The UK has experienced its first significant winter blast, with blizzards, ice, and freezing temperatures causing widespread disruption. The Met Office issued eight yellow weather warnings for snow and ice across various regions, including Devon, Cornwall, Kent, East Anglia, and parts of Wales and Scotland. A rare amber warning was also in place for the North York Moors and Yorkshire Wolds, forecasting up to 25cm of snow on hills and occasional blizzards.
Hundreds of schools were closed, with Aberdeenshire in Scotland the worst-hit region, where over 90 schools did not open. In Wales, 36 schools were closed in Pembrokeshire, 14 in Carmarthenshire, and seven in Ceredigion. About 30 schools in North Yorkshire, eight in East Yorkshire, and several in Northumberland also shut due to the weather.
Road closures caused significant travel disruption. The A1 northbound between Morpeth and Alnwick was closed for over two hours, while the A171 and A169 were also shut. Police advised motorists to avoid Malton, Scarborough, Whitby, and Filey. Drivers in North Yorkshire were urged to make only essential journeys, and Pembrokeshire County Council warned of extremely hazardous conditions on most roads.
The AA advised drivers to slow down and increase stopping distances, as icy surfaces can increase stopping distances tenfold. Shaun Jones, an AA expert patrol, said: "When snow and ice hit, the roads can quickly become treacherous. Drivers should plan ahead, stick to main routes, and allow extra time."
The Met Office reported the coldest night of the season so far, with temperatures dropping to -6.6C at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire, -6.4C in Sennybridge, Powys, and -2.8C in County Antrim. In rural Scotland, temperatures could fall to -10C on Thursday night. The UK Health Security Agency's amber cold health alert remains in force across northern England until Saturday morning.
Despite the disruption, some embraced the snowy conditions for photography, building snowmen, and sledging. Bookmaker William Hill shortened the odds for a White Christmas, offering 6/5 in Aberdeen, 7/4 in Newcastle, and 7/1 in London.
