The UK has recorded its coldest night of the season, with temperatures plunging to -6.6C and widespread snow forcing hundreds of school closures and leaving homes without power.
More than 100 schools shut in northern Scotland on Thursday, with dozens more closing in Wales and Yorkshire. Roads turned treacherous across the country, stranding vehicles and prompting police to close major routes. In Pembrokeshire, 631 properties lost power as the county council warned of «extremely hazardous conditions on most roads».
The Met Office confirmed temperatures fell to -6.6C at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire, with similar lows in Wales and Scotland. An amber weather warning for snow remained in force for North East England and Yorkshire until 9pm Thursday, with forecasters warning of «occasional blizzard conditions» and snow accumulation of up to 25cm on higher ground.
Widespread disruption
The severe weather hit hardest across northern regions. In North Yorkshire, 33 schools closed after heavy overnight snow left some roads impassable. Vehicles became stuck on the A171 near Whitby and the A169 between Whitby and Pickering, forcing police to shut both routes.
Wales saw significant impacts, with 36 schools closing in Pembrokeshire alone. The B4329 Preseli Road and B4314 from Tavernspite to Cold Blow were among multiple routes forced to close. A car overturned on the A19 near Sunderland in snowy conditions.
Aberdeen Airport reported delays and cancellations Thursday morning, with KLM and Loganair flights affected. The A90 in Aberdeen shut in both directions due to snow before reopening Thursday afternoon.
Health warnings issued
The UK Health Security Agency issued amber cold health alerts for North East England, North West England, and Yorkshire and the Humber, valid until 8am on Saturday. The warnings anticipate an increased risk of deaths among vulnerable populations, particularly those over 65 and people with existing health conditions.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde recommended the "penguin walk" technique for navigating icy surfaces safely. Laura Halcrow, falls prevention lead, said: «It might look funny, but waddling really works. A slip on ice can cause painful injuries and even hospital stays, especially for older people.»
The Met Office advised keeping homes heated to at least 18C, especially for those aged 65 and over or with reduced mobility.
Arctic air brings early winter
Neil Armstrong, Met Office chief forecaster, explained the sudden cold snap: «Cold Arctic air from the north is firmly in charge of the UK's weather, bringing the first notable cold snap of this autumn and giving an early taste of winter weather.»
The Met Office recorded 9cm of snow at Altnaharra in the Scottish Highlands, with accumulations of 6cm in Aberdeenshire and 5cm in Aviemore. Even Cornwall saw 2cm settle, creating what locals described as winter wonderland scenes.
Forecasters also reported "thundersnow" in Aberdeenshire on Wednesday, where thunderstorms form in wintry conditions and cause heavy snow downpours.
New ice warnings for Friday
Fresh yellow warnings for ice took effect across many UK areas for Friday morning, covering parts of Scotland, North East England, Wales, and Kent. The warnings predict icy patches on untreated surfaces as temperatures remain below freezing overnight.
Scotland faces particularly severe conditions, with temperatures potentially dropping to -12C in rural areas Friday. The Met Office warned that wintry showers will continue feeding inland from the North Sea before easing.
Milder weather ahead
Relief is expected over the weekend as the weather pattern shifts. The Met Office forecast a change to wetter, windier conditions with heavy rain on Saturday, and temperatures gradually climbing closer to seasonal norms.
«We'll trade the cold sunshine and wintry showers for wet and windy conditions with rain turning heavy as it crosses the country on Saturday», said Sky's weather presenter Jo Wheeler.
However, forecasters warned the milder spell may be brief, with a potential return to chilly northerly flow early next week.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
