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Summary
More sleet and snow are expected across southern England and south Wales today, while scattered snow and hail showers will affect Scotland’s northern coasts as the Arctic blast intensifies.
Temperatures at Kinbrace in the Highlands dropped to -15.4C overnight, making it the coldest night of the year so far, the Met Office has said.
Bristol airport has temporarily grounded all flights due to heavy snowfall in the area.
Forecasters expect nighttime sub-zero temperatures in all four UK nations until at least Friday. The Met Office issued several yellow weather warnings for snow and ice that it said may lead to injuries from slips and falls and could cause travel disruption.
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Dozens of flights have been cancelled in the south of England due to snow after the coldest night of the year.
The Met Office said temperatures at Kinbrace in the Highlands dropped to a UK low of -15.4C overnight, and snow was on the way for much of the country for the rest of the week.
Bristol airport was temporarily closed for “snow-clearing operations”, with morning flights cancelled, and passengers at other airports in the south of England were facing delays.
Forecasters expect nighttime sub-zero temperatures in all four UK nations until at least Friday. The Met Office issued several yellow weather warnings for snow and ice that it said may lead to injuries from slips and falls and could cause travel disruption.
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The coldest night of the year in the UK has been recorded after temperatures at Kinbrace in the Highlands plummeted to -15.2C, the Met Office has said.
It has issued several yellow weather warnings for snow and ice, with forecasters saying the snowfall will continue until Friday in most places.
Whether you are in the Highlands or the south, we want to hear about how you have been affected by the weather. Have you had to cancel plans?
Please do send in your photos.
Updated
Dozens of flights have been suspended in the south of England due to snowfall after the coldest night of the year on Tuesday.
PA Media reports that Bristol airport has temporarily closed for “snow-clearing operations” with morning flights cancelled. Delays are also affecting passengers at other airports in the south of England.
Forecasters have predicted nighttime sub-zero temperatures in all four UK nations until at least Friday.
After a “very chilly” start to Wednesday, the Met Office issued several yellow weather warnings for snow and ice, which may lead to injuries from slips and falls and cause travel disruption.
At least 27 flights due to depart from Bristol airport on Wednesday morning have been affected by snow, while several arrivals have been diverted to Birmingham.
A spokesperson said “additional staff are on site to assist with the adverse weather response” and passengers had been advised to check with their airline prior to arriving at the airport.
Gatwick airport said some passengers experienced minor delays on Wednesday morning but “the airport is open and flights are operating”.
Network Rail is advising passengers to check their journeys in advance due to the Met Office warnings, However, a spokesperson said there has been no significant weather-related disruption on the lines so far.
The warnings for Wednesday covered northern and eastern Scotland until 10am, and Northern Ireland and southern England until 9am.
Forecasters have said in most places the snowfall will continue until Friday, with a yellow warning covering all of the UK north of Birmingham in place from 3am on Thursday until 6pm on Friday.
A yellow warning for snow and ice was also issued for London and the south from midnight on Wednesday until 9am on Thursday.
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Bristol airport temporarily grounds flights
Bristol airport has temporarily grounded all flights due to heavy snowfall in the area.
In a statement posted on social media, the airport said it was suspending flights until 11am.
The Bristol Airport teams are working hard on snow clearing operations, but as the snow continues to fall, flight operations have been suspended until 1100. For the latest flight information please check with your airline. pic.twitter.com/IFaFw4QuuR
— Bristol Airport (@BristolAirport) March 8, 2023
It said: “The Bristol airport teams are working hard on snow clearing operations but, as the snow continues to fall, flight operations have been suspended until 1100.
“For the latest flight information please check with your airline.”
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Coldest night of the year so far has been recorded in Scotland
Temperatures at Kinbrace in the Highlands dropped to -15.4C overnight, making it the coldest night of the year so far, the Met Office has said.
A reading of minus 15.2C was initially recorded at Kinbrace in the Highlands on Tuesday night, and the temperature in the area has since decreased further.
PA reports that Night-time sub-zero climes are predicted in all four UK nations until at least Friday.
Following a “very chilly” start to Wednesday, the Met Office has issued several yellow weather warnings for snow and ice which may lead to injuries from slips and falls and cause travel disruption.
The warnings for Wednesday cover northern and eastern Scotland until 10am, and Northern Ireland and southern England until 9am.
Forecasters have said in most places the snowfall will continue until Friday, with a yellow warning for snow covering all of the UK north of Birmingham spanning from 3am on Thursday until 6pm on Friday.
A yellow warning for snow and ice also covers London and the south from midnight on Wednesday until 9am on Thursday.
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Scottish ski slopes are preparing for what could be the biggest week of the year as snow continues to blanket them with fresh powder.
PA reports:
More than 10cm of snow fell in northern Scotland on Monday and 20cm more could fall later in the week as a cold snap brings snow, ice, wind and rain.
But as motorists despair at the potential disruption to roads, skiers and snowboarders look set to rejoice with the blanketing bucking February’s mild weather.
Alison Grove, of Snowsport Scotland, said there was “a lot of pent-up demand for snowsports” north of the border, “especially as so many people who would normally travel abroad to ski have chosen not to because of the cost-of-living crisis and poor snow in the Alps”.
“Looking at the forecast, this could be our biggest week of the year,” she said.
“A lot of people have been watching the forecast with bated breath – this is just what we’ve been waiting for.
“December’s cold snap caught us unprepared but everyone across the mountain ranges is preparing for an influx of visitors in the days ahead.”
Mountain ranges in the east, including Cairngorm Mountain, Glenshee Ski Centre and The Lecht, look set to benefit most from the change in the weather.
And, Scotland’s governing body for snowsports said, given the possibility of heavy snow in the west there could also be some limited skiing and snowboarding at Nevis Range and Glencoe.
Snow machines have kept beginner slopes open in most ranges this year, but a lack of snowfall last month saw Snowsport Scotland being forced to cancel events this season.
With the heavy downfalls expected there was renewed optimism that upcoming events, including the Scottish Slopestyle Championships on March 26, could get the go-ahead.
Simon Burnside, of The Lect Ski Centre, said he and his team were now working around the clock to prepare for an expected surge in visitors.
“We’ve been encouraged by what we’ve seen in the last 24 hours, and looking forward to the next 48 hours, we’re excited for the next blast of winter,” he said.
“Snowfall has filled in some runs, but more is required.
“The guys are excited – if it’s a good weekend and we get the good runs open we could be looking forward to the best weekend of the year.”
The UK Health Security Agency has published a warning about how cold weather can provide a risk to older and more vulnerable people.
Cold weather can have serious consequences for health, and older people and those with heart and lung conditions can be particularly at risk.
— UK Health Security Agency (@UKHSA) March 7, 2023
More info ➡ https://t.co/a0lTULis5x#ColdWeather #StayWellThisWinter pic.twitter.com/O1bjGks5of
The Met Office has said snow and ice will affect some areas of the country this morning, while there will be a mixture of rain and in southern areas.
⚠️ Snow and ice will affect some areas of the country on Wednesday morning, so it's worth leaving extra time for your journey to work or school
— Met Office (@metoffice) March 7, 2023
A mixture of rain and #snow in southern areas, but much drier and sunnier across the northern half of the UK after a very frosty start pic.twitter.com/9yce3eRpkA
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Here are some pictures of the arctic conditions seen across the UK.
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Good morning.
More sleet and snow is expected across southern England and south Wales on Wednesday while scattered snow and hail showers will affect Scotland’s northern coasts as the Arctic blast intensifies.
The Met Office’s early morning radar showed an area of rain moving in from the south and west which was starting to turn increasingly to sleet and snow as it pushed north and east.
The conditions are expected to bring more snow and ice throughout the UK, the Met Office said.
The forecasting body’s chief meteorologist, Matthew Lehnert, said the weather could cut off rural communities in the north and impact travel over the next few days across southern England and south Wales.
A number of national severe warnings for snow and ice were issued, with the Met Office saying further warnings, or updates to the current warnings, are “very likely”.
Lehnert said: “Snow, ice and low temperatures are the main themes of this week’s forecast, with the UK under an Arctic maritime air mass.
“Snow could lead to some travel disruption, with a chance some rural communities in the north could be cut off.
“The focus for the snow moves to southern England and south Wales tomorrow and some may wake up to a few centimetres of snow, with the south coast and far south-west likely to see a mix of rain and sleet. Further snow and hail showers are also expected along northern coasts, especially in northern Scotland.”
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