Key events
Yellow warnings of snow and ice affecting millions of people are in place in parts of south-eastern England, as well as the northernmost areas of Scotland.
The snow’s likely to continue to cause problems in the latter until Thursday, forecasters said, while the former is likely to be dealing with icy conditions until Tuesday.
Ice and fog is forecast for millions more in western areas of England, including around the Welsh border, an area in the country’s east stretching from Lincolnshire to County Durham, and throughout all of Northern Ireland. Met Office meteorologist Rachel Ayers said:
It will continue to be a very cold day, with maximum temperatures of 1C to 4C on Sunday, and, as we head into the evening, we see persistent rain, sleet or snow in the far south-east of England, which is what we have a yellow warning out for from 6pm on Sunday.
We could see 2cm to 5cm (of snow), perhaps up to 10cm in some places, with Kent and Sussex most affected, with areas most exposed such as North and South Downs and higher ground going to see the more significant accumulations.
There will be ice forming, particularly near to the coast where there is rain and sleet, and freezing temperatures which could cause some travel disruption to start Monday with that valid until 9am.
Ayers said that, although cold temperatures, freezing fog and wintry showers are expected through the week, cloud cover could prevent some of the more extreme temperatures experienced in recent days.
She added that there is a possibility of slightly milder conditions arriving next weekend but it is too early to be certain. The AA has advised motorists to adjust their driving to the freezing conditions on Monday morning.
Airports warn passengers to check latest flight status before departing
Airports are also being affected, with both Gatwick and Stansted having to close their runways to clear snow on Sunday. The latter said:
London Stansted Airport’s runway is currently closed to allow for snow clearance due to weather conditions and all flights are currently suspended. Delays to flights were experienced earlier due to de-icing of aircraft which is a ground handler’s responsibility and safety of aircraft and passengers is paramount. Passengers are advised to check with their airline for current status of their flights.
Gatwick tweeted:
Sunday 11/ Monday 12 December: Snow and freeezing weather may cause disruption at the airport. Passengers are advised to check flight status with their airline – and also local travel conditions – before departing for the airport.
— Gatwick Airport LGW (@Gatwick_Airport) December 11, 2022
The airport is open and flights are operating however snow and freezing weather is causing some delays and cancelations at the airport today. Passengers are advised to check flight status with their airline – and also local travel conditions – before departing for the airport.
— Gatwick Airport LGW (@Gatwick_Airport) December 12, 2022
Newspaper distribution, including of The Times and The Sun, experienced significant disruption overnight which may flow on into delivery delays “in many parts of the country”.
News UK said severe weather in the south-eastern England had impacted Newsprinters in Broxbourne.
We apologise to retailers and customers who are not able to get a copy of their usual newspaper. Newsprinters will make continued efforts to deliver newspapers to retailers during Monday. Please follow our websites and apps for news and further updates
Road users in south-east England asked not to travel unless essential
Road users in the south-east of England are being asked by National Highways not to travel unless it’s essential, due to heavy snowfall overnight, with up to 10cm of snow having been forecast.
Kent was being particularly hard hit, with snow severely affecting the M2, the M20 around junctions 8 and 9, as well as the A21 and the A249, with drivers struggling to get through, the organisation said. Speaking last night, National Highways duty operations manager for the region Gina Oxley, said:
We have been out gritting throughout the afternoon and we’re continuing to treat routes so we can reach the worst-affected areas and support our customers with their journeys.
For anyone thinking of travelling tonight, our advice would be not to unless absolutely essential as heavy snow is expected to continue until 9am.
Cameron McVittie, a tactical commander with West Midlands ambulance service, said:
On being rescued, the four children were taken under blue lights to hospital with an advanced care team. Two were taken to Birmingham children’s hospital and two to Heartlands in Birmingham. All four children were in critical condition on arrival.
Unfortunately, the children in the water were in cardiac arrest and were receiving advanced life support en route to hospital.
The press conference heard that one of the police officers suffered mild hypothermia and is making a full recovery in hospital.
Children rescued from lake in Solihull
Four children were taken to hospital in critical condition after being rescued from a lake in Solihull in the West Midlands, having fallen through ice on Sunday afternoon. Richard Stanton, the area commander for the West Midlands fire and rescue service, said:
We know that the weather forecast for the next few days is expected to be bitterly cold. Please, adults and children alike, stay away from open water, under no circumstances venture on to ice regardless how thick or safe you think this ice may be.
The children were pulled from the water in cardiac arrest, while a search operation was launched amid fears two more children were involved in the incident.
Emergency services were called to Babbs Mill Park in Kingshurst, a nature park in Solihull, at 2.36pm on Sunday. Last night, Stanton told a press conference:
When our firefighters arrived, a number of police officers and members of the public were in the water trying to reach and rescue the children.
Our crews entered the water, swam to the first child and our specialist-trained firefighters, including technical rescue, rescued three further children.
The children were brought out of the water where they received immediate life-support care from firefighters and our ambulance colleagues.
He later added that they were “made aware there were up to six people in the water” when firefighters arrived.
So, after rescuing the four children, we have continued the search and rescue operation to confirm whether there were any more in the water. The specialist medical advice we have been given on the scene, given the temperature of the water, given the age of those who entered the water and the amount of time they have been in there, this would no longer be a search and rescue operation.
Transport warnings as snow hits
Travel disruption is expected to push into Monday’s morning rush-hour, with yellow warnings of ice, fog and snow in place for much of the UK.
The Met Office issued the alerts as temperatures were expected to stay well below freezing overnight and combine with wintry showers to create icy conditions. Forecaster say problems caused by snow, ice and fog are likely to persist throughout the week.
Snowfall on Sunday evening forced airports to close runways and left drivers struggling to get through.