Snow chaos spreads as UK set for -20C temperatures
The big freeze gripping the country will get worse this week with snow spreading inland and some temperatures plunging as low as minus 20C, forecasters warned.
Deep snow and freezing conditions in the North East and Scotland were causing widespread travel disruption today, with icy temperatures everywhere else creating similar problems for commuters.
There is no sign of a let-up in the wintry weather, with bitter winds increasing and more parts of the UK including London facing snow in the coming days.
With a tube strike in the capital adding to the misery, the RAC warned of a “difficult” Monday commute and told drivers to consider other options.
The cold spell saw record low temperatures in some parts of the country over the weekend, with both Wales and Northern Ireland recording the coldest November night since records began.
The mercury at Llysdinam near Llandrindod Wells in Wales plunged to minus 18C yesterday, while Lough Fea in Northern Ireland sank to minus 9.2C.
So far Scotland and the North East have been worst hit by snow, with more than 40cm in parts, and police have advised people to stay indoors for all but essential travel.
Several airports were disrupted yesterday, with Edinburgh closed due to heavy snow and Aberdeen suffering delays after snow-clearing and de-icing took place.
Newcastle International, Luton and Jersey also saw disruption.
Premier League side Chelsea were among those caught out by the weather, with a cancelled flight from Newcastle forcing the team to make a 300-mile coach trip home after yesterday’s match in the city.
Forecasters warned the rest of the country is likely to be blanketed this week as the weather front moves west.
The severe conditions could also last well into next week, with rain, sleet and snow.
Aisling Creevey, of MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said Londoners should prepare for the possibility of snow tonight.
She said: “The snow will become more widespread from (this) evening and most places will get a dusting.
“There will be an increasingly high wind chill during the week and it will feel really raw.”
Many areas will see temperatures remain below zero today, with the warmest place the South East, at a balmy 2C.
The Arctic conditions have been caused by a combination of light winds, snow cover and clear skies – and could see readings down to minus 20C in Scotland later this week.
The UK’s lowest ever recorded temperature in November was minus 23.3C recorded in Braemar, in the Scottish Highlands, on November 14, 1919.
Met Office severe weather warnings were in place along the east coast today with heavy snow from Scotland, down through the North East, Yorkshire and Humber, East Midlands and the East of England.
The AA said it dealt with double the normal number of breakdowns yesterday, while the AC said calls were up a third.
Alan Wilcock, RAC patrol ambassador of the year, said: “This weekend has been extraordinarily difficult for many motorists as the cold and ice have made driving difficult and dangerous.
“With more bad weather forecast, the Monday morning commute is already looking very, very busy.
“Workers who travel by car may want to consider other options, such as working from home or another form of transport.”
Coldest overnight in the UK was Altnaharra in northern Scotland, which recorded a low of minus 16.1C (3F).
Llysdinam, which saw Wales’s chilliest ever November reading yesterday at minus 18C (minus 0.4F), was a bit warmer today at minus 12.9C (8.8F).
The temperature in Northolt, west London, bottomed out at minus 2.2C (28F), but it was colder in the South West, with North Dartmoor recording minus 7.9C (17.8F).
