Hundreds of schools across northern Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and parts of northern England are closed on Tuesday as severe winter weather continues to disrupt daily life across the UK, with snow and ice warnings remaining in force into Wednesday morning.
The Met Office has extended a yellow warning for ice across most of England, Wales and southern Scotland until 10am on Wednesday. A separate yellow warning for snow and ice remains in place for much of northern Scotland until midnight on Wednesday, with some areas expected to see up to 20cm of fresh snowfall and strong winds causing drifting.
Coldest Night of the Year Recorded
Forecasters confirmed the UK experienced its coldest night of the year so far, with temperatures plunging to -12.5C at Marham in Norfolk. In the Scottish Highlands, Dalwhinnie recorded -11.2C, underlining the severity of the cold snap affecting much of the country.
Health authorities have warned that prolonged freezing temperatures increase risks for vulnerable people, while local councils have urged residents to check on neighbours and avoid unnecessary travel where possible.
Amber Snow Warnings in Scotland
An amber weather warning for snow remains in place across large parts of north-east and northern Scotland from 11am until 7pm on Tuesday. The affected areas include Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Highland, Angus and Perth and Kinross.
The Met Office said five to 10cm of snow is expected widely, with up to 15cm possible in some locations, particularly above 200 metres. Rural communities could face difficult travel conditions and potential isolation as snowfall intensifies.
Schools Shut After Festive Break
Schools in Shetland, Orkney and Aberdeenshire remained closed on Tuesday after pupils were already given an extra day off on Monday following the festive break due to the weather. Schools have also closed in parts of Wales, Northern Ireland, Staffordshire and North Yorkshire as local authorities assess safety conditions.
Parents have been advised to check council websites and school communications for updates, as closures may change depending on local conditions.
Travel Disruption Across Road, Rail and Air
Transport networks continue to face disruption. National Rail said services in northern Scotland are expected to be disrupted throughout Tuesday, although ScotRail confirmed some limited services were running, including the Aberdeen to Dundee route.
Snow and ice have also affected air travel. Loganair cancelled flights from Aberdeen and Inverness airports on Monday, while services to and from Sumburgh airport in Shetland and Kirkwall in Orkney were also cancelled. Further delays and cancellations remain possible as conditions evolve.
Storm Goretti to Bring Further Disruption
Looking ahead, the Met Office has confirmed that Storm Goretti, the first named storm of the year, is expected to make landfall on Thursday. Snow warnings have been issued for large parts of England and Wales from 6pm on Thursday, when a deep area of low pressure is forecast to move across southern parts of the UK.
The storm is expected to bring a mix of rain, snow and strong winds, raising concerns about further travel disruption and school closures later in the week.
Snow Forecast Varies by Region
In areas under yellow warnings, forecasters predict 2-5cm of snow falling widely, with the possibility of 10-15cm in some locations. From the Scottish central belt southwards, snowfall is expected to be lighter, with most areas likely to see no more than 1-2cm.
Authorities continue to urge caution, advising drivers to slow down, allow extra journey time and stay up to date with the latest weather forecasts and travel advice.
