An elderly man was found “cold but uninjured” by mountain rescue volunteers after getting lost during the first major snowfall of the winter.
A severe weather warning was issued by the Met Office on Monday night after temperatures fell to lows of nearly -3C (27F) and areas across the north of England experienced up to 13cm of snow. The warning was lifted at 10am on Wednesday.
South Yorkshire police said a search operation was launched after the 77-year-old strayed from a path around Langsett reservoir, north of Sheffield, on Tuesday. A spokesman said the terrible weather conditions meant helicopters could not be used and mountain rescue teams were called in to help.
Insp Simon Owens said: “Without the massive help offered from mountain rescue, who sent 30 people out to help us look for this vulnerable man, this man may have succumbed to the cold weather.
“Thanks to them, the man was found a couple of hours later – cold but uninjured. They helped us save a life yesterday evening and I wish to publicly thank them for their support.”
The Met Office warned on Tuesday that snow was expected in the Midlands, the north and Scotland and that there was a risk of gales of up to 50mph developing in the south-west on Wednesday before moving along the Channel.
Highways England issued an amber “be aware” alert for the north and Midlands in anticipation of the heavy rain turning to sleet and snow. They warned drivers to check the forecast before setting out and ensure they have a winter kit in their vehicles.
Oli Claydon, a Met Office spokesman, said a band of precipitation moving west to east and cooler temperatures had created “the specific conditions that bring snow” in areas across western Scotland, south-west Scotland and the north of England.
In Copley, West Yorkshire, and Middlesmoor, North Yorkshire, 13cm of snow was recorded at 9am on Wednesday and 7cm was also recorded in Bingley, West Yorkshire. The coldest temperature, -5.6C, was recorded on the Cairngorm plateau. On lower ground a temperature of -2.7C was recorded in Pershore in Worcestershire.
Eight flights were cancelled at Leeds Bradford airport as snowploughs worked to clear the runway and the Snake Pass road, linking Manchester and Sheffield, was closed between 4am and 6am. On Tuesday, the AA said it had experienced the busiest day of the year so far with more than 10,000 calls.
Claydon said that the snow was moving east towards the North Sea, leaving scattered showers behind it. He said there would be no further snow on lower ground for the time being, but that areas in the north could experience more wintery rainfall.
“As you’d expect at this time of year, the higher hills and peaks in Scotland and further up north would potentially continue to expect flurries of snow, but in terms of the wider picture of snow, that’s it for the moment,” said Claydon.
