Closing summary
This blog will be closing shortly, but you can keep up to date with all of the Guardian’s UK weather coverage here.
Here is a summary of the latest events:
Weather warnings remain in force across the UK as Britons are braced for temperatures to plummet as low as -20C. The BBC’s weather forecaster, MeteoGroup, is predicting Thursday night to reach -20C in remote parts of northern England and Scotland, while the Met Office is forecasting -16C. Wednesday night’s coldest temperature was recorded at Shap in Cumbria at -11.2C.
New yellow weather warnings for ice have been issued for large parts of the UK. The majority of Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as large parts of the east of England, are covered from 4pm on Thursday until 10am tomorrow. A separate ice warning covering south and west Wales down to Plymouth from 3am to 11am tomorrow is also in place.
The Met Office has warned to expect icy patches on untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths, and scattered wintry showers on Thursday evening.
Hundreds of schools have been closed across northern Scotland amid a weather warning for snow and ice which has been extended until Friday. The Met Office yellow weather warning covers Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray, the Highlands of Scotland, Orkney and Shetland, as well as the Outer Hebrides, and is now in place until 10am on Friday. It warns snowfall could reach up to 10cm in higher regions.
Cold temperatures, snow, ice and flooding have caused travel disruptions. Transport for Wales said some rail lines in the country are closed because of track damage after a period of “heavy wind, rain and snow”, while Manchester airport temporarily closed its runways on Thursday morning due to “significant levels of snow”. The line between Liskeard and Looe in Cornwall had to be closed due to flooding, said Great Western Railway. Weather conditions in Northern Ireland have also caused disruption to some transport services and some schools were closed.
The weather forecaster said that Wednesday night saw England, Wales and Northern Ireland’s coldest night of the winter, with -11.2C, -7.9C and -7.2C respectively. In Scotland, -12.4C was recorded at Tulloch Bridge in Inverness-shire, not quite as low as the winter low of -13.3C recorded on 6 January.
Temperatures in parts of Ireland dropped to -7.5C overnight while weather warnings remain in place. The lowest temperature was recorded by Met Éireann in Mullingar, County Westmeath, in central Ireland.
Work remains ongoing to restore power, with about 200 homes, farms and businesses in Ireland said to be affected, while about 4,500 customers – mainly in counties Tipperary, Limerick and Kerry – are without water. A yellow warning for low temperatures and ice covers all of Ireland until midday on Friday, with widespread frost, ice, lying snow and some patches of freezing fog expected.
An orange weather warning for low temperatures and ice was issued on Thursday morning for counties Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Cavan, Monaghan, Galway, Roscommon and Tipperary. Travel disruption and delays and poor visibility are expected in affected areas for this warning which applies from 7pm on Thursday to 8am on Friday.
Oli Claydon, spokesperson for the Met Office, told the PA news agency it will be “bitterly cold” on Thursday night. He said the lowest temperatures will be recorded in rural Scotland and rural northern England where there is lying snow, cloudless skies and very cold airflow.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has extended its cold weather health alert for all of England until Sunday. Amber alerts have been extended and will now run until 12 January, meaning a rise in deaths is likely, the agency said.
The number of people in hospital with flu in England continues to rise, with staff reporting they are under the same pressure as at the height of the Covid pandemic, the NHS medical director has said. Prof Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said: “It is clear that hospitals are under exceptional pressure at the start of this new year, with mammoth demand stemming from this ongoing cold weather snap and respiratory viruses like flu – all on the back of 2024 being the busiest year on record for A&E and ambulance teams.”
An NHS trust is preparing to cancel operations, urgently discharge 140 patients and restrict admissions to help it cope with “extreme winter pressures”. The Gloucestershire acute trust declared a “critical incident” on Wednesday as hospitals in England asked patients seeking medical help to come alone to reduce overcrowding in A&E.
Updated
The Met Office has released a satellite image which shows how the view from space also identifies which parts of the country have lying snow. You can take a look at it below.
Have you heard of the word apricity?
— Met Office (@metoffice) January 9, 2025
It means the warmth of the sun on your skin in winter. Many of us may have felt this today, as it's crisp and sunny out there for the majority ☀️
This view from space also identifies which parts of the country have lying snow ❄️ pic.twitter.com/TEgcR3fGAS
It’s a cold, sunny and crisp afternoon for many in the UK, says the Met Office in its latest update on X. There are wintry showers in northern Scotland and isolated ones elsewhere.
The forecaster has urged drivers to take care on the roads due to the possibility of icy surfaces.
A cold, sunny and crisp afternoon for many with wintry showers in northern Scotland and isolated ones elsewhere ☀️
— Met Office (@metoffice) January 9, 2025
Icy surfaces are possible so take care on the roads ⚠️ pic.twitter.com/oHCoepcFmP
The number of homes, farms and businesses in Ireland where work remains to restore power has been reduced to about 200 – down from 500 reported earlier by the PA news agency.
Meanwhile in Northern Ireland, a yellow warning for ice is in place across the region until 10am on Friday. It comes after previous warnings for snow and ice and freezing fog expired on Thursday morning after a night when a low of -7C was recorded in Castlederg, County Tyrone.
On Thursday, police urged motorists to reduce their speed and keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front when in freezing conditions and heavy fog.
The conditions have caused disruption to some transport services and some schools have closed.
Here are some more pictures from the news wires showing the wintery conditions around the country.
Updated
Hundreds of schools closed across northern Scotland as weather warning extended
Hundreds of schools have been closed across northern Scotland amid a weather warning for snow and ice which has been extended until Friday.
The Met Office yellow weather warning covers Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray, the Highlands of Scotland, Orkney and Shetland, as well as the Outer Hebrides, and is now in place until 10am on Friday. It warns snowfall could reach up to 10cm in higher regions.
Overnight on Wednesday, temperatures fell as low as -12C at Tulloch Bridge in the Highlands of Scotland.
Thousands of Highland council pupils have Thursday off as 24 secondary schools, 113 primary schools, 88 nurseries and three special educational needs schools are closed. In Aberdeenshire, 41 schools are closed while others had their opening times delayed.
School bus services are suspended on Orkney and prelim exams have been cancelled due to “snow and poor road conditions” at Kirkwall grammar school, reports the PA news agency.
All school transport provided by the Shetland Islands council was also cancelled on Thursday, however some public bus services have restarted.
In the Western Isles, only one school is closed however six had a delayed opening, while one school is closed in Moray.
Updated
New yellow weather warnings for ice issued for large parts of UK
New yellow weather warnings for ice have been issued for large parts of the UK. The majority of Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as large parts of the east of England, are covered from 4pm on Thursday until 10am tomorrow, reports the PA news agency.
A separate ice warning covering south and west Wales down to Plymouth from 3am to 11am tomorrow is also in place.
The Met Office has warned to expect icy patches on untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths, and scattered wintry showers on Thursday evening.
A yellow warning for snow and ice in Scotland, which was due to end at midnight on Wednesday, has been extended until 10am on Friday.
While Manchester airport has reopened its runways after having to clear them of “significant levels of snow” (see 10.25am GMT), there have been some flight cancellations, reports the PA news agency.
At least 14 departures and five arrivals scheduled to operate at the airport on Thursday have been cancelled.
The Irish meteorological service, Met Éireann, has updated its warnings regarding low temperatures.
In a post on X, the forecaster said a status orange low temperature and ice warning was in place for Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Cavan, Monaghan, Galway, Roscommon and Tipperary. That means that these areas can expect extreme cold, with widespread severe frost, ice and lying snow.
There is also a yellow status low temperature and ice warning in place for all of Ireland until midday Friday.
The warnings regarding Low Temperature have been updated. Please contact our website for more!
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) January 9, 2025
Stay safe, informed & prepared by understanding the weather warning meaning for your area & take advice from your local authorities during weather events🥶
➡️https://t.co/3041XHiRrK pic.twitter.com/v7HhnCGFQn
Wednesday saw coldest night of the winter for England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Wintry hazards will continue for some over the next 24 hours, before milder air moves in from the south-west, the Met Office has said in its latest weather forecast.
The weather forecaster said that Wednesday night saw England, Wales and Northern Ireland’s coldest night of the winter, with -11.2C, -7.9C and -7.2C respectively. In Scotland, -12.4C was recorded at Tulloch Bridge in Inverness-shire, not quite as low as the winter low of -13.3C recorded on 6 January.
Chief Met Office meteorologist, Paul Gundersen, said:
Another very cold night is expected tonight with temperatures dipping as low as -16C where we have lying snow in Scotland and northern England.
Temperatures will also be well below freezing across much of the UK so there is a continued risk of ice overnight and through Friday morning’s rush hour.
Milder air will attempt to move into the UK from the south-west on Friday morning, heralding the end of this impactful cold spell.
Increasing cloud and light rain, perhaps preceded by a little snow, will begin to affect northwestern then northern parts of the UK through the weekend.
Here, temperatures will be back to around average by Sunday, and on Monday it’ll be much milder, with temperatures reaching double digits in Northern Ireland, northern England and Scotland”.
Updated
Coldest Wednesday night temperature recorded as -11.2C in Cumbria, says Met Office
The Met Office has said Wednesday night’s coldest temperature was recorded at Shap in Cumbria at -11.2C.
Temperatures have been forecast by the Met Office to plummet as low as minus -16C overnight. The BBC’s weather forecaster, MeteoGroup, is predicting Thursday night to reach -20C in remote parts of northern England and Scotland.
A Met Office spokesperson told the PA news agency they are “expecting tonight to be another very cold night”. Temperatures are expected to turn less cold from the north-west over the weekend.
Updated
Significant travel disruption was caused by snow in Devon and Cornwall on Wednesday, with some roads closed and motorists stationary for “long periods of time”, a joint statement from Devon and Cornwall police and Devon County Council Highways said.
Ploughs have been fitted to gritters which were working into Thursday morning to clear routes in the area, reports the PA news agency.
Flu cases rise as pressure mounts on NHS hospitals
The number of people in hospital with flu in England continues to rise, with staff reporting they are under the same pressure as at the height of the Covid pandemic, the NHS medical director has said.
According to the PA news agency, data from NHS England shows there were an average of 5,408 flu patients in beds in England each day last week, including 256 in critical care. This is up 21% from 4,469 the previous week, when 211 were in critical care.
It is also nearly five times the number on 1 December, when the total stood at 1,098.
Prof Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said it was hard to quantify “how tough it is for frontline staff at the moment – with some staff working in A&E saying that their days at work feel like some of the days we had during the height of the pandemic”.
The PA news agency reports that the average number of flu patients in hospital in England each day last week was much higher than at this point last winter, when the average was just 1,548. It is also higher than this stage two years ago.
About 20 NHS trusts across England declared critical incidents and said their services are experiencing very high demand.
Powis said:
It is clear that hospitals are under exceptional pressure at the start of this new year, with mammoth demand stemming from this ongoing cold weather snap and respiratory viruses like flu – all on the back of 2024 being the busiest year on record for A&E and ambulance teams.
I never fail to be impressed by the remarkable job that NHS staff across a range of services [are doing] in the face of current challenges, remaining compassionate, professional and doing everything they can to see patients as quickly as possible while often working in hospitals that are full to bursting.
It is hard to quantify just through the data how tough it is for frontline staff at the moment – with some staff working in A&E saying that their days at work feel like some of the days we had during the height of the pandemic.”
Powis urged people to only use 999 and A&E in life-threatening emergencies and to use NHS 111 and 111 online for other conditions, as well as using GP and pharmacy services.
Updated
Temperatures drop to -7.5C in Ireland with weather warnings still in place
Temperatures in parts of Ireland dropped to -7.5C overnight while weather warnings remain in place, reports the PA news agency.
The lowest temperature was recorded by Met Éireann in Mullingar, County Westmeath, in central Ireland, while -7C was recorded in Athenry, County Galway, and -6.7C in Oak Park, County Carlow.
Work remains ongoing to restore power, with about 500 homes, farms and businesses said to be affected, while about 4,500 customers – mainly in counties Tipperary, Limerick and Kerry – are without water.
An orange weather warning for low temperatures and ice for Leinster, Cavan, Monaghan, Munster and Connacht was in place until 11am on Thursday.
Another orange weather warning for low temperatures and ice was issued on Thursday morning for counties Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Cavan, Monaghan, Galway, Roscommon and Tipperary. Travel disruption and delays and poor visibility are expected in affected areas for this warning which applies from 7pm on Thursday to 8am on Friday.
A yellow warning for low temperatures and ice covers all of Ireland until midday on Friday, with widespread frost, ice, lying snow and some patches of freezing fog expected. Potential travel disruption and poor visibility are also possible.
Meanwhile in Northern Ireland, a yellow warning for snow and ice is in place for counties Antrim, Derry and Fermanagh until 11am on Thursday, while a yellow warning for freezing fog expired at 9am.
Transport for Wales said some rail lines in the country are closed because of track damage after a period of “heavy wind, rain and snow”, reports the PA news agency.
Buses are replacing trains between Llandudno Junction and Blaenau Ffestiniog until at least Monday.
A fault with the signalling system is causing major disruption between Crewe and Wilmslow, affecting Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, Northern and Transport for Wales services.
Great Western Railway said flooding means the line between Liskeard and Looe in Cornwall is closed.
Manchester airport reopens runways but warn of flight delays
Manchester airport have reopened its runways, but have warned passengers that, due to the earlier closure, some departures and arrivals may experience delays.
The airport advises passengers to check with their airline for the latest flight information and to allow extra time for their journeys.
Updated
An NHS trust is preparing to cancel operations, urgently discharge 140 patients and restrict admissions to help it cope with “extreme winter pressures”.
The Gloucestershire acute trust declared a “critical incident” on Wednesday as hospitals in England asked patients seeking medical help to come alone to reduce overcrowding in A&E.
Doctors and nurses should try to free up as many of the beds in the hospitals it runs in Gloucester and Cheltenham as possible by doing what they could “where clinically appropriate to maximise the opportunity for discharge and minimise the need for admission”, it told staff in a circular.
The trust is also asking staff to wear a surgical mask in many areas of care in response to the UK-wide rise in flu, which a senior NHS doctor warned would not peak for another week or two.
Here are some of the latest images coming in via the newswires:
Manchester airport temporarily close runways due to 'significant levels of snow'
Manchester airport said it has closed both its runways “due to significant levels of snow”.
In an update posted at 9am, the airport added that its teams are working to clear the runways “as quickly as possible”.
Passengers are being advised to check with their airline for flight information.
Updated
Share your experience
If you have been affected by the snow, ice and fog the Guardian community team would like to hear from you.
How has it affected your commute? We’re also interested in any photos you have taken of the snowy weather.
You can share your experience using the form at this link:
It’s a very cold morning in Ireland with widespread frost and ice lingering, says the Irish meteorological service, Met Éireann.
In a post on X, Met Éireann said:
Sunny spells will develop later with just a scattering of cloud in a cold northerly breeze.
A few isolated wintry showers will drift in over Connacht and Ulster for a time but elsewhere should hold dry.”
You can see its latest weather forecast for the day in the video below:
Very cold this morning with widespread frost & ice lingering. 🥶
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) January 9, 2025
Sunny spells will develop later with just a scattering of cloud in a cold northerly breeze. 🍃
A few isolated wintry showers will drift in over Connacht & Ulster for a time but elsewhere should hold dry. 🌤️ pic.twitter.com/p50kulpP4B
Met Office warn of ice and slippery roads for Thursday morning commute
Ice and slippery roads may affect your journey to work on Thursday morning, say the Met Office, with a particularly severe frost in northern areas of the UK.
The forecaster says that freezing fog is possible too, with this being most widespread in Northern Ireland. Northern and western areas of the UK can expect wintry showers, it adds.
Here is the Met Office’s visulisation of how the weather could play out this morning:
Ice and slippery roads may affect your journey to work on Thursday morning with a particularly severe frost in northern areas⚠️
— Met Office (@metoffice) January 9, 2025
Freezing fog is possible too, this most widespread in Northern Ireland 🌫️
Wintry showers in northern and western areas but otherwise some sunshine ☀️ pic.twitter.com/nh98JBa4BA
Updated
Here is a snippet from Robyn’s latest dispatch:
It was the moment they had been waiting four days for. A tractor appeared on the horizon, which signalled a possible final escape for the majority of the 33 people snowed in at the Tan Hill Inn, Britain’s highest pub.
Hugs were shared, phone numbers swapped. But in the end, there was not much time to say goodbye as those in 4x4s and those with snow chains on their tyres scrambled to leave in the wake of the snowplough, driven by the local farmer.
The urgency was necessary – strong winds across the tundra-like landscape meant the cleared roads were covered in snow drifts moments later and completely impassable in a couple of hours. Time was of the essence if the convoy of vehicles was to get out – and there was no guarantee they would do so on the steep and winding North Yorkshire roads.
My colleague, Robyn Vinter, has been reporting from the snowed in Tan Hill Inn, Britain’s highest pub.
The group of staff and visitors have been stuck at the North Yorkshire pub since Saturday evening due to heavy snowfall and have been told they are likely to be there until the weekend.
You can catch up with her reports from the Tan Hill Inn here:
Updated
On Wednesday, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) extended its cold weather health alert for all of England until Sunday. Amber alerts have been extended and will now run until 12 January, meaning a rise in deaths is likely, the agency said.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at the UKHSA, said:
We are extending the duration of our cold health alert, since the Met Office are forecasting that the low temperatures we are seeing will continue further into this week, with snow and icy conditions likely to persist.
This weather can have a serious impact on the health of some people, including those aged 65 and over and those with pre-existing health conditions, and it is therefore vital that we continue to check in on friends, family and neighbours that are most vulnerable.
These people could be more at risk of heart attacks, stroke and chest infections as a result of cold temperatures.”
Opening summary
Weather warnings remain in force across the UK as Britons are braced for temperatures to plummet as low as -20C.
Snow, ice and fog yellow weather warnings are in force across the UK on Thursday, after snow and sleet caused disruption on Wednesday.
The BBC’s weather forecaster, MeteoGroup, is predicting Thursday night to reach -20C in remote parts of northern England and Scotland, while the Met Office is forecasting -16C.
Overnight on Wednesday, temperatures fell to as low as -12C at Tulloch Bridge in Scotland, while it was below freezing across much of England and Wales.
Travel disruption to road and rail services are likely on Thursday in the warning areas, as well as the potential for accidents in icy places, the forecaster said.
A yellow warning for snow and ice is in place for northern Scotland until midnight on Thursday and another snow and ice warning is in force for Northern Ireland until 11am on Thursday as sleet and snow showers are set to continue.
A yellow fog warning is in place for Northern Ireland until 9am on Thursday.
A further yellow warning for snow and ice affecting Cornwall, much of Wales and parts of north-west England has been issued until 11am on Thursday. A yellow ice warning has been issued for parts of southern England and south-east Wales until 10.30am on Thursday.
Here are some of the latest updates related to the UK’s freezing weather:
As icy conditions persist, motorists are being urged to stick to major roads that are most likely to have been gritted. Car insurer RAC said it has seen the highest levels of demand for rescues in a three-day period since December 2022.
Oli Claydon, spokesperson for the Met Office, told the PA news agency it will be “bitterly cold” on Thursday night. He said the lowest temperatures will be recorded in rural Scotland and rural northern England where there is lying snow, cloudless skies and very cold airflow.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has extended its cold weather health alert for all of England until Sunday. Amber alerts have been extended and will now run until 12 January, meaning a rise in deaths is likely, the agency said.
The country has been hit by widespread flooding in recent days and a danger to life flood warning was issued for Barrow upon Soar in Leicestershire as firefighters had to rescue dozens of people stranded in rising water. Scores of flood warnings and alerts remain in place for England, but hundreds have been removed and the weather is set to be drier over the next few days.
