Heavy overnight snow is causing disruption across the UK as the cold start to the new year continues.
Two amber weather warnings from the Met Office have been put in place in England and Wales, with 3cm to 7cm of snowfall predicted for much of the affected area, mixing with rain at times in lower-lying areas.
One amber warning for snow and freezing rain, which covers much of Wales and the Midlands as far north as Manchester, is in place until midday on Sunday.
Higher ground in Wales and the southern Pennines could see 15cm to 30cm of snow, the forecaster said, with milder air leading to a rapid thaw in the south of the warning area through Sunday.
The second amber warning for snow, covering most of northern England including Leeds, Sheffield and the Lake District, is in place until midnight on Sunday.
The Met Office said some rural communities could be cut off, with up to 40cm of snow on ground above 300m before conditions ease later on Sunday.
Manchester and Liverpool John Lennon Airport both closed their runways on Sunday morning due to heavy snow. Manchester said its teams are working to clear them “as quickly as possible”.
Manchester had reopened its runways by 10am and by 10.15am Liverpool had followed suit.
Leeds Bradford Airport has said its runway will remain closed, as of 1pm.
It comes hours after Birmingham Airport suspended operations for several hours overnight “for snow clearing and safety reasons”, but said it was on schedule for “business as usual” to start the morning.
Councils across London and southern England have activated emergency measures including additional accommodation to help rough sleepers stay safe during the cold snap.
If you have any snow pictures, please email them to william.mata@standard.co.uk
Weather causing problems in Germany
15:32 , Will MataSnow and ice were also causing havoc in Germany, where a bout of wintry weather is spreading from the southwest. Authorities have issued black ice warnings for drivers and pedestrians, advising people to stay home where possible.
Frankfurt airport canceled 120 of its 1,090 planned takeoffs and landings on Sunday, according to the Fraport press office. At Munich airport, only one runway was open while the other one was being cleared.
In Baden-Wuerttemberg, eight people were injured when a bus skidded off the road near the town of Hemmingen. Long-distance train connections also experienced irregularities in the Frankfurt area.
Roads closed after collisions in bad weather
15:05 , William MataSnow closed the A628 Woodhead Pass which connects Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire through the Peak District overnight in both directions between the A616 at Flouch and the A57 at Hollingworth.
The A66 in County Durham and Cumbria was closed between the M6 and A1M because of the conditions, while the A1 was closed southbound between the A639 North Elmsall and the A1(M)/A638 Doncaster in South Yorkshire due to a collision involving a car and and a HGV.
The M180 in Lincolnshire was closed westbound between J5 Grimsby and J4 Lincoln due to a serious collision.
Traffic was stopped on the A1M southbound between J61 Bowburn and J60 Bishop Auckland in County Durham due to stranded vehicles on the carriageway before being released just before 10.30am.
King and Queen brave weather in Sandringham walkabout
14:48 , Will MataThe King and Queen braved wintry weather to head to church in Sandringham amid heavy downpours.
The royal couple held umbrellas as they arrived at the Sunday church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Norfolk, with weather warnings in place for much of the UK.
Wearing a beige wool overcoat, Charles was greeted by Revd Canon Dr Paul Williams, rector for the Sandringham group of parishes, as he arrived for the service.
Camilla, wearing a brown dress coat with brown boots, held a transparent umbrella.
Leeds Bradford Airport confirms runway has reopened
14:38 , Will MataLeeds Bradford Airport confirmed shortly after 2.15pm that its runway had reopened and operations were resuming.
It said some disruption was expected to continue throughout the day due to a backlog of departing flights, but the airport expected the situation to "improve".
Manchester Airport says delays could continue
14:32 , Will MataManchester Airport said delays to some departures and arrivals are still possible as staff de-ice aircraft and clear walkways.
Leeds Bradford Airport said its runway would remain closed "until further notice" while it continues to mitigate heavy snowfall, after it had previously hoped to reopen at midday on Sunday.
It said access through its security could be temporarily restricted due to the high number of customers already in the departure lounge.
Leeds Bradford runway to remain closed
12:46 , Will MataLeeds Bradford Airport said its runway would remain closed "until further notice" while it continues to mitigate heavy snowfall.
In an update on its website, the airport said access through security may be temporarily restricted due to the number of customers already in its departure lounge.
It added its team were "working tirelessly" to clear the falling snow and it would reopen "as soon as it is safe to do so".
The airport had earlier said it was hoping to reopen its runway at midday.
Some more pictures of the snow!
12:14 , Will MataThanks for all the pictures - do keep them coming!
Streeting says withdrawing winter fuel might be unpopular
11:56 , Will MataWes Streeting has acknowledged withdrawing winter fuel payments from pensioners "might be unpopular" following health service advice to keep home heated during this weekend's cold snap,
The Health Secretary faced questions on Sunday about his advice to "turn the heating on", after heavy overnight snowfall of up to 12cm in parts of the country.
Conservative Party chairman Nigel Huddleston described the advice Mr Streeting gave on Friday as "cruel".
The Government last year axed universal payments of up to £300 to help with pensioners' heating bills, with the uplift now only available to claimants of certain benefits such as pension credit.
Asked whether his advice was "tactful", Mr Streeting said: "It is part of the advice that the NHS is giving to people during this cold snap to make sure that people are doing whatever they can to keep warm, to make sure, as we've been doing in the run-up to this winter, that people get vaccinated and so on.”
Orange warning for much of Ireland
11:46 , Will MataA status orange weather warning remains in place for 11 counties in the south of Ireland as up to 10cm of snow is expected to fall in some places.
Snow, ice, heavy rain and sleet swept over the island of Ireland with Met Eireann warning of further falls of snow later on Sunday.
Thousands of homes and businesses have been left without power overnight.
ESB Networks said that around 28,000 premises are without power as a result of the weather conditions.
How snow and ice affects rail travel
11:03 , Will MataGrand Central will not stop at Northallerton
10:25 , Will MataGrand Central has said none of its trains will call at Northallerton on Sunday due to bad weather.
“Grand Central tickets will be accepted on the next available LNER service,” a tweet read.
It had previously said that all trains would not stop at Low Moor, Halifax, Brighouse or Mirfield.
Liverpool John Lennon Airport to reopen its runway
10:19 , Will MataLiverpool John Lennon Airport said its runway would re-open at 10.15am.
In an update shared on X, the airport warned of delays to flights and advised passengers to contact their airlines directly.
The runway will be open at 10:15, there are delays to flights so please contact your airline directly. pic.twitter.com/4a3OChHRGC
— Liverpool John Lennon Airport (@LPL_Airport) January 5, 2025
Manchester Airport re-opens runways
10:00 , Will MataManchester Airport said it had re-opened its runways after previously being hampered by heavy snow at around 7am.
Delays to some departures and arrivals are still possible as staff de-ice aircraft and clear walkways, the airport said on its website.
Gallery: Pictures of snow from around the UK
09:49 , Will Mata
Three flood warnings
09:46 , Will MataThe Environment Agency issued three flood warnings for Sunday morning on the River Taw and the River Torridge in Devon, and on the River Brue in Somerset.
Disruption predicted on trains to north of UK
09:29 , Will MataTransPennine Express and LNER services to the north of England could be affected on Sunday, National Rail has said.
“Heavy snow is currently impacting the London North Eastern Railway network. Services may be cancelled or delayed,” a statement read.
“The Met Office have issued a number of yellow and amber weather warnings covering most of the TransPennine Express network.”
On Instagram: Snow in London
09:24 , Will MataLanes of M1 shut into Yorkshire
09:21 , Will MataTwo of four lanes on the M1 northbound between J30 Worksop and J31 Sheffield in South Yorkshire are shut after a collision involving a lorry.
New weather warning issued for rain
09:18 , Will MataA new yellow weather warning for rain has been issued for southern England on Sunday.
The Met Office said disruption was likely to bus and train services while spray and flooding on roads would delay car journeys.
The warning is in place from Cornwall across to Kent and will last until 9am on Monday.
No Avanti West Coast trains to / from Liverpool Lime Street until midday
09:08 , Will MataA problem at the depot means that Avanti West Coast trains are unable to run to / from Liverpool Lime Street until at least midday.
Trains running to / from this station will be cancelled, National Rail has said.
The issue could have been consequences for fans travelling to Anfield to watch Liverpool play Manchester United from 4.30pm.
Northern rail services affected until Monday
08:56 , Will MataThe Met Office have issued a number of yellow and amber weather warnings from now until Monday, covering most of the Northern rail network.
- The line between Brighouse and Halifax will be closed, meaning trains will be unable to run between Leeds and Halifax via Dewbury, in both directions.
- Severe weather between Darlington and Bishop Auckland means that all lines are blocked,
For further information about different options and rail replacement bus travel, click here.
Gallery: Your snow pictures from this weekend
08:52 , Will MataHere are some of the better snow photos from Saturday night and Sunday morning.
If you would like your photos in our next gallery, please email me at william.mata@standard.co.uk
Here we go 🏊♂️ pic.twitter.com/UHNxoBBLQm
— ALASTAIR CAMPBELL (@campbellclaret) January 5, 2025
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Disruption on trains to Wimbledon
08:42 , Will MataA problem at the depot at Wimbledon railway station means that fewer trains are able to run to and from.
As a result, trains running through Wimbledon may be cancelled or delayed by up to 15 minutes.
Disruption is expected until 10am, National Rail has said.
Yorkshire sees the most snow
08:33 , Will MataThe Met Office said Bingley, West Yorkshire, had seen 12cm of snow up to 7am on Sunday, with Shap in Cumbria and Capel Curig, Gwynedd, both seeing 10cm.
The second amber warning for snow, covering most of northern England including Leeds, Sheffield and the Lake District, is in place until midnight on Sunday.
Will Liverpool vs Manchester United be postponed today?
08:27 , Will MataFans on Merseyside awoke on Sunday morning to heavy snowfall overnight to further raise fears over a possible postponement of today's Liverpool vs Manchester United match at Anfield.
An announcement is expected later this morning as to whether the top vs bottom half clash will be called off.
Alex Young has the full story here.
Week of cold weather to come
08:20 , Will MataUK Health Security Agency cold weather health alerts for all of England remain in place ahead of a week of low temperatures.
Amber alerts were issued on Thursday and will run until Wednesday, meaning a rise in deaths is likely, the agency said.
Councils across London and southern England have activated emergency measures including additional accommodation to help rough sleepers stay safe during the cold snap.
The Met Office forecast the sleet and snow will continue to push north on Sunday and be heaviest in northern England and into southern Scotland.
After experiencing freezing rain for a time, the south will turn milder.
Frost and icy patches will continue through the early part of the week, but Monday and Tuesday will become drier with sunny spells and scattered wintry showers. Wednesday will be cloudier with hazy sunshine.
Wintry showers are possible in the south early on Thursday before Friday becomes more settled ahead of a cloud and rain in the west before largely settled conditions from next weekend.
Yellow warning also covering most of UK
08:12 , Will MataAs well as the amber warnings, the Met Office has issued yellow warnings covering almost the entire country across the weekend.
A yellow warning for snow and ice covers most of the remaining parts of England and Wales until midnight, while a similar warning covers large parts of Northern Ireland from 6pm on Sunday.
The north of Scotland is covered by a yellow warning for ice until 10am on Sunday, with another for snow and ice in the east of central Scotland until 6am on Monday.
There is also a yellow warning for rain covering much of Wales and the West Midlands on Sunday from 6am to 9pm.
Power outages across the UK
07:58 , Will MataThe National Grid said it had been working to restore power after outages across the Midlands, south-west England and South Wales on Saturday.
The company's live map shows power cuts across the region on Sunday morning, including in Birmingham, Bristol and Cardiff.
Snow affecting travel on major roads
07:55 , Will MataNational Highways warned up to 25cm of snow could hit roads in northern England, including the A628 Woodhead Pass, which connects Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire through the Peak District and was closed overnight in both directions between the A616 at Flouch and the A57 at Hollingworth, because of snow.
The A66 in County Durham and Cumbria was also closed between the M6 and A1M because of the conditions.
There is a severe weather warning for snow across England today, Sunday 5th January 2025.
— National Highways (@NationalHways) January 5, 2025
For more information please follow this link: https://t.co/POnhUXHdCE pic.twitter.com/LlRh86XLTH
Airports close their runways
07:50 , Will MataManchester and Liverpool John Lennon Airport both closed their runways on Sunday morning due to heavy snow. Manchester said its teams are working to clear them "as quickly as possible".
It comes hours after Birmingham Airport suspended operations for several hours overnight "for snow clearing and safety reasons", but said it was on schedule for "business as usual" to start the morning.
Bristol Airport reopened around 11pm after an earlier closure but warned of delays on Sunday morning due to aircraft being out of position. All the affected airports, and Belfast International Airport, urged passengers to check with their airline.
ℹ️ Information for passengers due to travel from @manairport pic.twitter.com/ybcIygeJtW
— Manchester Airport (@manairport) January 5, 2025
Weather warnings remain in place
07:47 , Will MataHeavy overnight snow is causing disruption across the UK as the cold start to the new year continues.
Two amber weather warnings from the Met Office have been put in place in England and Wales, with 3cm to 7cm of snowfall predicted for much of the affected area, mixing with rain at times in lower-lying areas.
One amber warning for snow and freezing rain, which covers much of Wales and the Midlands as far north as Manchester, is in place until midday on Sunday.
Higher ground in Wales and the southern Pennines could see 15cm to 30cm of snow, the forecaster said, with milder air leading to a rapid thaw in the south of the warning area through Sunday.
The second amber warning for snow, covering most of northern England including Leeds, Sheffield and the Lake District, is in place until midnight on Sunday.
The Met Office said some rural communities could be cut off, with up to 40cm of snow on ground above 300m before conditions ease later on Sunday.
That's it from our weather coverage for Saturday.
Saturday 4 January 2025 19:08 , Anthony FranceWe’ll be back with more on Sunday morning.
Port of London Authority urges caution near River Thames
Saturday 4 January 2025 18:03 , Anthony FranceThe Port of London Authority issues warnings and advice to stay safe this weekend.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, they asked people to “exercise caution near the Thames”.
It added: “Remember to Respect The River. Only go afloat if you are experienced and have taken necessary safety precautions.”
Visiting the #Thames this weekend? Remember to #RespectTheRiver
— Port of London Authority (@LondonPortAuth) January 4, 2025
Only go afloat if you are experienced and have taken necessary safety precautions https://t.co/XtNhQl9xR0#WaterSafety #SaferThames pic.twitter.com/1EYYBdvnDB
The Canal & River Trust has advice on staying safe near water during the winter - that includes planning your route, taking a friend and slowing down.
The Trust also advises that you keep to well-lit areas and take a phone.
Police attend multiple-vehicle collision on Wrynose Pass in Lake District
Saturday 4 January 2025 17:57 , Anthony FranceCumbria Police said on Saturday afternoon that it had received numerous calls about a multiple-vehicle collision on Wrynose Pass in the Lake District.
In a post on social media, the force added that there was “a lot of snow and ice” on the road.
Airports play down impact of the weather
Saturday 4 January 2025 16:07 , Will MataBoth Gatwick and Heathrow airports have played down the impact the weather has had on operations.
Both London hubs have had a number of delayed flights and cancellations but have stressed this is not due to the snow and ice hitting the UK.
Gatwick said it has had seven cancellations today, three not being due to weather and the other four being “proactive,” with passengers not at the airport.
Heathrow also responded to a request for comment to say that no cancellations were to do with bad weather and that there has been no snow locally.
Hundreds of delays at London airports
Saturday 4 January 2025 15:00 , Will MataHundreds of flights have been delayed out of London Gatwick and Heathrow airports on Saturday, according to data on Flight Aware.
The website said at Gatwich there have been 10 cancellations and 215 delays. At Heathrow it is a similar story with 22 cancellations and 240 delays, according to the latest.
It has not been stated if the disruption is weather related.
Some football games also called off
Saturday 4 January 2025 13:20 , Will MataTo add to the earlier update, some games lower down the pyramid have been called off.
Cheltenham's clash with League Two leaders Walsall which was due to take place on Saturday, Halifax's National League home game against Fylde which was also set for Saturday, have both been postponed.
Friday night's Scottish Championship game between Airdrie and leaders Falkirk did not take place.
All Premier League games are set to go ahead.
Horse racing abandoned at Sandown Park
Saturday 4 January 2025 13:17 , Will MataHorse racing at Sandown Park in Surrey was abandoned on Saturday, with the racecourse saying the weather meant there "would not be sufficient time for the ground to become raceable".
In a statement posted on social media, the racecourse added: "Following this morning's inspection, sadly racing today has been abandoned due to frozen ground."
Racing today has been abandoned after our morning inspection. pic.twitter.com/EevpPSsRV6
— Sandown Park (@Sandownpark) January 4, 2025
Police probe baby death - icy road link
Saturday 4 January 2025 12:11 , Will MataLincolnshire Police has said it is investigating whether a crash near Grantham which left a seven-month-old baby dead on Thursday night was linked to icy conditions.
A yellow Honda Jazz car left the southbound carriageway on the A1 shortly after 10.50pm before it hit a tree and returned to the road.
How can you help homeless people in need
Saturday 4 January 2025 11:30 , Will MataThe Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has issued the year’s first Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) as temperatures in the capital have plummeted to below freezing in the first few days of 2025.
The measures ensure extra emergency accommodation is available for people who may be sleeping rough during periods of severe weather.
The mayor, London councils and homeless charities work together to ensure accommodation is open across the city, as there is currently no legal requirement for local authorities to provide shelter during extreme weather conditions.
If you see someone sleeping rough you can make a referral via StreetLink. The service sends an alert to local outreach teams, who take to the streets at nighttime to connect people who are or who are preparing to sleep rough with local support services. You can make a referral via their website, or by calling them on 0300 500 0914.
Premier League update: Games still going ahead?
Saturday 4 January 2025 11:21 , Will MataNo Premier League football had been called off on Saturday, at the time of writing.
Liverpool are hosting Manchester United on Sunday when the worst of the weather might be felt. Neither club has stated that the game at Anfield is off, however, despite the potential for fans having transport issues.
Here are all the Premier League fixtures for Saturday
Tottenham Hotspur vs Newcastle United
Time: 12.30 PM
Bournemouth vs Everton
Time: 3pm
Aston Villa vs Leicester City
Time: 3pm
Crystal Palace vs Chelsea
Time: 3pm
Southampton vs Brentford
Time: 3pm
Manchester City vs West Ham United
Time: 3pm
Brighton vs Arsenal
Time: 5.30pm
Guidance for how to drive in snow
Saturday 4 January 2025 11:00 , Will MataThe AA has published advice on how to stay safe while driving in the snow and suggested that anyone should question if they really need to drive at all before heading out.
“Accelerate gently when moving off in snow, avoiding harsh speeds that could cause wheelspin,” the AA advice reads.
“Start off in second gear using low revs, and ease your foot off the clutch gently.
“Instead of using the brake pedal, cycle down the gears to use engine braking. You can tap the brake pedal lightly to make drivers behind aware that you’re slowing down.
“Leave plenty of room between your vehicle and the one in front.”
Warning for drivers
Saturday 4 January 2025 10:30 , Will MataRoads are being gritted around the home counties in preparation for snow and Kent Highways said it has been “receiving reports of collisions on areas with water run off that has turned to ice”.
National Highways has said that travel could be disrupted based on Met Office forecasting.
“Road users should heed messages on the overhead signs and listen for radio updates,” a page of guidance reads.
“Road users are advised to take extra care if travelling over the weekend.”
Warning from Network Rail
Saturday 4 January 2025 10:00 , Will MataNetwork Rail has warned that the alerts could see trains disrupted or cancelled.
“Ice and snow can mean speed restrictions and line closures are implemented to ensure trains are able to run safely on the railway,” a statement read.
“In very cold weather, snow and ice can build up on the tracks blocking points, the equipment that allows trains to move between tracks.”
Trains delayed on LNER line after person hit by train
Saturday 4 January 2025 09:35 , Will MataLines have now reopened on the LNER after a person was hit by a train between Newcastle and Edinburgh.
“As service returns to normal, trains running between these stations may still be cancelled, delayed by up to 60 minutes or revised,” LNER has said.
Disruption is expected until 10am.
Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123
Cold weather protocols activated across country
Saturday 4 January 2025 09:30 , Will MataCold weather protocols have been activated in various parts of the country to help rough sleepers as the UK faces a New Year’s cold front.
Rough sleepers in London, Norwich, Bournemouth, Poole, and Northamptonshire are among those who will receive extra support to deal with the cold.
The Severe Weather Emergency Protocols (SWEP) are triggered when there's a prolonged period of sub-zero temperatures.
Local authorities will contact rough sleepers and work to ensure they have a warm place to sleep.
Could London see snow?
Saturday 4 January 2025 09:00 , Will MataForecasts suggest London could see snow over two periods, the first on Saturday between 5pm and 10pm, and then the second from 10pm on Sunday to 2am on Monday morning.
Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan said: “At the moment we’ve issued a very large snow warning for Saturday until Monday but it doesn’t mean that everywhere within that warning could see snow, it’s just a heads-up there could be some impacts.
“It’s definitely going to start off as snow in many places but it’s a question of how quickly that snow melts and turns back to rain, it’s more likely that the snow won’t last that long in southern England.”
Temperatures bottom out at -8C in Scotland
Saturday 4 January 2025 08:45 , Will MataA Met Office spokesperson confirmed the temperatures reached a low of minus 8.6C in Aboyne in Aberdeenshire overnight.
Chilly conditions were expected to continue for most of Saturday, today with most places ranging from 2-5C, with highs of 7C in south-west England
The coldest temperature recorded in January last year was minus 14C, in Dalwhinnie in the Highlands.
What is an amber alert?
Saturday 4 January 2025 08:30 , Will MataAn amber alert means that cold weather impacts are likely to be felt across the “whole health service” for an extended period of time.
The alert also means there is potential for the “whole population to be at risk” and that “a coordinated response” may be required.
It comes after a series of yellow weather warnings were already issued across the UK, for areasincluding London, by the forecaster between Friday and Monday.
Dozens of parkruns cancelled
Saturday 4 January 2025 08:19 , Will MataDozens of parkruns have been cancelled across the UK due to the weather on Saturday.
Tooting Common is one of the London parkruns that will not be going ahead.
“Water feature turning into ice rink,” was the reason given.
Here is the full list of cancelled parkruns.
Railways likely to see delays and cancellations
Saturday 4 January 2025 08:13 , Will MataRailways are likely to experience delays or cancellations, with National Rail confirming that various routes across England, Scotland and Wales are impacted.
Poor weather is currently affecting National Rail's Northern and ScotRail services.
In Wales, buses are replacing trains between Llandudno Junction and Blaenau Ffestiniog.
The yellow warning indicates there could be icy surfaces in northern and western Scotland, the north-west of England and Northern Ireland, so motorists and pedestrians alike are warned to be wary of icy patches on untreated roads, pavements, or cycle paths.
Amber cold health alert for all regions until Wednesday
Saturday 4 January 2025 08:00 , Will MataThe UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued an amber cold-health alert (CHA) for all regions of England until midday next Wednesday.
The agency said that low temperatures were likely to result in increased use of health care services by vulnerable people and an increase in risk to health for individuals aged 65 and above, as well as those with pre-existing health conditions.
Amber weather warnings for the weekend
Saturday 4 January 2025 07:48 , Will MataTwo amber weather warnings for snow and ice have been issued for parts of England and Wales over the weekend.
A warning for snow and freezing rain covering most of Wales and central England is in place from 6pm on Saturday to midday on Sunday, the Met Office said on Friday.
The second warning for snow, covering most of northern England, has been issued from 9pm on Saturday to midnight on Sunday.
Up to 30cm of snowfall is expected locally in both warning areas, with 3 to 7cm likely in other areas.
Travel warnings for road and rail issued
Saturday 4 January 2025 07:42 , Will MataAlerts have been given for road and rail travel across the UK after the Met Office warned snow and freezing rain could bring severe disruption.
The weather agency has warnings in place for the next three days, including an amber level snow and ice alert for the weekend covering most of Wales and central England.
London is covered by a yellow warning, with the Met Office warning a chance of travel delays on roads with some stranded vehicles and passengers, along with delayed or cancelled rail and air travel.
