A fresh yellow weather warning issued by the Met Office has raised concerns across the UK, particularly in the Midlands, Yorkshire, and north and central Wales. Forecasters anticipate significant impacts on roads and railways, cautioning the public to travel only when necessary. Cumbria has declared a “major incident” due to heavy snowfalls, urging people to exercise caution, especially in the South Lakes and Millom area.
The M6 southbound between J38 and J37 is currently blocked due to jack-knifed lorries, and the A595 between Millom and Furness is impassable. National Highways is actively addressing a large number of stranded vehicles, primarily on the M6 between J38 and J40. Police report multiple instances of vehicles stuck in traffic due to snow, prompting a swift response to clear roads for affected individuals.
An amber alert for snow in Cumbria warns of potential accumulations of 10cm to 15cm, with additional showers expected overnight. BBC Weather forecaster Stav Danaos predicts temperatures as low as -11C in northern Scotland overnight. The wintry mix in eastern England and south-east Scotland is expected to give way to less cold weather on Sunday, but wetter and windier conditions are forecasted for Monday.
Glasgow Airport experienced disruptions, grounding all flights temporarily on Saturday morning due to heavier-than-forecast snow. Despite efforts to resume operations, passengers are advised to check with their airlines for potential ongoing disruptions.
The Met Office extends the weather warning to include ice, covering London, the east of England, the West Midlands, and parts of south Wales from midnight to 0800 on Sunday. Rain or sleet on frozen surfaces poses a risk of injuries from slipping and falling, with possible travel disruption and rural communities facing the potential of becoming cut off.
The adverse weather conditions have impacted sporting events, with numerous football matches in the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) postponed. The FA Cup tie between Alfreton Town and Walsall was called off last minute, as was Crewe Alexandra’s match against Bristol Rovers. The high-profile racing fixture at Newcastle was abandoned due to snow on the track.
As the Met Office’s yellow weather warning persists into Sunday, the UK Health Security Agency maintains an amber cold-health alert for five regions in England until December 5. Cold weather may affect the entire health service, posing a risk to the population. Meanwhile, heavy snow disrupts travel in Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic, with predictions of substantial snowfall in the region.
