UK snow warning: Wintry blast leaves chaos across the North… and there’s more to come

Motorists faced treacherous driving conditions today as heavy snow and strong winds battered the North of England.

Roads were particularly hazardous in the Pennines as several centimeters of snow fell in the region and freezing temperatures froze road surfaces overnight.

The M62 eastbound between junctions 21 at Milnrow and 22 at Rishworth Moor was closed when a number of vehicles broke down in drifting snow.

Amid the chaos, dozens of cars were left with punctured tyres on the M62 in Merseyside after running over metal plates that dropped off the back of a lorry at around 6am this morning.

[Related gallery: Freak spring snow hits the UK]

A number of major routes across the North were also shut – including the A66 in Cumbria and the A537 in Cheshire.

In the north-east, the A68 in Durham was closed and 40,000 homes were left without power after the area was badly affected by snow.



Chief Supt Andy Reddick of Durham Police warned: “We advise motorists to drive with caution in the adverse conditions, moderate their speed and check their routes in advance. As far as the power outage is concerned we know that every effort is being made to restore electricity but efforts are being hampered by the weather.

[Related link: Check your local five-day forecast]

“In the meantime I would urge everyone in the affected areas to be good neighbours. If you have an elderly or vulnerable person living near you, please check that they are OK and help them wrap up warm.”

Three-foot snow drifts also caused problems for motorists in parts of in North Yorkshire, mainly along routes across the Moors.

An Amber Met Office warning has been issued as sleet and snow is due to move south during the day, but gusty winds are set to continue.

It said: “Rain is expected to turn to snow on high ground as colder air moves south across England and Wales during today. Some 2-5cm of snow is likely in places, mainly above around 200 metres (656ft) with as much as 10-15cm possible above 300 metres.

“Little, if any, snow is expected to accumulate on roads and pavements below 200 metres. The area of rain, sleet and snow will clear from the north during the day.”

The weather comes only a week after much of the UK baked in unseasonal temperatures up to 24C in the third warmest March on record.

On Monday, Scottish Hydro reported that over 11,000 homes in Scotland had no electricity after many parts were blanketed in as much as six inches of snow. Most have already been reconnected with power.

Nine hikers were saved by mountain rescuers after they became stranded in blizzard conditions in the Cairngorms.