UK weather - live: Britain faces ‘ice rink Monday’ as Met Office issues snow and ice warnings

Large parts of the country face an “ice rink Monday” as the Met Office issues yellow snow and ice warnings across the UK.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for ice in the East Midlands, the West Midlands, the north of England, and much of north and central Wales from 5pm on Sunday to 12pm on Monday.

RAC Breakdown spokesperson Simon Williams said northern parts of the country could be facing an “ice rink Monday as snow refreezes overnight”.

He added: “We’re expecting some very treacherous icy conditions in northern parts, so those who have to drive should exercise great caution. If it’s possible to delay or even abandon journeys that may well be the best option.

“Those who decide to drive should leave extra space behind the vehicle in front, reduce their speeds to give plenty of time to stop. “Before setting out, it’s important to allow more time to de-ice and de-mist vehicles thoroughly.”

Yesterday, frosty weather whipped up chaos with flights grounded and a major incident declared in Cumbria.

East Midlands Airport closed its runway yesterday morning after heavy snowfall blanketed the ground, halting flights.

Latest

• RAC warns of ‘ice rink Monday’

• Police declare major incident in Cumbria

• East Midlands Airport close runway due to heavy snowfall

• Travellers in Cumbria stranded without accomodation

• Resident speaks of ‘heaviest snow’ experience in eight years

Travel misery continues for millions as Met Office warns of more extreme weather

11:29 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

After a miserable weekend for travellers in large parts of the UK, the working week has begun with more disruption.

Thousands of airline passengers woke up on Monday morning where they did not intend to be after dozens of weekend flight cancellations.

Rail firms are warning of major disruption on day four of an overtime ban by train drivers.

Our travel correspondent Simon Calder reports:

Travel misery continues for millions as Met Office warns of more extreme weather

Met Office issues yellow weather warning for rain

11:16 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A new yellow weather warning has been issued by the Met Office affecting north east England and Yorkshire & Humber.

The Met Office said: “Rain, with some snow over higher hills at first, will become persistent and at times heavy across northeast England during Monday and overnight into Tuesday. 20-40 mm of rain falling widely and 50-70 mm over some east facing hills.”

The warning is in place from noon today until 9am tomorrow.

More than 20 flood warnings in force across England as UK faces heavy rain

10:50 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

More than 20 flood warnings are in force across south-west England as the UK faces heavy rain but a decreasing risk of snow, forecasters have said.

Travel disruption is expected as a Met Office yellow weather warning for rain is in place across parts of southern England, south-east Wales and into the Midlands which will last until 6pm on Monday.

The Environment Agency has issued 28 flood warnings, mainly in Dorset and Somerset, as heavy rain is causing river levels to rise.

National Highways said the A303 in Somerset was closed eastbound between the A37/A372 at Podimore and the A359 near Sparkford because of flooding, with no time estimated for when it would reopen.

A Met Office spokesperson said a rain warning was also being considered for north-east England for Monday night into Tuesday morning.

Second man dies following freezing temperatures in UK

10:05 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A second man believed to be homeless has died after parts of the UK were gripped by freezing temperatures over the weekend.

Police were called to Bloom Street in Manchester city centre’s gay village on Sunday morning over concerns about the welfare of a man found in a shop doorway.

Officers and paramedics attended but he was declared dead at the scene, Greater Manchester Police said in a statement.

A spokesperson for the force said: “This investigation is in its very early stages and the cause of death is yet to be ascertained.

“Enquires are ongoing. Police are not treating the death of the man as suspicious nor is there believed to be any at third-party involvement. A report will be made for the coroner.”

Watch: 'Unprecedented' snowfall causes chaos in Cumbria

09:50 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Thousands were left without power on Sunday and hundreds are still facing outages today after heavy snow showers in Cumbria this weekend.

Pictures from this weekend’s snow

09:36 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Plumpton abandoned due to waterlogging

09:13 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Today’s meeting at Plumpton has been abandoned due to a waterlogged course.

The East Sussex venue had 37mm of rain over a period of 30 hours and, with further downpours forecast, there was no prospect for improvement.

This afternoon’s card at Ayr had already been called off yesterday, with parts of the track frozen, leaving only an all-weather evening meeting at Wolverhampton.

Seven fixtures have now fallen to the weather over the past four days, including Saturday’s high-profile Fighting Fifth meeting at Newcastle.

Leicester and Southwell were cancelled due to snow on Sunday, while Carlisle did manage to race but were hit by 24 non-runners, largely because of travel problems.

Heavy snowfall saw most brutal cold snap this winter over the weekend

08:47 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Hundreds of households were left without power on Sunday after heavy snowfall wreaked havoc as a cold snap hit the country.

Overnight temperatures in the Scottish Highlands dropped to minus 12.5C according to the Met Office, which issued fresh yellow weather warnings for snow and ice on Sunday affecting large swathes of Scotland, the Midlands, Wales and the North East.

In Cumbria dozens of drivers were trapped in their cars on Saturday night after being stuck in the snow. The county’s fire and rescue service scrambled to rescue motorists as police urged people to avoid travel.

In a post on social media on Sunday morning it said: “CFRS have been working through the night rescuing people from their cars trapped in deep snow. Please do not travel unless necessary as many roads are still affected with snow and ice.”

Fresh snow warnings as thousands left without power in -12C Arctic snap

Snow ‘refreezing overnight’ could cause ‘ice rink Monday'

08:34 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

RAC Breakdown spokesperson Simon Williams said northern parts of the country could be facing an “ice rink Monday as snow refreezes overnight”.

He said: “We’re expecting some very treacherous icy conditions in northern parts, so those who have to drive should exercise great caution. If it’s possible to delay or even abandon journeys that may well be the best option.

“Those who decide to drive should leave extra space behind the vehicle in front, reduce their speeds to give plenty of time to stop.

“Before setting out, it’s important to allow more time to de-ice and de-mist vehicles thoroughly.”

Hundreds still without power

08:04 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Hundreds are still without power on Monday morning across Cumbria, as Electricity North West’s website lists 18 live power cuts.

On Sunday, the service said: “Blocked roads and very deep snow mean some sites are only accessible by foot. In some areas teams are carrying equipment through the snow to make repairs.”

This morning, hot food is available for all customer affected by the ongoing powercuts at Greenodd Service Station, Ulverston.

Drivers warned they face “very treacherous icy conditions”

07:44 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Drivers have been warned they face “very treacherous icy conditions” in parts of the UK on Monday after another night of sub-zero temperatures.

A yellow weather warning for ice by the Met Office is in place across much of the north of England until noon on Monday, with further warnings for snow covering the eastern side of Scotland, high ground in Wales and the Peak District until the same time.

Overnight temperatures, which dipped to around or below freezing in many of the affected areas, were expected to cause icy patches on untreated surfaces due to thawed snow refreezing.

Yellow weather warning extended

07:31 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A yellow weather warning for rain has been extended to include more of Devon and West Somerset.

The warning is in place until 6pm tpday.

Children ‘left in tears’ after flight to Lapland cancelled by snow

07:00 , Lydia Patrick

Adverse weather conditions caused travel chaos across the UK today as flights were grounded by heavy snow and forecasters warned temperatures could plunge to as low as -12C.

Glasgow airport temporarily suspended all flights this morning, with a Lapland-bound flight to see Father Christmas among those cancelled as a result of the weather.

One passenger claimed children were left in tears over the cancellation, while another accused the airport of causing misery. The airport reopened shortly before 10am – though the first departure, an easyJet flight to London Stansted, originally due out at 6.35am, did not leave until 10.30am. The Lapland flight did not take off at all because it would not have arrived in Finland before dark.

Thousands of homes still without power

06:00 , Lydia Patrick

Electricity North West has said 1,500 properties in Cumbria remain without electricity after power cuts followed heavy snow in the county.

The power network operator said on Sunday it had restored power to 7,500 homes, adding that “access continues to be a major issue and even specialist 4×4 vehicles cannot reach all sites” with “equipment for repairs being carried on foot in some locations”.

It added that Cumbria’s power network had been severely impacted by the snow with more than 35 separate damages to the network reported, including “severe damage to miles of overhead lines”.

Cumbria Police said the focus of a multi-agency response to the major incident that was declared following Saturday’s heavy snowfall had now “moved to supporting communities who remain without power”.

Dozens of school closures across Cumberland, Westmorland and Furness

05:00 , Lydia Patrick

There have been 26 school closures announced across Cumberland, Westmorland and Furness due to heavy snow and ice

You can see the full list of closures here.

More rain and snow to lash UK on Monday

04:06 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Monday will start on a cloudy note with bouts of rain for England and Wales with the additional snow and ice affecting some central and northern parts.

Eastern Scotland will have to brace for wintry showers and icy patches, the Met Office predicts.

Elsewhere, people will enjoy brighter and breezy weather.

The northeast regions will experience snow and rain overnight, while the northwest is expected to be hit by frost and ice.

Man ‘freezes to death while sleeping in car’ as cold snap hits UK

04:00 , Lydia Patrick

A homeless man is believed to have frozen to death inside a car as he sheltered from temperatures as low as -10C over the weekend.

The man, who has not been identified, was reportedly found dead inside a black Renault in Beeston, Nottinghamshire, on Friday 1 December.

Nottinghamshire Police confirmed it was called to the scene after it received reports of a man’s “sudden death”. It is investigating the circumstances.

Police officers were captured on video, which was circulated on X, gathering around the vehicle which was covered in frost and ice.

A picture also showed a police officer leaning inside the vehicle as another stood beside it wearing a pair of disposable gloves.

Man ‘freezes to death’ while sleeping in car amid cold weather

Local community halls stay open overnight to provide shelter

03:23 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

A parish hall, a school and local community halls in Cumbria stayed open overnight to provide shelter to the people stranded on the roads during heavy snowfall.

Harrison Ward, one of the residents of Cumbria, said people from all walks of life sought refuge at the Ambleside Parish Centre.

“Community out in force. Daytrippers, families, couples and lone hikers now there for the night,” Mr Ward said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

He added: “I’m just glad the community was out to offer some selfless kindness and refuge to those caught out who were clearly distressed in an unusual situation.”

Nearly 1,500 homes and businesses left without power

03:07 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Power outage due to cold and wet conditions affected around 1,500 homes and businesses in Cumbria over the weekend as temperatures dropped to -12.5C in northern Scotland overnight.

The region was one of the worst affected by the snow over the weekend, with authorities advising people to only travel if necessary.

A yellow warning for snow has been issued for Cumbria until 12pm on Monday.

Snowmen snapped across the country

03:00 , Lydia Patrick

Many residents across the UK enjoyed a wintery day today as up to 12 inches of snow fell in some areas.

Some of those out in the snow took the rare opportunity to build snowmen.

One young boy in Scotland got creative and constructed an armadillo.

Thousands of homes remain without power

02:00 , Lydia Patrick

Electricity North West has said 1,500 properties in Cumbria remain without electricity after power cuts followed heavy snow in the county.

The power network operator said on Sunday it had restored power to 7,500 homes, adding that “access continues to be a major issue and even specialist 4×4 vehicles cannot reach all sites” with “equipment for repairs being carried on foot in some locations”.

It added that Cumbria’s power network had been severely impacted by the snow with more than 35 separate damages to the network reported, including “severe damage to miles of overhead lines”.

Cumbria Police said the focus of a multi-agency response to the major incident that was declared following Saturday’s heavy snowfall had now “moved to supporting communities who remain without power”.

In pictures- Snowy scenes across the UK

01:00 , Lydia Patrick

ICYMI - Children ‘left in tears’ after flight to Lapland cancelled by snow

Sunday 3 December 2023 23:50 , Lydia Patrick

Adverse weather conditions caused travel chaos across the UK today as flights were grounded by heavy snow and forecasters warned temperatures could plunge to as low as -12C.

Glasgow airport temporarily suspended all flights this morning, with a Lapland-bound flight to see Father Christmas among those cancelled as a result of the weather.

One passenger claimed children were left in tears over the cancellation, while another accused the airport of causing misery. The airport reopened shortly before 10am – though the first departure, an easyJet flight to London Stansted, originally due out at 6.35am, did not leave until 10.30am. The Lapland flight did not take off at all because it would not have arrived in Finland before dark.

UK weather: Children ‘left in tears’ after flight to Lapland cancelled by snow

Mapped: Snow and ice Met Office warnings as UK hit by overnight freeze

Sunday 3 December 2023 22:50 , Lydia Patrick

The UK has been hit by a wave of snow and ice this weekend as a major incident was declared and flights were grounded.

The coldest overnight temperature this winter was recorded in northern Scotland, the Met Office said, as Altnaharra in the Highland region dropped to -12.5C.

It comes as thousands of people across Cumbria woke up without power on Sunday morning after heavy snowfall affected Electricity North West’s service.

East Midlands Airport was forced to temporarily close its runway after heavy snow blanketed the ground.

The airport said in a tweet at about 8.10am today: “Due to snow, our runway is temporarily closed. We will update you as soon as possible.”

Cumbria snow: Cars abandoned and roads bottlenecked as police declare major incident

‘Only travel if necessary’

Sunday 3 December 2023 22:20 , Lydia Patrick

Cumbria Police are urging those across the country to only travel if necessary since hundreds of travellers became stranded amid heavy snowfall last night.

An unprecedented amount of snow swept across the county, prompting the declaration of a major incident, say Cumbria Police.

Kendal resident Hannah Smith said she had never seen such heavy snow in Ambleside and Grasmere.

It took Ms Smith nine hours to return home to Kendal from Grasmere on Saturday night – a journey which usually takes under 30 minutes by car in normal weather conditions.

She said she decided to abandon her car and walk to the nearest train station in Windermere after waiting in traffic with two eight-year-old children for four-and-a-half hours on Saturday night.

The communications manager told the PA news agency: “Rather than sleeping on the floor of a church or a community centre, we were just going to walk as long as it takes to get near the train station.

“We were quite lucky in that sense because the kids had walking boots and we knew they could walk.”

Warning of ‘Ice rink Monday'

Sunday 3 December 2023 21:56 , Lydia Patrick

Warnings have been issued that parts of the country could be facing an “ice rink Monday”, as snow refreezes overnight.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for ice in the East Midlands, the West Midlands, the north of England, and much of north and central Wales from 5pm on Sunday to 12pm on Monday.

The weather service said a modest thaw of recent snowfall will lead to wet roads and pavements, adding that the refreezing of thawed snow as temperatures fall on Sunday evening will cause some icy patches on untreated surfaces resulting in difficult travel conditions.

RAC Breakdown spokesperson Simon Williams said northern parts of the country could be facing an “ice rink Monday as snow refreezes overnight”.

He added: “We’re expecting some very treacherous icy conditions in northern parts, so those who have to drive should exercise great caution. If it’s possible to delay or even abandon journeys that may well be the best option.

“Those who decide to drive should leave extra space behind the vehicle in front, reduce their speeds to give plenty of time to stop.“Before setting out, it’s important to allow more time to de-ice and de-mist vehicles thoroughly.”

More snow expected across North Wales, West Midlands and North of England

Sunday 3 December 2023 21:40 , Lydia Patrick

The Met Office have issued a yellow weather warning as more snow is expected to fall this evening across parts of north Wales, the West Midlands and northern England.

The warning will remain in place from 6pm until midday tomorrow.

Watch - Blyth beach covered in snow as temperatures plunge across the UK

Sunday 3 December 2023 21:20 , Lydia Patrick

Blyth beach covered in snow as temperatures plunge across the UK

Pictured - People across the UK woke up in a Winter Wonderland

Sunday 3 December 2023 20:50 , Lydia Patrick

Mapped - Weather warnings

Sunday 3 December 2023 20:20 , Lydia Patrick

Man ‘freezes to death while sleeping in car’ as cold snap hits UK

Sunday 3 December 2023 19:50 , Lydia Patrick

A homeless man is believed to have frozen to death inside a car as he sheltered from temperatures as low as -10C over the weekend.

The man, who has not been identified, was reportedly found dead inside a black Renault in Beeston, Nottinghamshire, on Friday 1 December.

Nottinghamshire Police confirmed it was called to the scene after it received reports of a man’s “sudden death”. It is investigating the circumstances.

Police officers were captured on video, which was circulated on X, gathering around the vehicle which was covered in frost and ice.

A picture also showed a police officer leaning inside the vehicle as another stood beside it wearing a pair of disposable gloves.

Man ‘freezes to death’ while sleeping in car amid cold weather

Second ‘homeless’ man dead amid bitter cold

Sunday 3 December 2023 19:37 , Lydia Patrick

A man who was believed to be homeless has been found dead in a doorway in Manchester City Centre, report the Mirror.

Last night, temperatures dropped to below freezing across the country, plummeting to-12C in some parts of the UK.

The death comes as another man was discovered lifeless in his car after he was believed to have frozen to death overnight in his car on Friday 1 December.

Greater Manchester Police told the Mirror emergency services were called to Bloom Street in Manchester’s Gay Village at 10.20am this morning, and the man was ‘declared deceased’ at the scene.

They say the death is not being treated as suspicious.

Another new snow warning just in

Sunday 3 December 2023 19:25 , Lydia Patrick

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning of snow for higher parts of Wales and the Peak District from 6pm on Sunday to 12pm on Monday.

The weather service said snow may lead to localised disruption with “some roads and railways likely to be affected with longer journey times by road, bus and train services”.

In its warning, the Met Office said rain will likely fall as snow to relatively low levels for a time on Monday evening and tonight across parts of northern England at first, giving a few centimetres of additional cover locally.

It added that snow should then become confined to the higher parts of northern and central Wales, as well as northern England with time, leading to “accumulations of 2-5cm on some roads above around 150m, and perhaps 10-15cm on roads above around 350m”.

Free food for those left without power in Cumbria

Sunday 3 December 2023 19:06 , Lydia Patrick

Electricity North West the supply company battling the elements to restore electricity to 2,000 homes in Cumbria are offering free food to those without power.

Engineers have been able to restore power to 5,000 homes so far, says the company.

They shared on Facebook: “We will have a food truck at PENNINGTON CHURCH LA12 7NY from 4pm. You can get chips, burgers and chicken wraps from here free of charge for anyone who does not have a power supply. Please only travel if you feel it is safe to do so.”

ICYMI - Thousands without electricity in Cumbria as people rescued from snowbound cars

Sunday 3 December 2023 18:20 , Lydia Patrick

More than 2,500 people in Cumbria were without electricity on Sunday morning, as the county’s fire and rescue service said it worked through the night to rescue drivers from cars trapped in deep snow.

Power cuts followed Saturday’s heavy snow in Cumbria, with the Met Office issuing new weather warnings for across the UK on Sunday morning.

The Met Office said last night saw the coldest temperatures since last winter, with minus 12.5C recorded in Altnaharra in the Highland region of northern Scotland.

Meteorologist Tom Morgan said unofficial reports indicated there was “comfortably in excess of 20cm, probably in excess of 30cm, of snow across the Windermere and Coniston area of the South Lakes and also down towards Ambleside and the far south of Cumbria”.

He told the PA news agency: “It was quite an unusual situation that led to it because it became slow moving and gave the same areas of south Cumbria hour after hour of heavy snow and that’s what led to the significant disruption there.”

The Met Office meteorologist said the weather on Sunday had “turned a bit milder in the south”, but added it was “still cold further north across the UK and there’s going to be some further wintry showers and ice as we go through tonight”.

“It is turning milder later this week so there is an end in sight to the wintry weather,” he added.

Electricity North West’s list of live power cuts showed that 2,508 customers were affected across Cumbria at 10am, including 256 in Lowick, South Lakeland.

In most cases, the electricity operator estimated that power would be restored at 10pm on Sunday.

In a post on social media, Electricity North West said: “Access is difficult and our teams are using 4x4s to try to reach sections of the damaged network.”

Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service (CFRS) said a multi-agency response was ongoing after Cumbria Police declared a major incident in the county on Saturday in response to heavy snowfall on roads.

Tonight’s forecast

Sunday 3 December 2023 17:50 , Lydia Patrick

Rain and blustery are expected across England and Wales, becoming more persistent overnight and turning more wintry over the high ground of north Wales and the southern Pennines, says the Met Office.

Those in the north can expect wintry showers and temperatures will remain cold.

Engineers battling horrendous conditions to restore power

Sunday 3 December 2023 17:22 , Lydia Patrick

Engineers from Electricity North West are battling treacherous conditions brought by overnight snow to restore power to customers affected across Cumbria.

Heavy snow has caused widespread disruption across the county and yesterday evening, a major incident was declared by police.

Teams of engineers are working to restore power as quickly and as safely as possible to just over 2,000 properties and have already restored power to nearly 5,000 customers, say Electricity North West.

Access issues are a major problem with many roads impassable and only specialist 4x4 vehicles can currently be used, added the electricity company.

Stephanie Trubshaw, Electricity North West’s customer director, said: “These are without a doubt some of the worst conditions we have seen in terms of snow for several years.

“Teams worked into the night restoring power to customers, but as the snow continued to fall, further damage was caused to the network.

“Driving conditions are incredibly difficult and we are having issues with access across large areas of Cumbria, particularly in South Lakes.

“I want to stress that our teams will work around the clock to ensure power is restored. If you need to report a power cut or need additional support, please call us on 105 and if you need urgent help in a life-threating situation call 999.”

Update on ‘major incident’ in Cumbria

Sunday 3 December 2023 16:50 , Lydia Patrick

Road networks are continuing to experience challenging conditions following heavy snowfall yesterday and icy conditions today, say Cumbria Police.Agencies are continuing to urge people not to travel unless it is necessary and a yellow ice warning will be in place from 5pm until 12pm tomorrow.

According to the Police, extensive work has been carried out by council highway teams to cleat the roads.Superintendent Andy Wilkinson, Cumbria Constabulary, said: “We are continuing to see challenges on our road networks.“Extensive work has been carried out by highways teams to clear snow and make priority routes passable. Due to the cold temperatures, there is a significant risk that some areas will be impacted by black ice.“Once again, we are asking people to only travel if necessary. Similarly, we are asking people not to visit the county today if your journey is not necessary in order to keep people safe on our roads.”

Mapped: Snow and ice Met Office warnings as UK hit by overnight freeze

Sunday 3 December 2023 16:21 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The UK has been hit by a wave of snow and ice this weekend as a major incident was declared and flights were grounded.

The coldest overnight temperature this winter was recorded in northern Scotland, the Met Office said, as Altnaharra in the Highland region dropped to -12.5C.

It comes as thousands of people across Cumbria woke up without power on Sunday morning after heavy snowfall affected Electricity North West’s service.

Mapped: Snow and ice Met Office warnings as UK hit by overnight freeze

‘It feels like you’re walking through the Alps'

Sunday 3 December 2023 16:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Ambleside resident Harrison Ward said the snow was the heaviest he had seen during eight years of living in the Cumbrian town, adding that lots of people had abandoned their vehicles on Saturday as they “tried to find refuge”.

Mr Ward, who works as an outdoor cook, told the PA news agency: “It really feels like you’re walking through the Alps or some ski resort at the moment.”

He added: “Once a few cars have stopped or crashed or been abandoned, then it all comes to a halt.”

What are the weather warnings in place today?

Sunday 3 December 2023 15:32 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Yellow - Snow & ice

In place from 5pm today until noon tomorrow

Central, Tayside & Fife, Grampian, Highlands & Eilean Siar, Orkney & Shetland, SW Scotland, Lothian Borders, Strathclyde

Yellow - Ice

In place from 5pm today until noon tomorrow

East Midlands, East of England, North East England, North West England, Wales, West Midlands, Yorkshire & Humber

Mapped: Snow and ice Met Office warnings as UK hit by overnight freeze

Sunday 3 December 2023 15:07 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The UK has been hit by a wave of snow and ice this weekend as a major incident was declared and flights were grounded.

The coldest overnight temperature this winter was recorded in northern Scotland, the Met Office said, as Altnaharra in the Highland region dropped to -12.5C.

It comes as thousands of people across Cumbria woke up without power on Sunday morning after heavy snowfall affected Electricity North West’s service.

Mapped: Snow and ice Met Office warnings as UK hit by overnight freeze

‘30 minute journey took nine hours in snow'

Sunday 3 December 2023 14:40 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Kendal resident Hannah Smith said she had never seen such heavy snow in Ambleside and Grasmere.

It took Ms Smith nine hours to return home to Kendal from Grasmere on Saturday night - a journey which usually takes under 30 minutes by car in normal weather conditions.

She said she decided to abandon her car and walk to the nearest train station in Windermere after waiting in traffic with two eight-year-old children for four-and-a-half hours on Saturday night.

The communications manager told the PA news agency: “Rather than sleeping on the floor of a church or a community centre, we were just going to walk as long as it takes to get near the train station.

“We were quite lucky in that sense because the kids had walking boots and we knew they could walk.”

2,508 customers affected by power cuts across Cumbria

Sunday 3 December 2023 14:19 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Electricity North West’s list of live power cuts showed that 2,508 customers were affected across Cumbria at 10am, including 256 in Lowick, South Lakeland.

In most cases, the electricity operator estimated that power would be restored at 10pm on Sunday.

In a post on social media, Electricity North West said: “Access is difficult and our teams are using 4x4s to try to reach sections of the damaged network.”

Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service (CFRS) said a multi-agency response was ongoing after Cumbria Police declared a major incident in the county on Saturday in response to heavy snowfall on roads.

In a post on social media on Sunday morning, it said: “CFRS have been working through the night rescuing people from their cars trapped in deep snow.

“Please do not travel unless necessary as many roads are still affected with snow and ice.”

Coldest temperatures this winter recorded overnight at -12.5C

Sunday 3 December 2023 13:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The Met Office said last night saw the coldest temperatures since last winter, with minus 12.5C recorded in Altnaharra in the Highland region of northern Scotland.

Meteorologist Tom Morgan said unofficial reports indicated there was “comfortably in excess of 20cm, probably in excess of 30cm, of snow across the Windermere and Coniston area of the South Lakes and also down towards Ambleside and the far south of Cumbria”.

He told the PA news agency: “It was quite an unusual situation that led to it because it became slow moving and gave the same areas of south Cumbria hour after hour of heavy snow and that’s what led to the significant disruption there.”

The Met Office meteorologist said the weather on Sunday had “turned a bit milder in the south”, but added it was “still cold further north across the UK and there’s going to be some further wintry showers and ice as we go through tonight”.

Cold spell to ease for some, Met Office says

Sunday 3 December 2023 13:09 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

While several weather warnings remain, a change to less cold conditions is underway for some, the Met Office has said.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Jason Kelly, said: “The first Atlantic airmass for a while is making some inroads across southern and central parts of the country bringing less cold conditions to many southern areas, whilst the cold airmass continues to hold on in the north.

“Where these two airmasses meet is the focus for continuing ice risk. For parts of northeast Scotland, wintry showers will bring some icy conditions overnight, as well as some accumulating snow inland.

“However further south rain will become the main hazard and a yellow warning for rain had been issued for Monday for parts of the South West. Warnings may well be updated over the coming days so keep up to date with the forecast in your area.”

Met Office forecast for Sunday afternoon

Sunday 3 December 2023 12:45 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

In pictures: Snow-covered peaks

Sunday 3 December 2023 12:22 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Snow grounds dozens of flights at Amsterdam airport

Sunday 3 December 2023 11:57 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Dozens of flights to and from Amsterdam Schiphol airport were cancelled on Sunday due to snowfall expected to reach the Netherlands in the afternoon.

Schiphol’s website around midday indicated almost 150 incoming and outgoing flights had been cancelled. Dutch airline KLM, the airport’s main user, told Dutch news agency ANP it had scrapped 65 European flights in the afternoon and evening.

From snowmen to stunning woodlands

Sunday 3 December 2023 11:41 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Yellow warning for rain for Monday for parts of UK

Sunday 3 December 2023 11:33 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for rain from midnight until 6pm on Monday in parts of southern England, South Wales and the south-west Midlands.

In its warning, the weather service said the heavy rain is “likely to cause some disruption to travel” and that the flooding of a few homes and businesses is possible.

The Met Office said it expects 20mm-30mm (0.8in-1.2in) of rain to fall widely, with a few places seeing as much as 60mm (2.4in).

Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service ‘rescuing people trapped in cars in deep snow'

Sunday 3 December 2023 11:22 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service (CFRS) said a multi-agency response was ongoing after Cumbria Police declared a major incident in the county on Saturday in response to heavy snowfall on roads.

In a post on social media on Sunday morning, it said: “CFRS have been working through the night rescuing people from their cars trapped in deep snow.

“Please do not travel unless necessary as many roads are still affected with snow and ice.”

Racing: Fairyhouse and Carlisle fit to race as heavy snow puts damper on Leicester and Southwell meetings

Sunday 3 December 2023 10:52 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Fairyhouse and Carlisle have been given the green light to race this afternoon, but the meetings at Leicester and Southwell have been lost to the cold weather.

Day two of the Fairyhouse Winter Festival, which features a trio of Grade One contests, has survived the threat of frost and a dense fog.

Clerk of the course Brendan Sheridan said: “The fog has lifted, even a little earlier than Met Eireann said it would, which is great.

“You can see the full length of the straight here now and you can also see right around Ballyhack.

“As you know, fog is a bit tricky and it can come and go, but at this point in time, we don’t envisage any more problems.

“We’re in a good place now and we’re all good to go.”

Sheridan had earlier reported on the IHRB Twitter site: “Thankfully, the frost didn’t set in overnight.

“The ground on both tracks is soft. We’ve a completely fresh hurdles and bumper track and we’ve seven or eight yards of fresh ground on the chase track.”

Parts of Cumbria were hit by heavy snowfall overnight but Carlisle passed an early-morning inspection, although racegoers have been warned to be careful on the surrounding roads.

Southwell’s ‘bumpers for jumpers’ card had to be called off after three inches of snow on the track and surrounding areas proved too much to clear.

Leicester were forced to abandon their National Hunt meeting due to the current cold snap.

Village halls turn into bunkers as cars abandoned on standstill roads

Sunday 3 December 2023 10:40 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Cumbria local Harrison Ward shared what seems to be an idyllic photo of snowed-in Ambleside Parish Centre on X.

But that’s far from the reality. He wrote: “Beautiful for those with planned stays. Less so for those bunkered down in the village halls right now. Roads still shut, don’t travel here.

“Roads at a standstill with abandoned cars as it is.”

In pictures: Snow turns North York Moors National Park into a winter wonderland

Sunday 3 December 2023 10:08 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Lincolnshire Police warn drivers ‘some roads are unpassable'

Sunday 3 December 2023 09:56 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Lincolnshire Police said snow had affected driving conditions, particularly in the east of the county.

The force said in a message posted on X: “We’re advising people to avoid driving on our roads due to heavy snow overnight across the county.

“Some roads are unpassable in Lincoln and heading to the east coast. If you have to drive, take time, leave plenty of space from the car in front, and go carefully.”

Heavy snow causes power cuts in Cumbria

Sunday 3 December 2023 09:37 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The heavy snowfall has caused powercuts in the north as Electricity North West has said they are “responding to the incident caused by the weather”.

The company’s website shows 26 live power cuts in Cumbria which affects around 2,500 people.

Cumbria Police continue to urge caution amid heavy snowfall

Sunday 3 December 2023 09:17 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Cumbria Police has urged people not to travel to the county as heavy snow lashes down in the region.

Three weather warnings in place today

Sunday 3 December 2023 09:05 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

There are three weather warnings in place today:

Yellow- Snow and ice:

In place until noon today.

East Midlands, North East England, North West England, Wales, West Midlands, Yorkshire & Humber

Yellow - Ice:

In place until 11am today

North East England, North West England, SW Scotland, Lothian Borders, Yorkshire & Humber

Yellow - Snow & ice:

In place from 5pm today until 12pm tomorrow.

Central, Tayside & Fife, Grampian, Highlands & Eilean Siar, Orkney & Shetland, SW Scotland, Lothian Borders, Strathclyde

East Midlands Airport close runway due to heavy snowfall

Sunday 3 December 2023 08:47 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

East Midlands Airport has been forced to close their runway due to heavy snowfall on the ground.

Cumbria police declare major incident and urge people not to travel after heavy snowfall

Sunday 3 December 2023 08:33 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Cumbria Police has urged people not to travel to the county on Sunday after it declared a major incident because of heavy snowfall on the county’s roads.

The force said a multi-agency response was ongoing on Saturday evening to “minimise the challenges that heavy snowfall is continuing to have on the county’s road network”.

It has urged people not to travel to the county on Sunday unless necessary, adding that some highway teams had been “verbally abused” as they attempted to deal with the situation.

In a post on social media, Cumbria Police said: “A yellow weather warning for ice is in place for tomorrow morning which will have a continued impact on Cumbria’s roads.

“We would also urge people not to travel to the county tomorrow unless necessary.”

Motorist urged to ‘slow down'

Sunday 3 December 2023 08:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The Central Motorway Police Group has urged motorists to drive safely and slow down on the icy roads.

The unit covers police forces in Staffordshire and the West Midlands.

“There is wide spread snow on the motorway network, please slow down! We are dealing with a large number of traffic collisions caused by the weather,” it said.

Driver stuck on the highway for 5 hours

Sunday 3 December 2023 07:28 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A driver said he was stuck between Ambleside and Windermere for more than five hours with his family as heavy snow brought the traffic to a standstill.

The driver, who wished to remain anonymous, told the PA news agency: “We’ve had no communication from any of the authorities and we’ve not seen a single gritter trying to free anyone.

“My wife and four-year-old had to walk two miles - there were cars driving on the wrong side of the road that caused more jams.”

Cumbria Police said the M6 southbound between J38 and J37 was blocked due to jackknifed lorries and that the A595 between Millom and Furness was impassable.

Disabled woman stranded in snow

Sunday 3 December 2023 07:00 , Lydia Patrick

A woman was stranded for four hours after getting stuck in the snow.

Linda Reynolds, 70, was travelling with her grandchildren and husband when they got stuck in the snow travelling from Ambleside to Cartmel.

“I have an automatic car, because I’ve had a stroke- it was jumping into higher gears, it was spinning around.

“Four or five men were trying to push me up this hill.

“I was in sheer panic, I wanted to cry,” she explained.

The worried grandmother said she was advised by police to go to a nearby hotel since she relies on a mobility scooter which could not get her through the snow to the refuge centre at Ambleside Parish Centre.

The police and RAC could not get their cars to her, adds Ms Reynolds.

The 70-year-old says she is lucky to be able to stay in the Langdale Chase Hotel but is worried about paying the bill for the stay next month, however she had no other option since all routes home were blocked.

She says her other daughter and grandchildren who were travelling in a different car walked an hour away to Ambleside Parish Centre who are providing emergency shelter.

All travellers have had to abandon their cars in the road.

Met office says 5-10cm snow in fourth yellow warning

Sunday 3 December 2023 06:30 , Shweta Sharma

Met office has issued a yellow warning for snow across eastern parts of England is in place until 7am today.

It was the fourth yellow warning, this time for snow.

It said “heavy snow may cause disruption with 5-10cm of snow expected for 2-3hours”.