Five recent climate warnings issued as big snowfall grounds planes, blocks railways traces and sparks big motorway delays

The Met Office has issued five fresh weather warnings for the next 48 hours as snowfall grounds planes, blocks railway lines and sparks huge motorway delays.

England shivered through its coldest night of winter so far as temperatures fell to -11C and Met Office snow, ice and fog warnings remained in force for millions of homes.

Temperatures at Shap in Cumbria dropped to -11.2C (11.8F) early this morning, while the UK minimum for today was -12.4C (9.7F) at Tulloch Bridge in the Highlands.

It was also the coldest night of winter so far for Wales, where Sennybridge fell to -7.8C (18.0F); and in Northern Ireland, where Castlederg dropped to -7.3C (18.9F).

The mercury could fall further to -20C (-4F) tonight, which would make it the coldest temperature for four years and the UK’s lowest recorded temperature in January for 15 years.

Large parts of the UK have been issued yellow warnings for ice for today and tomorrow as poor weather brings further travel disruption and school closures.

Most of Wales and Northern Ireland as well as large parts of the east of England are covered from 4pm today until 10am tomorrow.

A separate warning covering south and west Wales down to Plymouth from 3am to 11am tomorrow was also issued.

The Met Office warned to expect scattered wintry showers and icy patches on untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths.

A yellow warning for snow and ice in Scotland, which was due to end at midnight, has been extended until 10am tomorrow. Snow and winds have brought travel disruption, with rail lines forced to close.

Manchester Airport closed both its runways this morning ‘due to significant levels of snow’ but they were later reopened.

The airport warned some flights may be delayed and advised passengers to check with their airline for the latest information. At least 14 departures and five arrivals scheduled to operate at the airport today were cancelled.

Transport for Wales closed some rail lines in the country due to track damage following a period of ‘heavy wind, rain and snow’.

Buses are replacing trains between Llandudno Junction and Blaenau Ffestiniog until at least Monday.

A fault with the signalling system is also 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.

Hundreds of schools in Scotland and around 90 in Wales were shut today.

Last night, The Met Office said the coldest temperatures were expected in rural Scotland and northern England where there is lying snow, cloudless skies and very cold airflow.

A reading of below -14C (7F) would make it colder than the lowest temperature seen in this month last year, recorded at Dalwhinnie in the Highlands on January 17, 2024.

And -16C (3F) would be the lowest recorded in any January in the UK for 15 years, since -22.3C (-8F) was logged in Altnaharra in the Highlands on January 8, 2010.

The last time the UK had a temperature under -20C (-4F) was February 11, 2021 when Braemar in Aberdeenshire dropped to -23C (-9.4F) shortly after Storm Darcy.

This was the UK’s coldest day since December 30, 1995, when the all-time coldest recorded temperature reached was Altnaharra with -27.2C (-17F).

This record is tied in first place with the same temperature in Braemar observed more than a decade earlier on January 10, 1982. Met Office data goes back to 1961.

The Highlands have consistently been recording the coldest temperatures this week, including this winter’s current record low of -13.3C (8.1F) on Monday at Loch Glascarnoch.

It comes as Met Office snow, ice and fog yellow weather warnings remained in force across the UK this morning, after snow and sleet caused further disruption.

Hundreds of schools remained shut or partially closed today, including 173 in Bradford and 26 in Leeds – while flooding continued to impact rail routes.

Significant travel disruption was also caused by the snow in Devon and Cornwall yesterday, 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.

Snow ploughs became stuck in queues of traffic caused by ‘minor incidents’, the statement added.

Ploughs have been fitted to gritters which were working into this morning to clear routes in the area, police and highways officials said.

Travel disruption to road and rail services are likely today in the warning areas, as well as the potential for accidents in icy places, the forecaster said.

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.

‘Cold conditions will last until at least the weekend, so we urge drivers to remain vigilant of the risks posed by ice and, in some locations, snow,’ said RAC breakdown spokeswoman Alice Simpson.

‘Black ice on rural roads can be impossible to spot, leaving very little time to react if driving at speed. Sticking to major roads that are most likely to have been gritted is strongly recommended.’

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 January 12, 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.’

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.

While scores of flood warnings and alerts remain in place for England, hundreds have been removed and the weather is set to be drier over the next few days.

This morning, the Environment Agency had 137 flood alerts and 68 warnings in place, while Natural Resources Wales had two alerts still active.

The Met Office said: ‘Thursday night is expected to be the coldest of the week. Over any lying snow in Scotland, this could be as low as -15C, possibly -16C. We recorded -14C on January 17, 2024, at Dalwhinnie, so it is comparable to some recent years.

‘The record low for January is -27.2C on January 10, 1982, at Braemar, so we’re a way off that.’

Meanwhile the BBC reported today that ‘forecasters predicted Thursday could see the coldest January day for more than a decade with the mercury dipping as low as -20C’.