Temperatures predicted to fall as low as -15C overnight with Met Office warning of icy conditions and bitter cold to come

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Hundreds of schools will be closed on Monday morning as the Met Office predicted severe frost and biting cold could cause major travel disruption.

Heavy snowfall continued across large parts of the UK on Sunday, with an amber weather warning remaining in place for central areas until 6pm. Up to 28cm (11in) of snow was recorded in Wales and temperatures were predicted to fall as low as -15C (5F) during the night.

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The Met Office warned that compacted snow and bitterly cold temperatures could result in icy conditions on Monday morning and a continuation of the disruption to transport networks on Sunday. The RAC predicted that there could be as many as 11,000 breakdowns, which would make it the busiest day since last winter.

Birmingham city council was among the local authorities to announce that it would be closing all the schools it runs on Monday due to “adverse weather and forecast for freezing conditions overnight”.

“This is because conditions will remain very hazardous tomorrow and the safety of our children and young people is of paramount importance,” a spokesperson said.

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“Even if pupils walk to school, we will not be able to guarantee enough staff on site to look after them. I would strongly advise all other schools within Birmingham to do the same.”



The amber alert on Sunday was accompanied by a yellow warning of strong winds of up to 80mph (129km/h) for parts of eastern England, London, the south-east, the south-west and Wales.



A P&O ferry carrying more than 200 passengers briefly ran aground in Calais due to high winds. A spokesman for the operator said there were are no reported injuries and the ferry was refloated within two hours.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest A car abandoned in heavy snow on Snake Pass in the Peak District. Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA

Police forces in Wales and across the Midlands urged motorists not to travel unless absolutely necessary as they dealt with an increased number of calls. A northbound section of the M1 was closed in Leicestershire due to stranded vehicles and there were severe delays on the M25.



The AA said it dealt with more than 14,000 breakdowns including rescuing hundreds stuck in snow or ice. AA president Edmund King said their call centres were “incredibly busy” and dealt with a 40% increase in call outs.

Highways England issued advice for drivers to check forecasts and road conditions before they travel, and prepare for any eventuality by carrying “warm clothing, food, drink, required medication, boots, shovel and a torch”. Traffic Scotland advised drivers to increase their stopping distances in icy conditions.

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Flights were suspended at airports including Birmingham and Stansted while runways were cleared, leaving passengers facing delays. Other airports advised customers to allow extra time for their journeys and check with airlines for delays and cancellations before travelling.

NHS England warned that heart attacks increase almost immediately after a cold snap, accounting for 40% of excess winter deaths. Keith Willett, the NHS England director for acute care, said: “Those with pre-existing heart and lung conditions and particularly the elderly should take care to keep their homes properly heated and get their flu jabs.”

Some parts of Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland were largely spared snow and instead had a bright, clear day with very cold temperatures. But only a few places in the south recorded temperatures into double figures, with 10C in Plymouth.



Facebook Twitter Pinterest A man walks along the promenade at Whitley Bay in Tyne and Wear. Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA

While the Met Office said it was difficult to accurately predict snowfall more than five days in advance, Met Check put the chance of a white Christmas in London at 25%. In Birmingham, Glasgow, Manchester and Leeds, the chance is 50%.

The Met Office definition of a white Christmas is one snowflake observed falling somewhere in the UK in the 24 hours of 25 December, meaning roughly half of all Christmas Days are officially white.

The last widespread white Christmas in the UK was in 2010, when snow on the ground was recorded at 83% of Met Office stations, the highest percentage on record.