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 snow and ice warnings for Thursday, covering regions from Devon and Cornwall to northern Scotland. An amber warning is in place for the North York Moors and Yorkshire Wolds, predicting up to 25cm (10 inches) of snow on hills and occasional blizzards.
In Scotland, Aberdeenshire is the worst-hit area, with over 90 schools closed. Wales has seen 57 closures across Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, and Ceredigion. Northern England also reported closures, with about 30 schools shut in North Yorkshire and eight in East Yorkshire. Roads have been blocked or treacherous, including the A1 northbound near Morpeth and the A171, with police advising against travel to several towns.
The Met Office recorded the coldest night of the season so far, with temperatures dropping to -6.6°C in Oxfordshire and -6.4°C in Powys. Thursday night could see lows of -10°C in rural Scotland. 'Thundersnow' was observed in Aberdeenshire and off the north-east coast, with a risk of more on Thursday.
Travel experts urge caution. AA patrol Shaun Jones advised drivers to slow down and allow extra time, as stopping distances can increase tenfold on ice. The UK Health Security Agency has issued an amber cold health alert for northern England until Saturday. Temperatures are expected to rise closer to average by the weekend, though wetter and windier weather will follow.
Despite the disruption, some have embraced the snow for photography, sledging, and building snowmen. Bookmaker William Hill has shortened odds for a White Christmas, with Aberdeen at 6/5 and London at 7/1.
