More Snow Brings Travel Chaos to the UK

By Jane Gray
December 29, 2017 Last Updated: December 29, 2017
Heavy snow makes driving conditions treacherous on Dec. 29, 2017 in Huddersfield, England. Travellers are being warned of dangerous roads conditions across the UK, as wintry weather brings snow and ice and an amber warning from the Met Office. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Heavy snow and strong winds of up to 70 mph are expected to hit parts of the UK on Friday, Dec. 29, with forecasters warning of power cuts and travel disruption.

Temperatures plummeted to -12C at Loch Glascarnoch in the Scottish Highlands last night, while much of the UK experienced sub-zero temperatures.

An amber weather warning for snow is in place across northern England and the southern Pennines.

Highways England has issued a “snow alert” for those driving in the north of the country on Friday.

Chris Chadwick, Emergency Planning Officer at Highways England, urged drivers to pack a snow kit, including blankets, food, water, and a shovel “if they really need to travel.”

Routes likely to be affected include the M61, M65, M66, M6 north of junction 36, M62 between junctions 21 and 23, and the M60 between junctions 15 and 24, as well as the A69, A66 Old Spital, and A628 Woodhead Pass.

Snowfall up to 10 cm is expected in parts of northern England with potentially 15 cm falling on higher ground.

A separate yellow warning for snow is in place for parts of Scotland and the northern half of England. The Met Office also issued yellow warnings for ice and strong winds, with a chance of hail and thunder.

The Met Office warned there may be power cuts, with travel delays likely.

Roads in parts of Manchester, including Snake Pass in Glossop, and the Cat and Fiddle in Macclesfield have been closed due to snow, according to the Manchester Evening News.

Met Office forecaster Charles Powell said there could be some “pretty nasty travel conditions,” according to the Telegraph.

The RAC warned drivers to be prepared with a winter breakdown kit. They said they expected to attend a breakdown every 10 seconds on Friday.

RAC’s traffic spokesman Rod Dennis told the Sun: “Some northern regions are set to see further snowfall in the early hours, making driving conditions very difficult if not impossible where the heaviest snowfall occurs.

“Drivers in the areas likely to be affected should consider delaying their journeys if they are not absolutely essential, as some disruption is likely.”

Friday’s forecast