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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Zamira Rahim

UK weather: Snow and ice on the roads cause travel chaos nationwide as thousands left without power

Britain's big freeze will continue this weekend, with heavy snow likely to cause significant travel disruption.

Saturday night could be the coldest night of the winter so far, the Met Office warned, with temperatures likely to fall to -16C in Scotland. 

A yellow weather warning for snow and ice remains in place for large parts of the UK.

Here is how we covered the day's events

Welcome to our live coverage of the continuing winter weather across the UK.
The big freeze continues, with further snow likely today in the far north, far west and east of the UK. 
 
Saturday night could be the coldest night of the winter so far, with lows of -16C expected in Scotland. 
 
Temperatures this morning are only a little higher, dipping to -8.3C at Shap in Cumbria.
 
People travelling through Bristol airport this morning should prepare for further delays.
 
Staff there are working to de-ice aircraft. 
 


 
Bristol has been badly hit by the wintry weather in the south west.
 
This is a lovely shot of Queen's Square, right in the city centre.
 
 
Kent Police have had an "incredibly busy night", dealing with multiple vehicles stuck on the A21.
 
The road only opened at 2am as sleet and snow in the area continued into the early hours of Saturday morning.
 
Drivers were also left stranded on the A229 and A249.
 

London City Airport is expected to operate as normal today, after staff closed the runway late on Friday to clear accumulating snow. 
 

There are two yellow weather warnings in place across the UK today. 
 
A warning for snow and ice is in place over large parts of Britain, including eastern England, northern Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, until noon.
 
A second warning for icy stretches is in place over the south east until 11am.
 
There is some disruption to flights at Cardiff airport "due to adverse weather".
 
Passengers are advised to check flight times with their airlines.
 

 
Loch Ard, in Stirling, Scotland, looked particularly beautiful yesterday after some overnight snowfall.
 
 
Travel disruption continues in Kent today, after snow and large numbers of fallen trees blocked the A2045.
 
Tree surgeons are on site this morning, trying to clear the road.
 


 
 
 
The Met Office says it will be a cold and crisp start for many this morning, with wintry showers expected in the northern and eastern parts of the UK. 
 


 
Temperatures across the south tonight could plummet to "negative double figures".
 
"Across the bulk of the UK, [it's] going to be really cold," said Alex Burkill, a meteorologist at the Met Office.
 
He added that temperatures in Benson, Oxfordshire could reach -10C.
 
Kent Police officers were hard at work last night on the A249.
 
The road was closed overnight due to snow but has now reopened.
 
 
 
 
If temperatures on Saturday night drop below -15.8C, as expected, it will be the coldest winter night since 2010. 
 
"Temperatures overnight fall quite quickly over lying snow," said Simon Partridge, a forecaster at the Met Office.
 
"But most of the country will wake to dry and bright conditions on Sunday morning."
Gritters from Highways England worked overnight into Saturday to keep the roads treated, after snow and sleet caused havoc in the Kent and Hampshire.
 
The organisation said that 14 gritters, with snow ploughs attached, worked to clear the M3 in Hampshire between junctions five and eight. The road was cleared by 1.30am.
 
"We have every sympathy for drivers who found themselves stranded in the severe weather," Robert Bell, operations manager for Highways England South East, said.
Farmers in Hampshire helped to plough rural roads blocked with snow last night, according to the county council.
 

 
Drivers In Basingstoke were left stranded last night after heavy snowfall caused gridlock in the area.
 
 
The big freeze continues this weekend, leading to a wet, windy and unsettled Monday. 
 
Read our latest weather forecast below: 
 
Saturday afternoon is likely to be chilly, with some sunshine and wintry showers, according to the Met Office.
 

Hampshire Police have asked drivers to take care due to potentially icy roads. 
 
All routes in the area are otherwise open.
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