The UK is experiencing its first significant winter blast, with blizzards, ice, and freezing temperatures causing widespread disruption. Hundreds of schools have closed, and many roads are blocked or treacherous. The Met Office has issued eight yellow snow and ice warnings for Thursday, covering areas from Devon and Cornwall to northern Scotland, with an amber alert for the North York Moors and Yorkshire Wolds warning of up to 25cm of snow and blizzards.
In Scotland, Aberdeenshire was the worst-hit region, with over 90 schools closed. Wales saw 36 closures in Pembrokeshire, 14 in Carmarthenshire, and seven in Ceredigion. In England, about 30 schools in North Yorkshire, eight in East Yorkshire, and several in Northumberland did not open. Major road closures included the A1 northbound near Morpeth, the A171, and the A169, with police advising against travel in affected areas.
The Met Office reported the coldest night of the season so far, with temperatures dropping to -6.6C in Oxfordshire, -6.4C in Powys, and -2.8C in County Antrim. Thursday night could see lows of -10C in rural Scotland. The UK Health Security Agency has an amber cold health alert in place for northern England until Saturday.
Motorists are urged to drive slowly and smoothly, as stopping distances can increase tenfold on icy surfaces. The AA advised planning ahead and sticking to main routes. Some attractions, like Ryedale Folk Museum in North Yorkshire, closed for snow for the first time in a decade. Meanwhile, bookmakers have shortened odds on a White Christmas, with Aberdeen at 6/5 and Newcastle at 7/4.
