UK snow sparks travel carnage with commuters warned train lines face HOURS of delays

Dan Suri, Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office, said: "An area of low pressure slides its way eastwards on Monday night. The associated frontal system, marking the boundary between cold air in the north and milder conditions to the south, will bring disruptive snow to some areas between Monday evening and Tuesday morning.

"This is likely to coincide with rush hour, leading to disruption to some transport routes across a central swathe of the UK on Tuesday morning. It will also be windy in the far south."

The A628 (Woodhead Pass) is closed in both directions between the A616 (Hollingworth) and the A57 (Flouch) due to snow, as road users are advised to use the M60, M62 and M1 as an alternative route. In the West Midlands, There are reports of slow traffic due to accident on A5 in both directions at Woodford Lane, between Nuneaton and Atherstone.

National Highways issued an amber severe snow alert for roads across the North East and North West of the country. Road users were advised to take extra care and avoid the area if possible. Impacted roads included the M26 between J21-J23, the M1 at Leeds and Sheffield and the M56 at Manchester.

Mersey Rail has issued an alert warning passengers that due to the potential of snow and ice covering tracks, and the first service on each line in north west England would run without customers to ensure conditions could be checked.

National Rail warned the cold climate would impact various routes on the Northern Rail until at least 2pm on Tuesday. Impacted areas included the Bradford Interchange and Huddersfield, and also between Halifax and Hebden Bridge and Hull.

TransPennine Express have given customers an option to use tickets bought for this evening or tomorrow on Wednesday instead if they wish to change their travel plans due to the forecast.

LATEST SNOW NEWS

• UK snow warning: Met Office extends alert with 'disruptive' weather to strike as country wakes up
• School closures: 74 shut across UK close as snow brings chaos - Find out if your area is impacted
• Drivers warned to expect severe weather on motorways this week risking £5k fines

There have been delays at East Midlands Airport, with crews working through the morning to deal with ice. A spokesman said: "We’re happy to report that our runway is clear of snow, although some departures may still experience delays as our teams de-ice planes and clear the walkways.

"Please check with your airline for the latest flight information and allow extra travel time today. Thank you for your patience and understanding."

There are also delays of 40 to 60 minutes to departing flights remain at Birmingham Airport due to snowy conditions in the area. However, arrivals are not impacted, reports CoventryLive.

A spokesman from the airport has urged people to check their flight before leaving for the airport.

The Alzheimer’s Society warned that cold weather can be "particularly challenging" for people with dementia.

"Colder temperatures can be difficult for a person with dementia to adjust to, and they may not always be able to communicate that they are cold – or they may not even recognise it themselves," the charity said.

It advised the public to check in on loved ones, friends and neighbours living with the condition.

Dr Agostinho Sousa, from the UK Health and Saftey Agency, said: "This is the first amber Cold Weather Health Alert of the season, but we can expect more as we approach winter, and it is vital to check in on vulnerable friends, family and neighbours to ensure they are well prepared for the onset of cold weather. Particularly if they are elderly or otherwise at increased risk."