of up to 30cm (12 inches) has brought parts of the county to a standstill. |
About 300 schools are shut, bus services have been suspended in Sheffield, Rotherham, and Doncaster, and there are delays and cancellations on train services between Sheffield and Leeds, as well as flights being halted at Robin Hood Airport in Doncaster. | About 300 schools are shut, bus services have been suspended in Sheffield, Rotherham, and Doncaster, and there are delays and cancellations on train services between Sheffield and Leeds, as well as flights being halted at Robin Hood Airport in Doncaster. |
Hospitals in South Yorkshire are asking patients not to attend unless it is urgent, and they have asked off-duty medical staff to make their way into work if possible. Meanwhile Sheffield City Council has cancelled its full council meeting for the first time in living memory. | Hospitals in South Yorkshire are asking patients not to attend unless it is urgent, and they have asked off-duty medical staff to make their way into work if possible. Meanwhile Sheffield City Council has cancelled its full council meeting for the first time in living memory. |
BBC weatherman Liam Dutton said up to 10cm of snow could fall in East Anglia and south-east England, with up to 15cm possible in north-east England and south-east Scotland. | BBC weatherman Liam Dutton said up to 10cm of snow could fall in East Anglia and south-east England, with up to 15cm possible in north-east England and south-east Scotland. |
"Temperatures will be barely above freezing across the UK and when you add in the effect of the wind chill, it will feel much, much, colder than that," he said. | "Temperatures will be barely above freezing across the UK and when you add in the effect of the wind chill, it will feel much, much, colder than that," he said. |
Overnight, temperatures hit a low of -20C in Altnaharra in the Highlands. | Overnight, temperatures hit a low of -20C in Altnaharra in the Highlands. |
However, south-west England, Wales, western Scotland and Northern Ireland should enjoy sunny spells. | However, south-west England, Wales, western Scotland and Northern Ireland should enjoy sunny spells. |
Airports closed | |
On Tuesday across the UK, many commuters worked from home, thousands of children could not go to school and motorists faced travel chaos as a number of roads were impassable. The disruption on Wednesday includes: | On Tuesday across the UK, many commuters worked from home, thousands of children could not go to school and motorists faced travel chaos as a number of roads were impassable. The disruption on Wednesday includes: |
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On Tuesday evening Max Cross, from Portsmouth, said he took seven hours - five of them on the M25 - to complete a journey which usually takes 90 minutes to Gatwick Airport. | On Tuesday evening Max Cross, from Portsmouth, said he took seven hours - five of them on the M25 - to complete a journey which usually takes 90 minutes to Gatwick Airport. |
Drivers were also stuck on the A2 near the M25 in Kent. Truck driver Nigel Waller, who was on his way to Bradford, told the BBC at 0100 GMT that traffic was slowly starting to move. | Drivers were also stuck on the A2 near the M25 in Kent. Truck driver Nigel Waller, who was on his way to Bradford, told the BBC at 0100 GMT that traffic was slowly starting to move. |
"I'm doing 15 miles an hour which is the fastest I have driven in hours. I have been stuck since 1730," he said. | "I'm doing 15 miles an hour which is the fastest I have driven in hours. I have been stuck since 1730," he said. |
"I haven't seen any gritters and it's getting slippery because it's freezing and there's slush. I saw a truck trying to overtake a broken down car - he went straight through the central reservation." | "I haven't seen any gritters and it's getting slippery because it's freezing and there's slush. I saw a truck trying to overtake a broken down car - he went straight through the central reservation." |
Motoring organisation the AA said it had had an "exceptionally busy " morning, with 3,500 breakdown calls attended by 0900 GMT. Rush hour calls peaked at more than 2,000 an hour, said a spokesman, with the busiest areas including south London and the M25, and the Leeds and Sheffield areas. | Motoring organisation the AA said it had had an "exceptionally busy " morning, with 3,500 breakdown calls attended by 0900 GMT. Rush hour calls peaked at more than 2,000 an hour, said a spokesman, with the busiest areas including south London and the M25, and the Leeds and Sheffield areas. |
Halfords said an additional 16,600 sledges were being shipped in to meet increased demands. | Halfords said an additional 16,600 sledges were being shipped in to meet increased demands. |
Have you been stranded by the snow? Have your travel plans been disrupted by the weather? Send us your pictures and comments using the form below. | Have you been stranded by the snow? Have your travel plans been disrupted by the weather? Send us your pictures and comments using the form below. |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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