Weather and travel LIVE: Ice alert for London as cold snap hits morning commute
A warning for ice in place for London and the South East on Wednesday as snow fell on the capital for a second day in a row. The Met Office yellow alert for ice is in place throughout the morning commute, until 10am. Light snow was seen falling in parts of central London around 9.30am, as Londoners braced for freezing conditions throughout the day.
Elsewhere in the UK, several other warnings for snow and ice have been in force, with the Met Office advising vehicles could be stranded, power cuts may occur and rural areas could be cut off. Some lying snow could reach up to 10cm or more over higher ground and ice is expected to form on untreated surfaces.
Snow in the UK 19/11/2024
People walk along the Oxford Street as snow falls in London
(AP)
Snow falling in the City of London
(ES)
A man uses a plough to clear snow in the centre of Buxton, Derbyshire
(Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
A Christmas tree lights up the overnight snow in the centre of Buxton, Derbyshire
(Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
People walk through the snow in Keele
(Getty Images)
Sheep graze in a snow covered field on a farm in Clayton West, West Yorkshire
(Danny Lawson/PA Wire)
A man clearing snow in Durham
(Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
A deer watches people sledging in the Derbyshire village of Edensor
(Getty Images)
People play in the snow on the hills of Buxton, Derbyshire
(Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
A bemused looking snowman wraps up warm in the Derbyshire village of Edensor
(Getty Images)Meanwhile there were severe delays on the Northern Line northbound between Kennington and Camden Town via Bank, due to a "customer incident", and severe delays on the London Overground between Sydenham and West Croydon due to a points failure at Selhurst. Meanwhile a signalling fault between Euston and Watford Junction is disrupting London Northwestern Railway and Southern services into the capital.
Follow the latest developments below...
Snow falling in central London
09:35 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks Light snow has just started falling outside The Standard's offices in Moorgate, central London. It makes this the second day in a row that snow has fallen in the capital.
No snow is on the Met Office forecast for London today, but temperatures are expected to be very cold throughout the day.
Severe delays on Northern Line and London Overground
09:14 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks There are severe delays on the Northern Line northbound between Kennington and Camden Town via Bank, due to an earlier "customer incident". There are also still severe delays on the London Overground between Sydenham and West Croydon while Network Rail fixes a points failure at Selhurst.
The earlier delays on the Hammersmith & City Line and District Line have now ended. There is a good service on the Hammersmith & City Line and the District Line is running with minor delays.
Pictured: Snow blankets North Tyneside
09:04 North Tyneside is waking up to a blanket of snow this morning.
Photos are now coming through of snow that is covering coastal areas such as Cullercoats Bay and Tynemouth.
Snow covers Cullercoats Bay in North Tyneside (Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
Overnight snow covers Tynemouth Priory in North Tyneside (Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
Snow covers Cullercoats Bay in North Tyneside (Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
Londoners face a chilly start to the day
08:41 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks We're seeing more photos of frost on cars, and reports of ice on the ground in London as people make their way to work and school this morning. literal ice on the ground commuting to central london i this weather for 9ams is ridiculous
-- esha ? (@letsfindoutgo) November 20, 2024[1]
Three TfL lines hit with severe delays
08:22 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks There are severe delays on two Underground lines and the London Overground. There are severe delays between Tower Hill and Ealing Broadway/Richmond/Wimbledon on the District Line due to an earlier points failure.
An earlier track fault has also caused severe delays on the Hammersmith & City Line, while a points failure is causing severe delays on the Overground between Sydenham and West Croydon.
Pictured: Heavy snow in North Yorkshire
08:08 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks Photos are just coming in of snow in Goathland in the North York Moors national park in North Yorkshire this morning. The Met Office has advised that some rural areas could be cut off by the wintry weather
A view of the snow covered landscape in Goathland in North Yorkshire (Danny Lawson/PA Wire)
'Cold weather likely for much of the week'
07:31 , Josh Salisbury
Continued "winter hazards" are likely to continue in the coming days, the Met Office has said. Met Office chief meteorologist Neil Armstrong said: "With cold Arctic air firmly in place over the UK, continued winter hazards are likely through much of this week, with further updates to warnings likely in the coming days." The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for snow and ice along the east coast of Scotland and England from Berwickshire to Suffolk from 6pm on Tuesday to midday on Wednesday.
A yellow warning for snow and ice has also been issued for Northern Ireland from 6pm on Tuesday to 10am on Wednesday, with a separate warning also in place across most of Wales and parts of the West Midlands until 10am on Wednesday.
Traffic at a standstill due to snow on the M62 motorway near Kirklees, West Yorkshire (PA Archive)
Forecasters predict snow for parts of the country
06:55 , Josh Salisbury The Met Office has predicted snow showers for some parts of the country into Wednesday morning. The showers may be heavy at times and accompanied by lightning in some areas.
Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon said: "We've had a fairly mild November so far. "So it'll feel like that first taste of winter for many with that snow and ice risk layered on top." He added: "The highest accumulations are likely over the mountains in Scotland, where over higher ground you could see around 20cm of snow through this week accumulating on the ground.
"They are not necessarily the most disruptive snowfalls, but it only takes a couple of centimetres on lower ground to cause some level of travel disruption." Tuesday saw widespread disruption across the UK, with more than 200 school closures reported by the afternoon.
Snow over the village of Brandon in Durham (PA Wire)
London faces chilly start to the day
06:53 , Josh Salisbury Morning commuters are facing travel disruption on Wednesday with a warning for ice in place for London and the South-East.
The Met Office yellow alert is in place until 10am. This means temperatures are expected to fall below or close to freezing quite widely with icy patches forming on untreated freezing surfaces. Rain, sleet and snow will continue to clear southwards across England and Wales with clearing skies to follow, the Met Office predicts.
A frosty car in London this morning (Elliot Wagland)
Good morning
06:24 , Michael Howie
The Standard is resuming its coverage of weather and travel on what is a decidedly chilly Wednesday morning. We'll keep you posted on all the major developments throughout the day.
That's all from us today
Tuesday 19 November 2024 20:04 , Daniel Keane Thank you for following our live coverage.
Charity urges people with lung conditions to be 'extra careful'
Tuesday 19 November 2024 19:13 , Daniel Keane
Asthma + Lung UK, urged those with lung conditions to be "extra careful" in the cold weather. The charity warned cold weather can trigger potentially life-threatening asthma attacks or "flare-ups" for people with other lung conditions.
Gritters to set off in Haringey this evening
Tuesday 19 November 2024 17:48 , Daniel Keane Gritters will set off tonight in Haringey following a spell of freezing weather in London.
Haringey Council said the vehicles would grit "priority routes" from 8pm to make the roads safer for drivers.
New ice warning issued after snow closes schools and disrupts travel
Tuesday 19 November 2024 17:25 , Daniel Keane A new ice warning has been issued after snowy conditions forced the closure of more than 200 schools and led to widespread travel disruption. The Met Office has put in place a yellow warning for ice for much of southern England, the Midlands and eastern Wales from 5pm on Tuesday to 10am on Wednesday.
Several other warnings for snow and ice are in force across the UK, with the Met Office advising that vehicles could be stranded, power cuts may occur and rural areas could be cut off. By Tuesday afternoon, more than 200 school closures had been reported, with around 140 recorded in Wales. Read our full story here[2].
Met Office issues ice warning for drivers
Tuesday 19 November 2024 16:50 , Daniel Keane
The Met Office has urged drivers to remain alert as ice develops on the road in freezing conditions.
Can cold weather affect your health?
Tuesday 19 November 2024 16:05 , Daniel Keane This week's chilly snowy conditions have caused school closures, train cancellations and road delays in parts of the UK - but what impact could it have on our health? Cold weather can cause changes in our blood vessels and stress hormones, which can lead to spikes in blood pressure.
"Many patients see their blood pressure rise in the winter, as cold temperatures cause blood vessels to constrict (vasoconstriction), increasing resistance to blood flow and raising blood pressure," explains Dr Martin Thornton, GP and chief medical officer at health screening company Bluecrest Wellness. "Exposure to cold can also trigger the release of stress hormones like adrenaline, which may further elevate blood pressure and heart rate." Health experts recommend wrapping up warm, eating well and exercising indoors as temperatures drop.
Thousands of train passengers suffer disruption
Tuesday 19 November 2024 15:13 , Josh Salisbury
Thousands of train passengers suffered disruption due to the weather on Tuesday. By 11am on Tuesday, some 64 out of a total of 120 services planned by East Midlands Railway were cancelled or delayed by at least half an hour, according to the trains.im punctuality and reliability website. A Stagecoach bus in Aberdeenshire also toppled onto its side with a passenger on board in icy conditions on Tuesday morning in the New Leeds area.
A spokesperson for Stagecoach North Scotland said: "We can confirm that one of our vehicles operating on service X67 has been involved in an incident at New Leeds this morning due to ice on the road. "One passenger was on board, and there were no injuries."
Emergency cold weather measures activated in London
Tuesday 19 November 2024 13:58 , Josh Salisbury Emergency cold weather measures have been activated in London amid plunging temperatures and snow.
In a statement, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: "The sudden drop in temperature means myself and London councils are activating our Severe Weather Emergency Protocol, opening up emergency accommodation across London. "If you're worried about someone sleeping rough, alert Street Link who can help connect them with local services." The sudden drop in temperature means myself & London councils are activating our Severe Weather Emergency Protocol, opening up emergency accommodation across London.
If you're worried about someone sleeping rough, alert @StreetLink_ who can help connect them with local services. pic.twitter.com/d6a91MvlRM[3][4] -- Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan (@MayorofLondon) November 19, 2024[5]
Brighter skies developing - but still cold, says Met Office
Tuesday 19 November 2024 12:36 , Josh Salisbury Brighter skies are beginning to develop, the Met Office said, but the weather remains cold for much of the UK, amid showers and snow.
Posting on X/Twitter, the Met Office said in a video: "Snow is the word on everybody's lips today, with parts of the UK seeing snow fall overnight or this morning. "There are brighter skies developing across the north, although it's feeling rather chilly with wintry showers continuing to affect the far north and coastal parts." Snow is the word on everybody's lips today, with parts of the UK seeing snow fall overnight or this morning ?
There are brighter skies developing across the north, although it's feeling rather chilly with wintry showers continuing to affect the far north and coastal parts ? pic.twitter.com/phPWhAsNBv[6] -- Met Office (@metoffice) November 19, 2024[7]
Urgent search for missing teen amid freezing cold temperatures
Tuesday 19 November 2024 12:01 The hunt for a missing teen who disappeared amid bitterly cold temperatures on a Scottish island has intensified amid further warnings of ice and snow.
Aleksandr Benga, 16, has not been seen since he went missing around 8.45am on Monday near the water wheel in the grounds of Lews Castle in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. Police say they are increasingly worried for the teen as bitterly cold temperatures saw the mercury drop as low as -9C overnight. The region was handed a 42-hour weather warning for snow and ice until Wednesday amid a desperate search for the missing 16-year-old.
Missing: Aleksandr Benga, 16 (Police Scotland)
Met Office issues three new weather warnings
Tuesday 19 November 2024 11:05 , Josh Salisbury The Met Office has issued three new weather warnings for Wales, Northern Ireland and parts of eastern and northeastern England over snow and ice. The yellow weather warnings come on top of the multiple warnings for today covering much of the country, including London.
One warning covers northern and central Wales, and comes into effect from midnight tonight until noon tomorrow. In Northern Ireland, a yellow warning for snow and ice is in place from 6pm today until 10am tomorrow morning. An identical warning is in place for parts of eastern and northeastern England for the same timeframe.
Forecasters have warned there could be ice patches later, causing difficult driving conditions, with up to 10cm of snow expected in areas of higher ground.
Dartford Crossing reopens
Tuesday 19 November 2024 10:54 , Josh Salisbury Two lanes on the Dartford Crossing have reopened after a crash involving a lorry there this morning. It was not immediately clear if the crash was caused by the snowy weather, but the crossing was among the areas across the country seeing snowfall.
Heavy congestion of up to four miles is still reported in the area, with delays of up to 30 minutes. All lanes are now open on the @DartCharge[8] #QE2Bridge[9] following the earlier collision involving a lorry. Delays of up to 30 minutes and approx.
4 miles of congestion remain on approach. Please allow extra time if travelling in the area today. pic.twitter.com/zXQYYIpejq[10] -- National Highways: South-East (@HighwaysSEAST) November 19, 2024[11]
Almost 200 schools closed due to snow
Tuesday 19 November 2024 10:35 , Josh Salisbury
Almost 200 schools across the country have been closed due to the snowy conditions. Some 130 schools have been closed in Wales, and 50 in the West Midlands, with another 19 in Derbyshire, the BBC reported. As of yet, there are no reports of any school closures in the capital, there have been a small number reported in the south east - such as Grendon Underwood Combined School in Buckinghamshire.
Charities warn of impact on vulnerable people due to cold weather
Tuesday 19 November 2024 09:50 , Josh Salisbury
Charities have warned about the impact that the cold weather may have on elderly and vulnerable people. Age UK director Caroline Abrahams said the charity was worried that the loss of the Winter Fuel Payment has caused many older people to be "extra fearful" about turning on their heating this winter. "With high energy bills and food prices it is understandable that some may think they have to cut back on food and turn their heating off, but prolonged exposure to cold temperatures can have a serious impact on an older person's health, especially if they are already trying to manage existing illnesses," she said.
"The cold raises blood pressure, which in turn increases the risk of a heart attack or stroke and breathing in cold air can also increase the risk, and impact, of serious illnesses like flu and pneumonia." Ms Abrahams said it is "vital" that older people stay "fit, warm and well if they can" by having hot food and drinks throughout the day, wrapping up warm and sleeping with the windows closed. Another charity Asthma + Lung UK urged those living with lung conditions to be "extra careful".
The charity warned that cold weather can trigger potentially life-threatening asthma attacks or "flare-ups" for people with other lung conditions.
Rail routes hit by snow
Tuesday 19 November 2024 09:19 , Josh Salisbury National Rail has warned the cold climate would affect various routes on northern train services until at least 2pm on Tuesday. Impacted areas included the Bradford Interchange and Huddersfield, and also between Halifax and Hebden Bridge and Hull.
East Midlands Railway said "severe weather" between Nottingham and Worksop means trains are currently unable to run Mersey Rail has issued an alert warning passengers that due to the potential of snow and ice covering tracks, the first service on each line in north-west England would run without customers to ensure conditions could be checked.
London Fire Brigade issue snow warning
Tuesday 19 November 2024 09:02 , Josh Salisbury The London Fire Brigade has urged caution on the capital's roads due to the snow.
In a warning, firefighters said: "Snow has been falling in parts of London this morning. "If you're on the roads, keep your distance - give yourself time to think, react and slow down or stop if necessary. "Remember, stopping distances can be doubled on wet roads & be up to 10x times further in icy conditions."
Schools close across Wales and northern England
Tuesday 19 November 2024 08:50 , Josh Salisbury
More than a hundred schools across Wales and northern England have closed today due to heavy snowfall. In Wales, at least 103 schools closed in the Powys, Wrexham and Flintshire areas. Other schools have closed in some areas of Licolnshire, Staffordshire, Herefordshire and North Yorkshire.
A person walks through snow in Warwick (PA Wire)
London under 'first taste of winter' weather warning
Tuesday 19 November 2024 08:41 , Josh Salisbury
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued the first cold weather health alert of the season, warning conditions could be dangerous for vulnerable people, including the elderly. A yellow warning covers the South East, South West and London at 8am on Tuesday, lasting until 6pm on Saturday, with temperatures set to be below freezing on evenings this week. In the east and north of England, the Midlands, and Yorkshire and the Humber, an amber warning is in place.
The Met Office has separately put three yellow warnings for snow and ice in place in the North, the Midlands, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland - advising that vehicles could be stranded, power cuts may occur and rural areas could be cut off.
Geese walk across snow-covered ground at a park in Buxton, Derbyshire (PA Wire)
Warning of disruption to major roads amid snow
Tuesday 19 November 2024 08:35 , Josh Salisbury National Highways has warned of a "significant risk to vehicles" in the North East and North West of England with up to 15cm of snow on major roads, and strongly advised against travel. Impacted roads included the M26 between J21-J23, the M1 at Leeds and Sheffield and the M56 at Manchester.
The A628, crossing the Pennines, was shut in both directions due to snow between the A616 Hollingworth and the A57 Flouch. In Wales, the A55 closed for several hours eastbound at Caerwys due to a collision and heavy snow. Closer to London, motorists are facing long delays after a collision closed two lanes of the Dartford Crossing, although it was not clear if that was related to the current wintry weather conditions.
(Traffic Wales)
Capital pictured in the snow
Tuesday 19 November 2024 08:26 , Josh Salisbury As snow comes down on large parts of the capital, Londoners have shared footage of the capital's landmark in the snow. One resident sharing footage of a snowy Regents Street this morning said: "London always looks pretty when the snow is falling."
London hit with snow
Tuesday 19 November 2024 08:20 , Josh Salisbury
London has been hit with snow with major roads and schools in the north of the country already closed due to the wintry weather.
Commuters shared pictures and videos of the snowy scenes on social media, with one at Farringdon Station writing: "It was only raining two stops away."
Another added: "Winter has arrived and it is snowing in November!"
References
- ^ November 20, 2024 (twitter.com)
- ^ here (www.standard.co.uk)
- ^ @StreetLink_ (twitter.com)
- ^ pic.twitter.com/d6a91MvlRM (t.co)
- ^ November 19, 2024 (twitter.com)
- ^ pic.twitter.com/phPWhAsNBv (t.co)
- ^ November 19, 2024 (twitter.com)
- ^ @DartCharge (twitter.com)
- ^ #QE2Bridge (twitter.com)
- ^ pic.twitter.com/zXQYYIpejq (t.co)
- ^ November 19, 2024 (twitter.com)