The United Kingdom is experiencing its first significant winter blast, with blizzards, ice, and freezing temperatures causing widespread disruption. Hundreds of schools have closed, roads are treacherous, and power cuts have been reported in some areas. The Met Office has issued eight yellow weather warnings for snow and ice across the country, with a rare amber warning in place for the North York Moors and Yorkshire Wolds from 3am to 9pm.
The amber warning warns of occasional blizzards and significant snowfall of up to 25cm on hills, which is likely to cause substantial disruption. In Scotland, Aberdeenshire was the worst-hit region, with more than 90 schools closed. In Wales, 36 schools shut in Pembrokeshire, 14 in Carmarthenshire, and seven in Ceredigion. About 30 schools in North Yorkshire, eight in East Yorkshire, and a handful in Northumberland also did not open.
Road closures have been extensive. The northbound A1 between Morpeth and Alnwick in Northumberland was closed for over two hours from 8am. The A171 was shut, with police advising against travel to Malton, Scarborough, Whitby, and Filey. The A169 from Pickering to Whitby was closed for much of the morning, along with many rural roads. Drivers in North Yorkshire were urged to make only necessary journeys, while Pembrokeshire County Council warned of extremely hazardous conditions on most roads.
The Met Office reported that Thursday night was the coldest of the winter so far in Northern Ireland, Wales, and England, with temperatures dropping to -6.6C at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire, -6.4C in Sennybridge, Powys, and -2.8C at Altnahinch Filters in County Antrim. In rural Scotland, temperatures could fall as low as -10C on Thursday night, according to chief forecaster Neil Armstrong. The Met Office also noted that 'thundersnow' had been observed in Aberdeenshire and off the north-east coast on Wednesday, with a risk of more on Thursday.
An amber cold health alert from the UK Health Security Agency remains in force across northern England until Saturday morning. However, the snowy weather has also brought opportunities for some, with people taking atmospheric photographs, building snowmen, and sledging. Bookmaker William Hill has shortened the odds on a White Christmas in the UK, now offering 6/5 in Aberdeen, 7/4 in Newcastle, and 7/1 in London.
