The UK has experienced its first significant blast of winter, with snow blizzards, ice and freezing temperatures causing widespread disruption. Hundreds of schools were closed and many roads were blocked or treacherous to drive on. The Met Office issued eight yellow snow and ice warnings for Thursday, covering areas from Devon and Cornwall to northern Scotland, with an rare amber alert for the North York Moors and Yorkshire Wolds warning of blizzards and up to 25cm of snow.
The worst-hit region in Scotland was Aberdeenshire, where more than 90 schools did not open. In Wales, 36 schools were closed in Pembrokeshire, 14 in Carmarthenshire and seven in Ceredigion. In England, about 30 schools in North Yorkshire, eight in East Yorkshire and a handful in Northumberland did not open because of the poor weather.
Road closures were widespread in northern England. The A1 northbound between Morpeth and Alnwick was closed for more than two hours from 8am, and the A171 was closed, with police advising against travel to Malton, Scarborough, Whitby and Filey. The A169 Pickering to Whitby was also closed for much of the morning. Drivers in North Yorkshire were advised to make only necessary journeys, while Pembrokeshire council warned of “extremely hazardous conditions on most roads”.
The AA advised motorists to drive more slowly and smoothly. Shaun Jones, an AA expert patrol, said: “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 added that drivers should plan ahead, stick to main routes and allow extra time.
The early snow was notable for its timing. Ryedale Folk Museum in North Yorkshire closed due to snow for the first time in 10 years. Researcher Rose Barrett said it was “really unusual” to have to close so early, noting that historic photos show few snowy Novembers, with a bad snow year in 1925 but generally later snow in the region.
The Met Office said it had been the coldest night of the winter so far in Northern Ireland, Wales and England, with temperatures dropping to -6.6C in Oxfordshire. Thursday night could see as low as -10C in rural Scotland. “Thundersnow” was reported in Aberdeenshire and off the north-east coast. Temperatures are due to rise towards the weekend, but wetter and windier weather is expected. An amber cold health alert remains in force across northern England until Saturday morning.
