Fresh snow warnings issued with 8 INCHES set to fall as temps plunge to -11C, schools close & Brits face travel carnage

FRESH snow warnings have been issued with a further eight inches set to fall as Brits battle school closures and travel chaos.

The Met Office has issued three yellow weather warnings for snow and ice across different areas of the UK today.

Members of the public push a car stuck on a hill in the snow in SheffieldCredit: LNP

Snow, seen above in Kidderminster, continues to make driving conditions hazardousCredit: Alamy

Houses blanketed in snow in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire this morningCredit: SWNS

The weather alerts cover the Midlands, northern England, parts of Northern Ireland, north east Wales and sections of Northern Ireland.

And further warnings are in place for snow and ice across Wednesday.

A yellow alert is in place along the east coast of Scotland and England from Berwickshire to Suffolk from 6pm on today to midday on Wednesday.

The forecaster has also issued a warning covering Northern Ireland from 6pm on Tuesday to 10am on Wednesday.

There are also warnings in place covering the north of Scotland until 10am on Wednesday and much of central and south Wales until 11.59pm on Tuesday.

A separate warning for central and north Wales is in place from midnight until midday on Wednesday.

It comes as snow has already blanketed parts of the UK, with Brits waking up to a heavy dusting in parts of Wales, Liverpool and Derbyshire.

London was hit by flurries of snow during rush hour earlier today.

Monday night saw temperatures drop below freezing, plummeting as low as -11.2C at Braemar in Aberdeenshire.

By Tuesday afternoon, around 140 schools had been forced to close in Wales, along with around 50 in the West Midlands and 20 in Derbyshire.

Three yellow weather warnings are in place across the UKCredit: MET Office

A man uses a plough to clear snow in the centre of Buxton, Derbyshire, on Tuesday morningCredit: PA

Snow this morning at London’s Buckingham PalaceCredit: SelwynPics

A fire service vehicle has collided with a coach on a hill in NottinghamCredit: SWNS

Drivers have been warned to be on high alert after National Highways issued an amber severe snow warning last night.

Impacted roads included the M26 between J21-J23, the M1 between Leeds and Sheffield and the M56 at Manchester.

The alerts come as thousands of train passengers are suffering disruption due to severe weather.

National Rail has also warned the weather is likely to impact various routes across the Northern Rail network until at least 2pm.

More than half of services planned by East Midlands Railway had been either cancelled or delayed by more than half an hour at 11am.

There has also been major disruption to services on London North Eastern Railway, Transport for Wales, West Midlands Trains and CrossCountry.

Mersey Rail has told passengers the first service on each line in the north west is running without customers to ensure snow and ice have not affected the tracks.

East Midlands Railways says trains are currently unable to run in both directions between Nottingham, Mansfield Woodhouse and Worksop due to the “severe weather”.

Meanwhile, temperatures in Scottish Highlands are expected to drop as low as -7.8C, which would become the lowest temperature recorded in the UK since last winter.

A Stagecoach bus in Aberdeenshire toppled onto its side with a passenger on board in icy conditions on Tuesday morning in the New Leeds area.

A spokesperson for the bus network said: “We can confirm that one of our vehicles operating on service X67 has been involved in an incident at New Leeds this morning due to ice on the road.

“One passenger was on board, and there were no injuries.”

Can you get time off work if your child’s school is closed due to snow?

TEMPERATURES have dropped, causing concerns about childcare if schools close.

Senior Consumer Reporter Olivia Marshall explains your rights.

Wintry weather may lead to school closures due to insufficient staff, unsafe sites, or travel difficulties.

Parents can take reasonable time off work to care for children, known as “dependant leave,” without facing disciplinary action.

Additionally, parents with children under 18 can take “parental leave” after a year of employment, up to 18 weeks before the child turns 18, though it may be limited to four weeks per year.

Generally, this leave is unpaid unless stated in your contract, but you can negotiate taking paid holiday.

For those without children, there’s no automatic right to paid leave due to snow, but flexible employers might allow work from home or use of holiday allowance.

If your workplace closes, you can’t usually have pay deducted.

For more information, visit the Citizens Advice website.

Snowfall has been widely reported across the UK, with 12cm of lying snow recorded at Watnall, Nottinghamshire, on Tuesday morning as an Arctic airmass influenced the UK’s weather.

The Met Office has described conditions as “the first taste of winter”.

The forecaster said 5-10cm of snow is would prove disruptive in England, with Derbyshire being the area most likely to be affected.

A number of schools have been forced to close for safety reasons due to the snowfall.

Outwood Academy in Sheffield said: “We’ve taken the decision to close Outwood Academy City today due to the severe snowfall.

“Lots of our students travel from across the city, and staff from further away, therefore we are prioritising safety.”

North Halifax Grammar School in West Yorkshire also confirmed it is closed today, adding: “Freezing conditions means it will not be safe.”

“Any Year 11 mock exams taking place… will be rearranged for a later date.”

Met Office chief meteorologist Neil Armstrong said: “With cold Arctic air firmly in place over the UK, continued winter hazards are likely through much of this week, with further updates to warnings likely in the coming days.

“The current focus for upcoming snow and ice risk is from later on Tuesday and overnight into Wednesday, with snow showers likely moving in off windward coasts in the north and east, as well as drifting into parts of Northern Ireland and Wales.

“In excess of 10cm of snow is possible over higher ground within the warning areas, with 1-2cm possibly settling at lower levels, which has the potential to lead to some travel disruption.

“Ice is an additional hazard and is likely to form quickly on untreated surfaces.”

The Met Office has warned of power cuts, disruption to road and public transport and the risk of injury from slipping on ice.

The forecaster has also warned of further weather alerts over the coming days.

A spokesman said: “Cold northerly winds will continue through the week across much of the UK, with further warnings likely.

“Daytime temperatures will be in the low single figures for most, potentially slightly less cold in the far south, though a wind chill means it will feel cold for many.

“Despite the below average temperatures, there will be a good deal of sunshine away from the wintry showers near the coasts.

Residents of Crook in County Durham battled snow after waking up todayCredit: NNP

Snow-covered buildings after overnight snowfall in WarwicCredit: PA

A train ploughs through snow at Farnworth station near Bolton, Greater Manchester just before midnight last nightCredit: Bav Media

National Highways issues severe weather alert

NATIONAL Highways has issued a rare amber severe weather alert for snow today.

The agency has warned of “a significant risk” to drivers and is “strongly advising” against travel in these areas.

North West:

A628 – 10-15 cm snow possible. Possible blown snow.
A66 – 10-15 cm snow possible
M62, J21-23 – 10-15 cm snow possible. Possible blown snow.
A69 – 5-10 cm
M6, J39 Shap – 10-15 cm snow possible at Shap. Elsewhere 2-5 cm possible south of Carlisle
M56, Manchester – 2-5 cm snow possible

North East

A66 – 10-15 cm snow possible
A628 – 10-15 cm snow possible. Possible blown snow.
M62, J 21-23 – 10-15 cm snow. Possible blown snow.
M1, Leeds, Sheffield – 1-3 cm snow possible.

“Further snow accumulations are expected through the week, mostly by night at low levels, in northern Scotland and exposed parts elsewhere.

“There remains a possibility of a more organised band of rain and hill snow affecting the southwest through Thursday as a larger system runs into the continent, though there remains some uncertainty on this element of the forecast.”

It comes as the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) also issued the first amber cold weather health alert of the season this week.

The warning covers the east and north of England, Midlands, and Yorkshire and the Humber.

Yellow alerts also came into place for the South East, South West and London at 8am on Tuesday and will last until 6pm on Saturday.

The Met Office has also warned vehicles could become stranded and rural areas could be cut off.

Dr Agostinho Sousa, from the UKHSA, said: “This is the first amber Cold Weather Health Alert of the season, but we can expect more as we approach winter, and it is vital to check in on vulnerable friends, family and neighbours to ensure they are well prepared for the onset of cold weather.

“Particularly if they are elderly or otherwise at increased risk.”

Charity Asthma + Lung UK urged those living with lung conditions to be “extra careful”.

The charity warned cold weather can trigger potentially life-threatening asthma attacks or “flare-ups” for people with other lung conditions.

Erika Radford, head of health advice, said: “Your risk of ending up in A&E doubles in winter if you have a lung condition.

“We’re here to help you to stay well, however every day people with lung conditions are needlessly suffering and without urgent action more lives will be put at risk.”

WEATHER WARNING Amber health alert issued as health chiefs warn ‘everyone could be at risk’ as cold snap hits UK

AN amber cold weather health alert has been issued for parts of the country as the UK finds itself in the grip of a cold snap.

Plummeting temperatures could impact everyone, not just vulnerable people, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has warned.

UKHSA warned freezing temperatures will likely result in more vulnerable Brits needing healthcare services.

People aged 65 and over, those with pre-existing health conditions – such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases – and people forced to sleep rough will face the highest risk from cold weather.

But the rest of the population could also be affected.

While yellow alerts are issued during periods of cold weather that pose a risk to elderly people or those with serious health conditions, amber alerts are put in place when a wider impact is expected.

It means lower temperatures could affect the whole health service as well as other sectors requiring a coordinated response.

Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, said: “This is the first amber Cold Weather Health Alert of the season, but we can expect more as we approach winter.

“It is vital to check in on vulnerable friends, family and neighbours to ensure they are well prepared for the onset of cold weather.

“Particularly if they are elderly or otherwise at increased risk.”

UKHSA recommends you look out for older family members, friends and neighbours during cold weather by doing the following:

Keep in touch with them and ask whether they are feeling unwell, or whether they need any practical help
If bad weather is forecast, see if they need any help stocking up on food and medication
Contact your local pharmacist, your GP or NHS 111 for advice and support if you’re worried about someone’s health
Contact NHS 111 if you think someone has hypothermia for further assessment, and in an emergency dial 999; typical signs that someone may be suffering from hypothermia include shivering, slow breathing, tiredness or confusion, and pale, cold skin