Icy roads across Cambridgeshire tonight

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for ice across much of southern England, including Cambridgeshire, from 5pm on Tuesday to 10am on Wednesday. This follows significant snowfalls and freezing temperatures that caused widespread travel disruption and the closure of over 200 schools.

As Arctic air grips the UK, snowfall has been reported widely, with some areas, such as Nottinghamshire, seeing up to 12cm of snow. The conditions have led to major issues for commuters, with East Midlands Railway cancelling or delaying over half of its planned services by Tuesday morning.

Stephen Dixon, a spokesperson for the Met Office, highlighted the impact of the sudden cold snap. "We've had a fairly mild November so far," he said. "So it'll feel like that first taste of winter for many with that snow and ice risk layered on top." He noted that temperatures could plunge further, reaching -12C in rural Scotland and -7C in Wales.

Sub-zero temperatures affected much of the UK on Monday night, with Braemar in Aberdeenshire recording -11.2C. The ongoing wintry weather is expected to cause continued disruption throughout the week, with the highest snow accumulations forecast for the Scottish mountains.

Travel disruptions were not limited to trains. A Stagecoach bus in Aberdeenshire was involved in an incident, tipping onto its side due to icy conditions on Tuesday morning. A representative for Stagecoach North Scotland confirmed: "One of our vehicles operating on service X67 has been involved in an incident at New Leeds this morning due to ice on the road. One passenger was on board, and there were no injuries."

In response to the severe weather, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued the first amber cold weather health alert of the season. Vulnerable groups, particularly the elderly, are at risk, and the warning is set to remain in place across parts of England, including the Midlands and the East, until Saturday.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist Neil Armstrong stressed that the cold Arctic air would maintain winter hazards throughout the week, with further updates to warnings anticipated. "With cold Arctic air firmly in place over the UK, continued winter hazards are likely through much of this week," he said.

Further snow and ice warnings have been issued for various parts of the UK, with conditions expected to gradually change by the weekend as temperatures are predicted to rise from the south-west. However, this warming will likely be accompanied by strong winds and heavy rain.

Health charities have also raised concerns about the impact of the cold on vulnerable groups. The Alzheimer’s Society noted that cold weather can be particularly challenging for those with dementia, who may not recognize the need to stay warm. Asthma + Lung UK has urged people with lung conditions to take extra precautions, warning that cold weather can trigger severe asthma attacks or lung condition flare-ups.

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