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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Adam Forrest, Joe Sommerlad

UK weather - live updates: Met Office extends heavy snow warnings as band of rain and sleet moves eastwards across Britain

Bitterly cold temperatures hit Britain and a blanket of snow swept across the country on Tuesday, causing schools to close and widespread travel disruption.

The Met Office put severe weather warnings for snow and ice across most of the UK into Wednesday morning. Meteorologists also extended snow and ice warnings to cover Thursday and Friday.

Many parts of the country, including northern England, Scotland and the South West, woke to thick snow and icy conditions on Tuesday morning.

It forced the Highland Council to close 13 primary schools and nurseries, while pupils in north Wales were also told to stay home.

A motorist in the Highlands was stopped by police and handed a fixed penalty notice in the early hours after they were caught driving a snow-covered car with just a small square of windscreen cleared.

Police in Cumbria also urged motorists to slow down after tweeting an image of an overturned car lying on its roof on the M6.

Forecasters warned that Britain is facing “very significant snowfall” for the rest of this week, with temperatures plummet to at least -10C in parts of Scotland on Tuesday night, while a “bitingly cold” Wednesday is set to reach highs of 2C or 3C in some places.

See below for the day's developments

Hello and welcome to The Independent's coverage of today's weather, as the heaviest snowfall seen so far this winter is forecast.
You join us as the Met Office warns up to 10cm of snow could fall on higher ground this week as temperatures drop across large parts of the UK.
 
Weather warnings for snow and ice have been issued and flurries reported in Glasgow overnight.
 
Around 0.4in to 1.2in (1cm-3cm) could accumulate on lower-lying levels, with the possibility of 2in to 4in (5cm-10cm) falling on higher ground, Marco Petagna of the Met Office said.
 
Four separate yellow weather warnings have been issued that cover most of the UK. Mr Petagna said London could see snow showers - but added they were unlikely to settle.
Temperatures fell as low as -7C in the Scottish Highlands overnight, while the capital was at just about freezing as large parts of the country woke up to frost.
During Tuesday morning, a band of rain is set to push from west to east that could fall as rain, sleet or snow, particularly at peaks in Wales and northern England and Scotland.
 
As the day progresses the wintry weather will move across the Midlands and into the south east.
 
Snow showers could return on Wednesday and there is a risk of further disruptive snow and ice to parts of the country towards the end of the week.
 
The weather warning for Northern Ireland - running from 5.30am until 10.30am on Tuesday - said ice may form causing potential problems on untreated roads.
 
The remaining three are for snow and ice, covering the western side of Scotland and into north west England until 12pm; central regions, Wales and the north east between 12pm and 11am on Wednesday, and the south east, East Anglia and London from 9pm on Tuesday until 12pm on Wednesday
Here's the Met's latest update:
Here's The Independent's ever-intrepid great outdoorsman Jon Sharman with the latest on today's snowpocalypse.
 
 

Met Office predicts 'hefty snow showers' as much of Britain faces 10cm covering

Tuesday set for heaviest snowfall of winter so far 'for most people'
And here's the scene on the M6 near the village of Shap in Cumbria this morning as a snowplow clears the road ahead of rush hour.
 
 
Police in Falkirk, Stirling, Clackmannanshire and Forth Valley in Scotland are warning drivers to travel with caution today as a result of the overnight snow:
​Here's the latest from Highways England:
Some attractive winter scenes from BBC Weather:
 
 
The Met Office has issued a new update on today's snow:
A look at the situation in Tan Hill in North Yorkshire this morning, as more snow is set to fall on higher ground.
 
 
The scene in Cumbria this morning courtesy of The Independent's Video team.
 
The current picture courtesy of the BBC's Carol Kirkwood.
 
Some dramatic GIF work from the Met Office here.
A lovely shot of the scene in Thwaite, North Yorkshire.
 
 
A cautionary tale from Scotland:
 
A motorist has been caught driving a snow-covered car with just a small square of windscreen cleared.
 
The driver was stopped by police on the A9 at Thurso, Caithness, in the Highlands in the early hours of Tuesday as snow and sleet fell across parts of the country.
 
The car's rear and side windows were completely covered with snow while only a small area had been cleared on the front windscreen.
 
Police issued the driver with a fixed penalty notice and warned other motorists to clear snow and ice from their vehicles before setting off.
 
They posted pictures of the snowy car on social media and said: "Winter has been biting for most of us this week, which means it is more important than ever that your vehicle is suitably prepared for the roads.
 
"Unfortunately not everyone follows this advice - officers on patrol stopped this car which was being driven on the A9 at Thurso in the early hours of this morning.
 
"Appropriate action has been taken against the driver in relation to road traffic offences.
 
"It is important before you set off to make sure your windows are clean, properly demisted and clear of all snow and ice before you drive."
Here's the picture of the aforementioned incident, courtesy of Police Scotland. Scary.
 
 
Some information on road closures from Derby County Council:
Manchester Airport is meanwhile advising passengers to check the status of their flights before setting out while treacherous driving conditions are being reported on the M6 towards Cumbria and on the M62.
 
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