The iconic Angel of the North statue in Gateshead stood witness as an amber weather warning for snow came into force across north-east England, with the Met Office forecasting potential blizzard conditions and substantial disruption.
Widespread Disruption and Hazardous Travel
The national weather service confirmed that sleet and snow showers continued to batter UK coastal areas overnight into Thursday. The worst-affected regions are bracing for significant travel disruption and potential power cuts. Up to 25cm of snow is expected to settle on high ground, particularly on the North York Moors, where the amber warning remains active until 9pm.
Met Office meteorologist Greg Dewhurst stated that while Thursday would be sunny for many, further sleet and snow showers would persist for coastal stretches, filtering inland. He highlighted that the heaviest snowfall would be across north-east England, with the highest totals from Wednesday night through Thursday likely in the Sperrins, North Yorkshire Moors, Northwest Highlands, Grampians, and upland Pembrokeshire.
Police Warnings and Transport Chaos
The hazardous conditions have already caused major issues for motorists. On Wednesday night, North Yorkshire police urged drivers to avoid the A171 near Whitby after multiple vehicles became stuck in the snow. Officers were also forced to close the A169 between Whitby and Pickering due to the heavy snowfall.
Shaun Jones, an AA expert patrol, issued a stark warning to drivers: "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 advised motorists to plan ahead, stick to main routes, and allow extra time for their journeys.
Further Warnings and Frigid Temperatures
The Met Office has warned that rural communities within the amber warning area could become cut off as gusty winds create occasional blizzard conditions, with lightning posing an additional hazard. Wintry showers are also expected to hit East Anglia, western Wales, and Cornwall overnight.
Across the country, five separate yellow warnings for snow and ice are in place on Thursday, with alerts for the coast of north-east England, Cornwall, Devon, and western Wales remaining until 11.59pm. National Rail has urged commuters to check their journeys before travelling, as speed restrictions may lead to cancellations and delays.
The cold Arctic air continues to grip the nation, with temperatures plummeting to -6C in Spadeadam, Cumbria. The Met Office warned that the coldest temperatures are still ahead, with the potential for lows of -12C in parts of Scotland on Friday. While conditions are expected to become milder and wetter over the weekend, they will not reach the exceptionally mild levels seen earlier in November.
