The UK is experiencing its first major winter blast, with blizzards, ice, and freezing temperatures causing widespread disruption. The Met Office has issued eight yellow weather warnings for snow and ice across England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland, with a rare amber alert for the North York Moors and Yorkshire Wolds. The amber warning, in effect from 3am to 9pm on Thursday, warns of blizzards and up to 25cm of snow on hills, likely causing substantial disruption.
Hundreds of schools have been closed, particularly in Aberdeenshire, where over 90 schools shut, and in Wales, with 36 closures in Pembrokeshire. Roads in northern England, including the A1 and A171, were closed or hazardous, with police advising only essential travel. The AA urged drivers to slow down, as stopping distances can increase tenfold on icy surfaces.
The coldest night of the season saw temperatures drop to -6.6C in Oxfordshire and -6.4C in Powys. Thursday night could see lows of -10C in rural Scotland. The Met Office reported 'thundersnow' in Aberdeenshire, with a risk of more off the coasts of eastern Scotland and north-east England.
An amber cold health alert remains in force for northern England until Saturday. However, temperatures are expected to rise towards the weekend, with wetter and windier conditions, though not as mild as earlier in the month. The snow has also prompted bookmakers to shorten odds on a White Christmas.
