UK Weather Live: Flights Delayed And Roads Closed As Snow Hits Country While Met Office Issues New Warning

Wider travel disruption expected across UK due to 30cm of snowfall

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Heavy overnight snow is causing disruption across the UK this morning as a cold snap continues to sweep the country over the first weekend of 2025, with an amber weather alert still in place and a fresh warning issued.

Several major airports were forced to temporarily close their runways due to snowfall, leading to flight cancellations and delays. Leeds Bradford Airport’s is still shut, but Manchester and Liverpool John Lennon’s have now reopened.

National Highways warned that up to 25cm of snow as well as ice could affect roads in northern England, with some key roads facing closures.

An amber warning for snow and rare freezing rain covering most of Wales and central England lifted at midday, but another amber snow alert is in place across most of northern England until the end of the day.

Up to 40cm of snow is expected in the worst affected areas, while much of the warning area can expect 3cm to 7cm, the Met Office said.

Meanwhile, yellow weather warnings are covering most of the UK.

The forecaster issued a new yellow rain alert across southern England on Sunday, lasting until 9am on Monday, with milder temperatures bringing a risk of flooding.

UK Health Security Agency cold weather health alerts for all of England remain in place ahead of a week of low temperatures.

Status orange weather warnings remain in place for 11 counties in IrelandA status orange weather warning remains in place for 11 counties in the south of Ireland as up to 10cm of snow is expected to fall in some places.

Snow, ice, heavy rain and sleet swept over the island of Ireland with Met Eireann warning of further falls of snow later on Sunday.

Thousands of homes and businesses have been left without power overnight.

Read more here:

Tara Cobham5 January 2025 12:50

Liverpool-Man Utd goes ahead at Anfield after safety meetings due to heavy snowLiverpool’s home game against Manchester United on Sunday will go ahead as planned.

Overnight snow across Merseyside and the north-west made road conditions for both sets of fans difficult and threatened to force a postponement.

Liverpool City Council’s Safety Advisory Group met twice on Sunday with concerns over access to Anfield but the fixture – one of the biggest in English football – will kick-off as scheduled at 4.30pm.

“Today’s fixture against Manchester United will go ahead as planned,” league leaders Liverpool posted on their official X account.

“Two safety meetings were held earlier to assess the weather and travel conditions.

“We thank everyone involved in helping us to get this game on today. If you’re travelling to Anfield then please take extra care. We look forward to seeing you there.”

Tara Cobham5 January 2025 12:30

Councils across London and southern England activate emergency measuresCouncils across London and southern England have activated emergency measures.

This includes additional accommodation to help rough sleepers stay safe during the cold snap.

Tara Cobham5 January 2025 12:10

Cold weather health alerts for all of England remain in placeUK Health Security Agency cold weather health alerts for all of England remain in place ahead of a week of low temperatures.

Amber alerts were issued on Thursday and will run until Wednesday, meaning a rise in deaths is likely, the agency said.

Tara Cobham5 January 2025 11:50

Plumpton called off due to waterlogging after morning rainDespite passing an initial morning inspection, Plumpton’s BetGoodwin Sussex National meeting was abandoned on Sunday due to worsening conditions.

Officials announced a precautionary inspection for 8.30am ahead of one of the track’s most high-profile fixtures of the season due to the forecast of heavy rain overnight.

While 25mm of rain fell, racing was initially given the green light. However, less than two hours later, the meeting was called off due to waterlogging.

Clerk of the course Marcus Waters said: “We were predicted five millimetres of rain between 8.30am and midday, which we thought we could handle, but we were already on 7.5 millimetres just before 10am.

“That much rain in a short space of time has left us with a few areas of false ground and we didn’t think it was safe anymore.

“We’re very disappointed. At 8.30am, we felt we had a good chance with the forecast how it was, but we got more rain than expected and it’s pushed us over the edge.

“It’s always a hard decision and it would have been the same whatever meeting it was. We have our processes and it was just unfortunate that it’s happened on a big day.”

Tara Cobham5 January 2025 11:40

Flood warnings and alerts issued across England and Wales amid fears of rapid thawA number of flood warnings and alerts have been issued across England and some of Wales amid fears of a rapid thaw following the snowfall and icy conditions.

The Environment Agency has issued eight flood warnings, where flooding is expected, and 107 flood alerts, where flooding is possible, in England this morning.

Meanwhile, Natural Resources Wales has in place three flood alerts.

Tara Cobham5 January 2025 11:29

Rail services impacted across the country amid extreme weatherRail services have been impacted across the country amid the extreme weather.

Northern has advised passengers not travel as heavy snow causes issues on its network.

Avanti West Coast trains leaving Liverpool Lime Street may be cancelled or delayed due to difficulties at the depot after snowfall.

National Rail has advised passengers to check their journey before travelling amid the widespread disruption.

Tara Cobham5 January 2025 11:12

Watch: Simon Calder on wider travel disruption expected across UK due to 30cm of snowfallWider travel disruption expected across UK due to 30cm of snowfallTara Cobham5 January 2025 11:00

Manchester airport: runways open, but dozens of cancellationsDozens of flights to and from Manchester have been grounded after the airport was closed for three hours on Sunday morning.

Even though operations have resumed, many of the first wave of departures have been cancelled.

Britain’s biggest budget airline, easyJet has cancelled a dozen flights to and from destinations including Lisbon and Faro in Portugal, Prague and Sofia.

In addition, flights incoming from Munich, Vienna, Zurich and Helsinki could not reach Manchester and the outbound segments have been cancelled.

Travel correspondent Simon Calder5 January 2025 10:46

Beamish Museum in Co Durham closed for the dayBeamish Museum, the “Living Museum of the North”, says it will stay closed on Sunday.

The statement said: “It’s with a heavy heart that, due to the snowy conditions, we are unable to open the museum today (Sunday, 5 January 2025).

“We’re saddened to have to make this decision but the safety of our visitors, staff and volunteers must always come first, and due to the weather conditions it just wouldn’t be possible to open.

“For anyone with a booking for our pantomime performances today, we’ll be sending you an email with further information. Thank you everyone for your understanding.”

A tram and tourists in the high street of the Edwardian town that forms part of Beamish Museum in County Durham, England (Getty Images)Travel correspondent Simon Calder5 January 2025 10:45