An Arctic blast has unleashed chaos across North Yorkshire, smothering the region in heavy snow and sending temperatures plummeting to a biting -2C. The severe conditions have left hundreds of motorists stranded in treacherous traffic, with major roads becoming impassable.
Major Roads Blocked as Vehicles Grind to a Halt
The A171 near Whitby ground to a complete standstill, with AA Traffic News reporting that extensive stretches were effectively blocked by drifting snow. Footage shared online depicted long queues of vehicles inching along the white-out route, prompting urgent police intervention.
North Yorkshire Police issued a direct plea to the public, stating: 'Please avoid the A171 near Whitby and across the moors towards Guisborough - lots of vehicles are getting stuck due to the weather conditions.' The force advised that the A174 out of Whitby might be passable but urged drivers not to travel unless absolutely necessary.
The disruption was not confined to a single route. A lorry was also seen stuck on the A169 near Fylingdales, an incident that forced police to divert traffic through Scarborough in an attempt to manage the gridlock. A post on the North Yorkshire Weather Updates Facebook page around 5pm noted that while many vehicles had managed to leave the A171 Birk Brow area, conditions remained treacherous and some were still stuck an hour and a half later.
Nationwide Warnings and Emergency Measures Activated
This localised chaos arrives ahead of a more significant threat. The Met Office has issued an amber weather alert for parts of the North York Moors and Yorkshire Wolds, effective from 3am to 9pm tomorrow. The warning anticipates up to 25cm (10 inches) of snow could fall, posing a severe risk of further prolonged disruption.
The wintry conditions are being felt across the nation. Overnight, 7cm (2.7in) of snow settled in parts of the UK, triggering yellow weather warnings across a vast swathe of the country including East Anglia, the South West, Wales, North East England, northern Scotland, and Northern Ireland. The Met Office forecasts further wintry showers for the coasts of northern Scotland, as well as the east and west coasts of the UK.
In response to the life-threatening cold, London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has activated the capital's Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP). This initiative provides extra emergency accommodation for homeless people when temperatures fall to 0C (32F) or below. Last winter, this protocol was activated for 22 nights, housing more than 2,000 people.
The impact on education has also been sharp, particularly in Scotland. Dozens of schools and nurseries have been forced to close, including 20 in the Highland Council area, 19 in Aberdeenshire, and three in Moray.
