Commuters warned of icy roads as cold snap continues

Commuters are being warned of icy roads and travel disruption as temperatures plunged again overnight across the UK.

Fresh weather warnings have been issued for southern England, Wales, Northern Ireland and northern Scotland on Thursday, with snow, ice and fog predicted.

Elsewhere it will be mainly dry with wintry sunshine, but temperatures could drop back to -16C on Thursday night.

The cold wave has already caused heavy snowfall in some areas, and dozens of flood alerts and warnings are in place due to heavy rain or melting snow.

The lowest temperature recorded in Shape, Cumbria on Wednesday was -8.4C (16F), according to the Met Office.

It comes as health warnings remain in place across England due to dark cold until Sunday, meaning the predicted weather is expected to have a significant impact on health – including an increase in deaths.

The Met Office says there is a possibility of disruption to road and rail services during travel in the warning areas on Thursday, as well as the possibility of accidents on icy patches.

Five warnings exist:

• A yellow warning for snow and ice is in place for northern Scotland until midnight Thursday
• A yellow warning for snow has been issued for southern England and south-east Wales until 10:30pm
• Two yellow warnings for snow and ice are in place until 11:00 GMT – one for western Wales and north-west England, and one for south-west England; and another for Northern Ireland
• Yellow warning for fog in Northern Ireland until 09:00

Some roads in Devon and Cornwall were closed due to snowfall on Wednesday and motorists were forced to stand still for “long periods”, according to officials there.

Gritters working on Thursday mornings have been fitted with plows to clear routes in the area.

Car insurer RAC said it had seen the highest level of rescue demand over a three-day period since December 2022.

RAC Breakdown spokeswoman Alice Simpson said: “The cold conditions will persist until at least the weekend, so we urge drivers to remain alert to the dangers posed by ice and snow in some places.

National Rail has also advised passengers to check before travelling, as snow and ice could mean speed restrictions and line closures.

Bad weather was affecting the Northern and Great Western Railways on Wednesday evening.

As of Monday, buses are replacing trains between Llandudno Junction and Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Wintry conditions have caused significant disruption across the UK after snow fell in many parts of the country over the weekend.

Hundreds of schools were closed in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, including those in Yorkshire, Merseyside, the Midlands and Aberdeenshire.

The country has also been affected by widespread flooding in recent times. There are currently 68 flood warnings in place in England – meaning flooding is likely to occur – and three in Wales.

The weather is expected to be less cold over the weekend.