Summary

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Watch: The latest weather forecast as cold snap hits UK

  1. Hikers and spaniels brave the weather - today's snow in picturespublished at 12:50 GMT

    A train travelling surrounded by fields white with snowImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Dalwhinnie, Scottish Highlands

    People wearing cold-weather clothing walk along a path, which is covered in snow
    Image caption,

    Pen-y-Pass, Snowdonia

    A town with roofs covered in snow
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    Shetland Islands

    A man walks with his dog in the snowImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Crawley, West Sussex

  2. Road between Manchester and Yorkshire reopens after partial closurepublished at 12:32 GMT

    Aerial view on an A road that goes through some snowy landImage source, NATIONAL HIGHWAYS

    Woodhead Pass, a major road connecting Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire, has reopened after overnight snowfall closed it to traffic.

    National Highways said the A628 was closed in both directions between the A616 for Hollingworth and the A57 for Flouch, as several heavy goods vehicles were struggling in the wintry conditions and needed assistance.

    "Road users are also advised to allow extra time for their journey," National Highways said.

  3. Should I let my pets outside in the cold?published at 12:23 GMT

    Two dogs in jumpers gallop in the snowImage source, PA Media

    Like humans, animals can be at risk of hypothermia if they become too cold.

    Dogs still need walks during cold weather. Usually their fur will keep them warm, but be cautious when letting dogs off the lead in the snow, and supervise them closely as hazards may be hidden.

    The PDSA charity recommends moving smaller pets - such as rabbits, guinea pigs and ferrets - inside if they live in outdoor hutches. Extra playtime can make sure pets keep active. Indoor toys can help.

    During the day, experts say cats who are used to going outside should continue to do so.

    But the PDSA advises making sure they can easily get back inside through a cat flap whenever they want, or have a warm outside shelter they can go. Providing litter trays inside is recommended, so they have a warm toileting option.

    Chickens and hens are incredibly resilient and should typically cope well with a bit of cold weather, according to the British Hen Welfare Trust. Make sure to insulate hen houses, and regularly check that their water supplies have not frozen.

  4. Cameras capture wintry weather - watch livepublished at 12:17 GMT

    As cold weather sees parts of the country hit with snow, sleet and ice, we're streaming some live weather cameras from across the UK.

    You can follow along by clicking watch live at the top of the page.

  5. Your pictures: Snowy scenes in southern Englandpublished at 12:07 GMT

    You've been sending us your pictures of the wintry weather today - here's some we've received from Guildford and Luton.

    As a reminder, you can send us your updates, pictures and questions on WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803, external

    The top of a hill, with the ground and a bench covered in a light layer of snow, with the view beyond having a very light dustingImage source, Phil Layton
    Image caption,

    Newlands Corner, Guildford

    A tree white with snow, while a person walks through a park behindImage source, Sarah Bailey
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    Luton

  6. What’s the forecast for the rest of today?published at 11:58 GMT

    Helen Willetts
    Lead weather presenter

    Weather forecast map for Wednesday showing temperatures ranging from 8C in Plymouth down to 3C in Newcastle, Aberdeen and Lerwick

    Sleet and snow showers will continue across Scotland, Northern Ireland, western Wales, south-west England and eastern England - which means further problems for travel, not only with snow but ice too.

    Elsewhere, the early rain and snow mix will clear and the sun will come out, but it will be a bitter day with top temperatures well below November averages - between 7-11C.

    That’s something we've not seen so far this autumn.

    This evening and overnight, there will be little change in the weather with wintry showers continuing to drape themselves around the UK's coastal counties, moving inland on the strong wind.

    It will soon turn frosty, with very few places likely to escape. Following the earlier wintry mix it means ice will become a major hazard for many.

    Remember, the Met Office amber warning for north-east England kicks in at 03:00 GMT on Thursday morning, where as much as 25cm of snow is expected to build up from now until the end of the day tomorrow.

  7. Cold health alerts in place for Englandpublished at 11:51 GMT

    A map of the UK, showing the north of England under an orange cold health alert, with the rest of England yellowImage source, UKHSA

    As well as a number of Met Office weather warnings, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued cold-health alerts for England.

    An amber alert came into effect on Monday and is due to last until Saturday morning for Yorkshire and Humber, and the north-west and north-east regions.

    The rest of England will be under a yellow alert during the same period.

    The UKHSA's head of extreme events and health protection, Agostinho Sousa, says it is "vital to check in on friends, family and neighbours that are most vulnerable".

    "The forecasted temperatures can have a serious impact on the health of some people, leading to increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections, particularly for individuals over the age of 65 and those with pre-existing health conditions," he says.

    Chart titled ‘Adverse weather health alert service – What the alert levels mean.’ Four colour-coded levels are shown: Green – No alert, conditions likely to have minimal impact on health; Yellow – Adverse weather likely to affect vulnerable groups; Amber – Conditions could affect whole population and NHS, travel disruption likely; Red – Significant risk to life, threat to critical infrastructure. Source: UK Health Security Agency
  8. London severe weather plan activated for rough sleeperspublished at 11:45 GMT

    Jess Warren
    BBC London

    London's severe weather emergency protocol (SWEP) has been activated, instigating emergency accommodation for people sleeping rough.

    The plan - which is actioned when temperatures fall to 0C - sees boroughs across the capital, alongside homelessness charities, open additional emergency accommodation for people sleeping rough in conditions that could pose a threat to life.

    More than 13,000 people were seen rough sleeping by outreach workers in London in 2024/25 - the highest number ever recorded on London's homelessness database.

    Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan says the SWEP would ensure anyone sleeping rough was offered emergency accommodation and support to stay off the streets.

  9. How to keep your home warm, while saving moneypublished at 11:37 GMT

    In the cold weather, it can be hard to stay warm and keep your energy bill down.

    Making your home more energy efficient can be costly and may not be possible if you're renting, but there are some cheap solutions to try to save money.

    Plugging gaps in your doors can stop heat from escaping. By simply adding a draught excluder - or even a rolled up towel - you can stop hot air from escaping.

    You can make your own draught excluder with an old pair of jeans and a few basic sewing items - with some more detailed instructions here.

    It's also worth getting some heavy curtains to help keep the heat in the room, if you don't have double-glazed windows, according to the Energy Saving Trust.

    Graphic titled “Plugging gaps can stop heat escaping”. It illustrates a front door with two highlighted areas: the letterbox and the bottom edge. For the letterbox, the graphic suggests using a flap or brush draught excluder. For the bottom of the door, it recommends a brush or hinged flap draught excluder. Source: Energy Saving Trust
  10. Watch: Snow falls across Englandpublished at 11:28 GMT

  11. New weather warnings issued by Met Officepublished at 11:22 GMT
    Breaking

    The Met Office has issued new weather warnings affecting parts of England and Northern Ireland.

    A new yellow snow and ice warning has been issued for all of Northern Ireland - in place from 17:00 GMT today until 12:00 tomorrow. The initial yellow snow and ice warning warning is due to end at lunchtime today.

    A new yellow snow and ice warning has been issued for parts of East Anglia, beginning from 17:00 today until 11:00 tomorrow.

    And an amber snow warning for tomorrow has been updated for parts of north-east England, largely covering the North York Moors. The start time has been brought forward from 05:00 to 03:00 tomorrow morning, and it is still due to end at 21:00.

    Read more about what the weather warnings mean here.

  12. School closures and hazardous roads as snow sweeps north Scotlandpublished at 11:13 GMT

    Ken Banks
    North-east Scotland reporter, in Aberdeen

    Dozens of schools have been closed and travel warnings are in place after snow swept across northern parts of Scotland.

    Fifteen schools in Aberdeenshire and 20 in the Highland Council area are shut for the day. Several schools and nurseries in Shetland and three in Moray are also closed.

    Drivers also face difficult road conditions, with the A9 at Dunbeath in Caithness closed earlier due to a jack-knifed lorry. A car was also photographed crashed into a bollard and lamppost in Aberdeen.

    A yellow warning for snow and ice in the north of the country remains in place until Thursday night.

    A car crashed into lamp post in AberdeenImage source, BBC/Ken Banks
  13. Snow blankets Northumberland church and a wintry dog walk in Windsor - in picturespublished at 11:08 GMT

    A church and the surrounding fields blanketed in snowImage source, PA Media
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    Kiln Pit Hill, Northumberland

    A person walks in the snow with their dog, with Windsor Castle in the background up ahead. The snow is not settling on the groundImage source, Reuters
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    Windsor Castle, Windsor

    A robin on a branch with snow in the backgroundImage source, PA Media
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    Newtonmore, Highland

    Houses and gardens covered in snow in a townImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Tow Law, County Durham

  14. How to drive in snow and icy weatherpublished at 10:59 GMT

    Jennifer Clarke
    BBC News

    Graphic titled ‘Winter driving survival kit’ divided into two sections: ‘Wear’ and ‘Take.’ The ‘Wear’ section shows three red icons with labels: warm winter coat, scarf, hat, gloves; waterproofs; sturdy footwear. The ‘Take’ section displays nine red icons with labels: fully-charged mobile phone and charger; sunglasses; personal medication; first aid kit; sat-nav or printed route; breakdown emergency contact; blanket, rug or sleeping bag; shovel; ice scraper and de-icer; torch and batteries; chocolate or cereal bars; a flask of hot drink. Source: Gov.uk, AA

    Driving in severe winter weather can be difficult, and in very bad conditions you should avoid driving at all unless your journey is absolutely essential.

    But if you do need to use your car in snowy or icy conditions, careful preparations can help.

    Wear warm clothes and comfortable shoes. Pack a waterproof coat, hat, gloves, sturdy boots and a blanket to keep you warm in case you do get stuck or have to leave your car. You may also need sunglasses in bright weather.

    Make sure you have a fully charged mobile, a torch and batteries, and any medication you need.

    Carry a shovel to clear snow and some old bits of carpet, or cat litter, to put under the tyres if you get stuck.

    Graphic titled ‘Stopping distance in snow and ice.’ It compares stopping distances at 50 mph and 30 mph under normal conditions versus snow and ice. At 50 mph: normal conditions require 53 metres (15 m thinking + 38 m braking), while snow and ice require 395 metres (15 m thinking + 380 m braking). At 30 mph: normal conditions require 23 metres (9 m thinking + 14 m braking), while snow and ice require 149 metres (9 m thinking + 140 m braking). Average car length is 4–4.5 metres. Grey bars represent thinking distance; red bars represent braking distance. Source: Gov.uk, AA

    Consider buying winter tyres, which offer extra grip, especially if you live in an area which regularly experiences snow.

    Car batteries run down more quickly in winter. Take regular long journeys to keep yours running well, or consider using a trickle-charger, which is designed to stop your battery going flat.

  15. National Highways urges drivers 'not to be caught out' by winter weatherpublished at 10:54 GMT

    Woman scraping snow off car roofImage source, Owen Humphreys/PA Wire
    Image caption,

    Tow Law, in County Durham, is under a yellow weather warning this morning

    National Highways - which is responsible for operating and maintaining major roads in England - says its winter operation is now "in full swing".

    Darren Clark, the organisation's severe weather resilience adviser, says snowy forecasts and freezing conditions across England means gritters are "already completing their first runs of the season".

    He says: "We work closely with the Met Office, receiving updated forecasts throughout the day and our crews are on duty around the clock, ready to head out whenever they're needed."

    Clark also urged drivers to "not be caught out" by winter weather - making sure to top up on fuel, screen wash, and perform quick checks on lights and tires.

    "Quick checks...and planning ahead, can make all the difference when the weather turns."

  16. How cold does it need to be for snow?published at 10:37 GMT

    Simon King
    Presenter and meteorologist, BBC Weather

    Air temperature needs to be below +2C for it to snow.

    Some of our biggest snowflakes occur when the temperature is between 0 and +2 because snowflakes can stick together when they are slightly melted.

    This leads to what we would call ‘wet snow’, the best type for making snowballs.

    Drier, more powdery snow will occur when the temperature is generally a few degrees below freezing.

    Sometimes it can be too cold to snow, not because of the actual temperature but because the colder the air, the drier it is with no moisture for snow to form.

  17. Your pictures: Snow and ice hit parts of the UKpublished at 10:28 GMT

    We've been receiving pictures of the wintry conditions from you via the BBC's Weather Watchers.

    We'll be posting more throughout the day - please do keep them coming:

    A field and trees are covered in snowImage source, Speygirl
    Image caption,

    Nethy Bridge, Highland

    A road covered in snow, with tracks where vehicles have travelled along, creating mushy iceImage source, gemtelf
    Image caption,

    Rothley, Northumberland

    A snowman wearing a hat, with some grass coming through the snow on the groundImage source, Mr C
    Image caption,

    Glencoe, Highland

    Snow falls on two cars in a driveway. A little bit of snow is settling, but not enough to completely cover the groundImage source, Poppa J
    Image caption,

    Four Marks, Hampshire

    A car stand in a garden while snow falls around itImage source, Laura B
    Image caption,

    Ewell, Surrey

    Snow and frost cover the fields and trees on a hill, while fields and trees which are lower down in the foreground remain green and without snowImage source, Mightyship
    Image caption,

    Bucknell, Shropshire

  18. What weather warnings are in place?published at 10:20 GMT

    The Met Office currently has a number of weather warnings in place across the UK.

    There are yellow warnings for snow and ice in:

    • Until 12:00 GMT today - County Antrim, County Armagh, County Down, County Fermanagh, County Londonderry, County Tyrone
    • Until 21:00 GMT tomorrow - Angus, Perth and Kinross, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Na h-Eileanan Siar, Highland, Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands, Argyll and Bute
    • Until 23:59 GMT tomorrow - Darlington, Durham, Gateshead, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, Northumberland, Redcar and Cleveland, South Tyneside, Stockton-on-Tees, Sunderland, Scottish Borders, East Riding of Yorkshire, Kingston upon Hull, North Yorkshire

    A yellow warning for snow and ice will also be in place from 12:00 GMT - in Cornwall, Devon, Plymouth, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, Swansea.

    Meanwhile there are yellow warnings for ice in:

    • Until 11:00 GMT - Parts of the East Midlands, East of England, London & South East England, North East England, North West England, South West England, Wales, West Midlands, Yorkshire & Humber, Central, Tayside & Fife, SW Scotland, Lothian Borders, Strathclyde

    Weather warnings are issued by the Met Office and are given a colour – yellow, amber, or red – depending on their impact and likelihood.

    A yellow weather warning means there is the potential of bad weather situations causing disruption to travel and activities.

    Timings of these warnings vary. You can see how long your area might be affected for here.

  19. Send us your updates and picturespublished at 10:03 GMT

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    What's the weather like where you are? Send us your wintry pictures and any questions you might have about how to navigate the cold snap.

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    In some cases a selection of your comments and questions will be published, displaying your name and location as you provide it unless you state otherwise. Your contact details will never be published.

  20. Watch: The latest weather forecastpublished at 09:57 GMT