Arctic conditions swept much of the country today leaving major airports paralysed and roads at a standstill – as forecasters predict a further battering of snow for the south this week.
Britain has been hit by ice cold weather this weekend causing vehicle collisions, road closures and flight cancellations while many trains also delayed.
Families and dog walkers made the most of the wintry first weekend of 2025, with hillsides thronged with children out sledging.
But the cold weather spelt predictable travel chaos, with no flights into or out of Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds Bradford airports for several hours.
Meanwhile train services have been cancelled or delayed across the country and on key routes including the A1M and M180.
Milder air spreading from the south has seen temperatures reach a balmy 14C (57F) in Somerset today – a massive 22 degrees warmer than Loch Glascarnoch in the Highlands and Aboyne, Aberdeenshire which both struggled to reach -8C (18F).
Coupled with snow melting onto already saturated ground, it is set to bring the added threat of flooding tomorrow.
Met Office Chief forecaster Frank Saunders, said: ‘With mild air now across much of the southern half of the UK, rain is the main hazard here, which alongside snow melt could cause some localised flooding impacts.
The A1 M near to junction 47, in Yorkshire, was closed today due to the harsh weather conditions
The campers had become cold and wet with one member of the group losing consciousness
Two of the walkers were walked off the hill whilst the other casualty was stretchered off to an ambulance
The Met Office updated severe weather warnings covering areas of the Midlands, Wales and much of northern England today
‘Yellow warnings for rain have been issued or updated, covering Wales, Cheshire, Manchester, the north Midlands and towards the Humber and, separately, for southern England.’
Forecasters said the combination of further rain and melting snow could cause flooding tomorrow, with parts of Lancashire and Warwickshire at particular risk.
The Environment Agency has put 26 warnings in place where flooding is ‘expected’.
Most of these are concentrated in the South coast of England, with warnings also in place in Milton Keynes, Bedford, and Cambridge.
There are also 236 flood alerts in place where flooding is deemed ‘possible’ across the UK.
Earlier today, Brecon Mountain Rescue team were called out to save campers near Cwm Lwch, in South Wales.
The campers had become cold and wet with one member of the group losing consciousness.
Two of the walkers were escorted off the hill while the other casualty was stretchered off to an ambulance.
People help to push cars stuck in the snow in Leeds this morning
A lorry blocks the A1 Southbound after getting stuck in heavy snow in Durham this morning
Cars navigating a flooded section of road in Watford, Hertfordshire, today
A tractor clears snow from a road in Scotton, Yorkshire, today
Motorists struggle to navigate the difficult driving conditions in Newcastle this morning
A gritter truck spreads grit on the snow-hit road in Bradford this morning
Cars are hit by snow in the early hours of the morning in Newcastle city centre
Digby the dog plays in the snow in Studley Royal park in North Yorkshire
Manchester Airport confirmed it has reopened its runways after closing them in the early hours of the morning, but warned of continued delays for the remainder of the weekend.
Meanwhile, widespread road closures and diversions have occurred due to unsafe driving conditions, with commuter chaos anticipated to continue into Monday morning rush hour.
The A66 in County Durham and Cumbria is still closed between the M6 and A1M because of severe weather.
A lorry blocked the road on the A1 Southbound after getting stuck in heavy snow that continued to fall around it.
National Rail said the line between Leeds and Halifax via Dewsbury has closed in both directions, with disruption on northern routes expected into tomorrow.
Passengers on London North Eastern Railway (LNER) have also been urged to defer their train journeys until tomorrow on the East Coast main line.
Liverpool Airport was forced to shut it runways this morning due to snowy weather conditions, while Leeds Bradford confirmed shortly after 2.15pm it has reopened and operations are resuming.
Heavy snow has caused disruption and runways to close at Manchester Airport this morning
The scene at Liverpool John Lennon Airport
Snow is seen surrounding aircraft at Manchester Airport in the early hours of this morning
A person helps push a stranded car in Bradford earlier today
A person wraps up warm in their coat as cars brave the snow in London
Manchester Airport reopened its runways after closing them in the early hours, but warned of continued delays throughout the day.
Meanwhile, Birmingham Airport also confirmed it has reopened after snow clearing, but passengers are advised to check with their airlines for updates.
Bristol Airport reopened at around 11pm last night after an earlier closure but also warned of delays due to aircraft being out of position.
National 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.
As well as snow, National Highways warned rain may initially fall on frozen ground and lead to ice with areas of high ground, including the Cotswolds and Peak District, most at risk.
People in Newcastle woke up to their first snow covering in 2025 as the country prepared itself for a freezing cold snap.
Sunday morning commuters were forced to wrap up warm as they braved the elements in the city centre during zero degree temperatures.
Two cars had already collided by 7am close to the city’s Quayside as the icy weather made for hazardous driving conditions.
People play in the snow in Stanley Park at Anfield in Liverpool
A commuter wheels their suitcase through snow at Manchester Airport this morning
One person reported being stuck on a plane at Manchester Airport for two hours this morning
Snow falls in Newcastle city centre this morning as bad weather batters the UK
A person walks their dog along a snow covered road in Bradford this morning
Snow surrounds the Angel of the North in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear
An image of a snow covered road at the Chartist Bridge
Locals shielded themselves with umbrellas as they walked past Newcastle’s Grey’s Monument which stood against the wintry backdrop.
Residents of Gateshead were also greeted to a winter wonderland this morning after heavy snowfall overnight.
The head of the famous Angel of the North statue was pictured covered in white against the backdrop of grey skies.
The National Grid said they had been working to restore power after outages across the Midlands, south-west England and South Wales on Saturday.
The company’s live map showed power cuts across the region this morning including in Birmingham, Bristol and Cardiff.
National Highways previously reported major disruptions on roads, including the M5 in Somerset, where a series of crashes led to long delays last night.
The weather is also affecting rail travel, with National Rail Enquiries confirming that the line between Inverness and Dingwall in Scotland remains closed due to flooding and landslips.
A vehicle is driven along a snow covered road in Scotton, Harrogate, North YorkshirE
The weather didn’t stop revelers in Leeds going out on the town in the freezing cold without coats on
The Met Office has issued new warnings for Sunday, with even more snow expected to fall
Snow also blanketed London overnight. Pictured is one of the city’s famed red buses picking up a passenger
Streets in London’s Hampstead Heath area were covered in snow overnight
The gritters were out in force across the country last night. Pictured is one in London
A snow covered street in Bradford. Temperatures have reached -10 C this weekend in some parts of the UK with Amber weather warnings issued by the Met office
Train services between Inverness and other destinations in northern Scotland are also experiencing delays.
While the NHS Black Country integrated care board has warned the public to ‘avoid going out early when the frost is thick or late at night when it’s dark’, adding people should keep hands free and wear shoes with a good grip.
And in Herefordshire, the Wye Valley NHS Trust told people to ‘have sufficient food and medicine and take measures to reduce draughts in your home’.
However, that didn’t stop revelers in Leeds going out on the town in the freezing cold without coats on.
With heavy rain and lots of melting snowfall in the last few days, the risk of potential flooding has increased.
The Environment Agency has put 26 warnings in place where flooding is ‘expected’.
Most of these are concentrated in the South coast of England, with warnings also in place om Milton Keynes, Bedford, and Cambridge.
There are also 236 flood alerts in place where flooding is deemed ‘possible’ across the UK.
A Met Office spokesman confirmed that temperatures reached as low as -8.6°C in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, on Saturday night.
On Sunday, temperatures are expected to range from 2-5°C in most areas, with some southern parts of the UK seeing highs of 7°C. However, conditions will remain cold, with the wind chill making it feel even colder.
Up to 40cm of snow could accumulate in higher ground areas, including parts of Wales and the southern Pennines.
Snow and ice will continue to disrupt travel, with the potential for more road closures and delays to public transport services.
The Met Office’s amber warnings for snow and ice will remain in effect until Sunday afternoon in some areas, while yellow warnings cover most of England, Wales, and parts of Scotland.
Forecasters predict that, as milder air moves in from the south, the snow will turn to rain in some areas, but freezing rain will persist in others, worsening the risk of hazardous conditions on the roads.
The elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions are particularly vulnerable to the severe cold, which could increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and chest infections.
Emergency services are urging people to avoid unnecessary travel, particularly in high-altitude areas such as the Cotswolds and Peak District, where snow is expected to fall heavily.
A man walks his dogs in brave the snowy conditions in Knaresborough, Yorkshire
Children play in the snow as their father keeps watch from his car
A train makes its way along the Hunt’s Cross line in Liverpool
An ambulance drives through the freshly laid snow in Blackwood, Wales
Vehicles negotiating the dangerous conditions
The NHS has also warned the public to be cautious of icy conditions, and to avoid going out early in the morning or late at night when frost is thick.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said that Britons should take precautions, advising people to layer up and ensure their heating is on during the cold snap.
He told BBC Breakfast: ‘We are heading into a cold snap this weekend and I know there are lots of concerns, not just amongst charity leaders, but also among NHS and social care leaders as well, about the particular risks and vulnerabilities this weekend as temperatures drop, both in terms of risk of accident and injury, but also risk from the cold itself.
‘This is a weekend to wrap up and keep warm, to take sensible precautions about going out and about.’
Snow in Morley, West Yorkshire. Heavy overnight snow is causing disruption across the UK as the cold start to the new year continues
A house is illuminated with Christmas lights as snow falls. Temperatures reach -10 C this weekend in some parts of the UK with Amber weather warnings issued by the Met office
A car navigates a hill through the snow
An image of a snow covered road sign in Blackwood, Wales
Snow falling in Basingstoke
Councils across London and southern England have also activated emergency measures including additional accommodation to help rough sleepers stay safe during the cold snap.
Sunday will bring a slight respite for some areas as milder conditions move in, with temperatures potentially rising to 13°C (55°F) in southern England.
However, these conditions will be short-lived, as another cold front is expected to bring sub-zero temperatures and more snow by Monday.
By Sunday afternoon, areas such as the Midlands and northern England will experience further snow showers, and heavy snow is likely to continue affecting parts of Wales.
A series of weather warnings will come into effect, with status orange snow and ice warnings issued
People out walking at the Wicklow Gap mountain pass in Co Wicklow, Ireland
The Met Office has warned that conditions could remain hazardous into Monday, with ice, snow, and freezing rain still affecting travel.
Dan Stroud, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said: ‘Although Sunday will bring some milder conditions, the cold weather will return next week. We expect temperatures to remain below average for much of the country, with widespread frost and the risk of more snow showers in northern Scotland.’
This comes after a walker died after falling 70m from a mountain ridge in the Lake District.
Keswick Mountain Rescue said their first callout of the year ended in tragedy after the man died after falling from Sharp Edge on Blencathra on January 2.
The team were joined by the Great North Air Ambulance Service, Coastguard Helicopter R199, and the police.
‘Our thoughts and condolences go to the man’s family and friends,’ the team wrote on Facebook.