Snow and ice warnings still in place with travellers facing even more misery

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has extended the cold weather alert across England until Sunday.

Amber alerts have also been extended to the same day meaning a rise in deaths is likely because of the freezing temperatures.

Dr Agostinho Sousa, from 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.’

Hundreds of schools across the United Kingdom remain closed today while icy conditions persist across the UK.

The torrid weather of the weekend has only continued into this week with much of the UK seeing snow, sleet and ice.

Wednesday saw yellow weather warnings placed across the country, including in Southern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

And warnings have persisted today, with a yellow warning for snow and ice in place in Scotland, Northern Ireland and across England.

Check below for a full list of school closures:

Significant travel disruption was caused by the snow in Devon and Cornwall on Wednesday, 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 Thursday morning to clear routes in the area, police and highways officials said.

Weather warnings remain in force across the UK

A yellow warning for snow and ice is in place for northern Scotland until midnight on Thursday and another snow and ice warning is in force for Northern Ireland until 11am on Thursday as sleet and snow showers are set to continue.

There is a yellow fog warning in place for Northern Ireland until 9am on Thursday.

A further yellow warning for snow and ice affecting Cornwall, much of Wales and parts of north-west England has been issued until 11am on Thursday.

And a yellow ice warning has been issued for parts of southern England and south-east Wales until 10.30am on Thursday.

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.’

Met Office spokesman Oli Claydon said it will be ‘bitterly cold’ on Thursday night.

He said the lowest temperatures will be recorded in rural Scotland and rural northern England where there is lying snow, cloudless skies and very cold airflow.

A temperature of minus 14C would equal the lowest seen in this month last year, recorded in Dalwhinnie in the Scottish Highlands on January 17 2024.

But a temperature of minus 16C would be the lowest recorded in January in the UK for 15 years, since minus 22.3C was logged in Altnaharra in the Highlands on January 8 2010, according to Met Office data.

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.’