Hundreds of schools have been forced to close, homes left without power and roads and flights disrupted after snow fell across large swathes of the UK.
About 100 schools in northern Scotland, 57 in Wales and 41 in Yorkshire have had no choice but to shut their doors today.
Drivers in North Yorkshire were forced to abandon their cars and walk on foot after heavy snow, with more wintry weather on the way today.
They have also been warned to only make journeys that are necessary after heavy snow overnight hit roads and disrupted bin collections.
Parts of north-east England, where an amber warning for snow has come into force, could see blizzard conditions, the Met Office said.
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Sleet and snow showers continued to hit UK coasts overnight into Thursday with the worst-affected areas set to face disruption to travel and potential power cuts, according to the forecaster.
‘Thundersnow’, thunderstorms that form in wintry conditions and cause heavy downpours of snow, were seen in Aberdeenshire and off the coast in the north-east yesterday.
A spokesperson has said there is a risk ‘we could see more today off the coast of eastern Scotland and north-east England.’
As much as 25cm of snow could settle on high ground on the North York Moors and the surrounding area. The region’s amber warning remains in place until 9pm this evening.
Eight yellow weather warnings for snow and ice are in place in various other parts of the UK today, including Northern Scotland, South West Wales and Cornwall.
The snow grounded some flights at Aberdeen Airport this morning too, affecting routes to Amsterdam and Manchester as well as delaying arrivals from Kirkwall, Sumburgh and Manchester.
Photos of motorists facing long queues near the Moors on the A171 Birk Brow, and some left stranded in sub-zero temperatures, went viral on social media yesterday.
Met Office meteorologist Greg Dewhurst said: ‘Thursday will be a sunny day for most, but there will be further sleet and snow showers for coastal stretches, which will filter a little inland too. Heavy across north-east England in particular.
‘The highest snowfall totals from Wednesday night through Thursday will likely be across the Sperrins, North Yorkshire Moors, Northwest Highlands, Grampians and upland Pembrokeshire.’
So far, 9cm of snow was recorded in the Scottish Highlands, Aberdeenshire had 6cm and Aviemore in Invernesshire had 5cm, said the Met Office.
The national weather service said rural communities could become cut off in the amber warning area as gusty winds hit, creating ‘occasional blizzard conditions’, with the possibility of lightning a further hazard.
Shaun Jones, AA Expert Patrol, warned that when snow and ice hit, the roads can quickly become treacherous.
‘Stopping distances can increase tenfold on icy surfaces, so slowing down and leaving plenty of space is absolutely vital,’ he said.
On health concerns from the temperature dropping, Boots Superintendent Pharmacist Claire Nevinson said: ‘Cold weather can affect the body’s ability to fight off viruses and infections.’
She said older people and ‘those with existing health conditions’ are more at risk, so people should take steps to stay warm such as using ‘a heated blanket’, ‘layering up’ before going outside and wearing ‘hand warmers’.
Wintry showers will hit East Anglia, western Wales and Cornwall overnight, but persisting snow in the North East could cause ‘substantial disruption’, the Met Office said.
Some five yellow warnings for snow and ice are in place across the country on Thursday, with alerts for the coast of north-east England, Cornwall, Devon and western Wales in place until 11.59 pm.
National Rail has urged rail commuters to check their journeys before travelling during the snowy and icy weather.
It said speed restrictions may be in place for trains to run safely, which could result in cancellations, alterations and delays to services.
Cold Arctic air continues to take hold across the country, with the mercury overnight dropping to as low as -6C at Spadeadam in Cumbria.
RAF Benson in Oxfordshire recorded -6.6C with Sennybridge in Powys not much warmer at -6.4C.
But the coldest temperatures could still be ahead, the Met Office warned, with potential for lows of -12C in areas of lying snow in Scotland on Friday.
Temperatures will begin to rise closer to averages for this time of year at the weekend when wetter and windier weather arrives, but it will not be as ‘exceptionally mild’ as it was earlier in November, the forecaster said.
More than 100 schools in northern Scotland shut
Around 100 schools in northern Scotland are closed as snow and ice bring further disruption across the area.
More than 90 schools are shut in Aberdeenshire, while two are shut in Moray. In the Highlands, seven are closed, while many have delayed opening times due to the weather.
In the highlands, eight nurseries, 13 primary schools and one secondary school are closed or partially closed.
- Aboyne Academy – Closed to everyone
- Aboyne Primary School – Closed to everyone
- Alehousewells School – Closed to everyone
- Alford Academy – Closed to everyone
- Alford Primary School – Closed to everyone
- Arduthie School – Closed to everyone
- Auchnagatt School – Transport not operating
- Auchterellon School – Opening delayed
- Auchterless School – Closed to everyone
- Ballater School – Closed to everyone
- Ballogie Nursery – Closed to everyone
- Banchory Academy – Closed to pupils only
- Banchory Primary School – Closed to everyone
- Banchory-Devenick School – Closed to everyone
- Banff Academy – Changes to transport routes
- Banff Primary School – Opening delayed
- Barthol Chapel School – Closed to everyone
- Bervie School – Closed to everyone, transport not operating
- Braemar School – Closed to everyone
- Cairney School – Closed to everyone
- Carronhill School – Closed to everyone
- Catterline School – Closed to everyone
- Chapel of Garioch School – Closed to everyone
- Cluny School – Closed to everyone
- Craigievar School – Closed to everyone
- Crathes School – Closed to pupils only
- Crathie School – Closed to everyone
- Crombie School – Closed to everyone
- Crossroads Nursery, Durris – Closed to everyone
- Cultercullen School – Closed to everyone
- Daviot School – Closed to everyone
- Drumblade School – Closed to everyone
- Drumoak School – Closed to everyone
- Dunecht School – Closed to everyone
- Dunottar School (Nursery is not operational at present) – Closed to everyone
- Durris School – Closed to everyone
- Echt School – Closed to everyone
- Ellon Academy – Opening delayed
- Ellon Primary School – Opening delayed, Transport not operating
- Elrick School – Closed to everyone
- Finzean School – Closed to everyone
- Fishermoss School – Closed to everyone
- Fyvie School – Opening delayed
- Glass School – Closed to everyone
- Glenbervie School – Closed to everyone
- Gordon Primary School – Closed to everyone
- The Gordon Schools – Closed to everyone
- Gourdon School – Closed to everyone
- Hatton Fintray School – Closed to everyone
- Hatton School, Cruden – Closed to everyone
- Hill of Banchory School – Closed to everyone
- Hillside School – Closed to everyone
- Insch School – Transport not operating, Opening delayed
- Inverurie Academy – Closed to everyone
- Johnshaven School – Closed to everyone
- Keig School – Closed to everyone, transport not operating
- Keithhall School – Closed to everyone
- Kellands School – Closed to everyone
- Kemnay Academy – Closed to everyone
- Kemnay Primary School – Closed to everyone
- Kennethmont School – Closed to everyone
- Kincardine O’Neil School – Closed to everyone
- Kinellar School – Closed to everyone
- Kintore School – Closed to everyone
- Lairhillock School – Closed to everyone
- Logie Durno School – Closed to everyone
- Lumphanan School – Closed to everyone
- Lumsden School – Closed to everyone
- Mackie Academy – Closed to everyone
- Mearns Academy – Changes to transport routes
- Meldrum Academy – Closed to everyone
- Meldrum School – Closed to everyone
- Methlick School – Closed to everyone
- Midmar School – Closed to everyone
- Midmill School – Closed to everyone
- Mill O’ Forest School – Closed to everyone
- Mintlaw Academy – Changes to transport routes
- Monquhitter School – Opening delayed
- Monymusk School – Closed to everyone
- New Machar School – Closed to everyone
- Newtonhill School – Closed to everyone
- Old Rayne School – Closed to everyone
- Oyne School – Closed to everyone
- Pitmedden School – Closed to everyone
- Port Elphinstone School – Closed to everyone
- Portlethen Academy – Closed to everyone
- Portlethen School – Closed to everyone
- Premnay School – Closed to everyone
- Rayne North School – Closed to everyone
- Redmyre School – Closed to everyone
- Rhynie School – Closed to everyone
- Rothienorman School – Closed to everyone
- Skene School Closed to everyone
- St Andrew’s School, Inverurie – Closed to everyone
- St Cyrus School – Closed to everyone
- Strathburn School – Closed to everyone
- Strathdon School – Closed to everyone
- Tarland School – Closed to everyone
- Tarves School – Closed to everyone
- Torphins School – Closed to everyone
- Tough School – Closed to everyone
- Towie School – Closed to everyone
- Turriff Academy – Closed to everyone
- Turriff Primary School – Closed to everyone
- Udny Green School – Closed to everyone
- Uryside School – Closed to everyone
- Westhill Academy – Closed to everyone
- Westhill Primary School – Closed to everyone
Highlands
- Achiltibuie Primary: Partially closed – opening two hours later
- Arisaig Primary: Partially closed – opening one hour later
- Bun-Sgoil Shlèite: Closed
- Coulhill Primary: Partially closed – opening one hour later
- Coulhill Primary Nursery: Partially closed – opening one hour later
- Gairloch High School: Partially closed – opening one hour later
- Gairloch Primary: Partially closed – opening one hour later
- Gairloch Primary Nursery – EM: Partially closed – opening one hour later
- Gairloch Primary Nursery – GM: Partially closed – opening one hour later
- Gledfield Primary: Partially closed – opening one hour later
- Kyle Primary: Partially closed – opening one hour later
- Kyle Primary Nursery: Partially closed – opening one hour later
- Kyleakin Primary: Partially closed – opening one hour later
- Kyleakin Primary Nursery: Partially closed – opening one hour later
- Lady Lovat Primary: Partially closed – opening one hour later
- Lairg Primary: Closed
- Lairg Primary Nursery: Closed
- Lochinver Early Learning and Childcare: Closed
- Mallaig Primary: Partially closed – opening one hour later
- Rogart Primary: Closed
- Rogart Primary Nursery: Closed
- Rosehall Primary: Closed
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