Snow and ice warnings remain in force across the UK, with the Met Office reporting accumulations up to 7cm at Lake Vyrnwy in Powys and at Altnaharra in the Highlands on Wednesday. Conditions have already disrupted road travel and prompted school closures in parts of Scotland. In England, the UK Health Security Agency has issued yellow and amber Cold‑Health Alerts until Saturday, signalling elevated risks for older people and those with underlying conditions.
Two alerting systems are operating in parallel. The Met Office’s National Severe Weather Warning Service addresses weather‑related disruption to transport, power and daily activity. UKHSA’s Cold‑Health Alerts focus on health and social care impacts in England, providing operational prompts for NHS providers, integrated care boards and local authorities. Devolved administrations issue their own public health communications for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Under the Met Office colour scale, a yellow warning indicates the potential for disruption in some places and a need for heightened awareness. Amber denotes a higher likelihood of widespread impacts, including the possibility of power interruptions and a danger to life from severe conditions. For Thursday, an amber snow warning applies to the North York Moors and parts of the Yorkshire Wolds from 03:00 to 21:00 GMT. The Met Office advises that hills above 100 metres could accumulate 15–25cm of snow by day’s end, with gusty winds, blowing snow and isolated thunderstorms increasing hazards.
UKHSA’s Cold‑Health Alerts use green, yellow, amber and red to describe expected impacts on health and care. Yellow indicates minor to moderate effects, with vulnerable groups at risk and some pressure on services. Amber points to significant impacts and sustained demand increases across primary and secondary care, adult social care and community services. For this event, amber alerts cover the North West, North East, and Yorkshire and the Humber, with a yellow alert across the rest of England until 08:00 GMT on Saturday.
Transport operators report localised disruption consistent with the warnings. National Highways has urged drivers on England’s strategic roads to check tyres and lights and to carry warm clothing, food and a torch, noting that more than 500 gritters can be deployed when required. In Scotland, Traffic Scotland has warned of frequent snow showers where warnings apply, while Bear Scotland says gritters are patrolling south‑east and north‑west routes for extra treatment. The Woodhead Pass in Derbyshire reopened on Wednesday afternoon after overnight snowfall, whereas the B4391 in Gwynedd remains closed in both directions. CalMac has advised of cancellations and short‑notice changes on some ferry services.
Education services have activated standard winter protocols. Dozens of schools in north‑east Scotland and the Highlands closed or delayed opening on Wednesday, and around a quarter of schools in Shetland were closed. Decisions are taken locally by headteachers and councils based on site safety, staffing and transport availability, with remote learning used where appropriate.
The Met Office has highlighted a continuing risk of icy surfaces following a mix of overnight rain, sleet and snow. Untreated roads and pavements may be hazardous, and bus and rail operators have cautioned that delays and cancellations are possible. Travellers are advised to plan routes carefully, check for closures and allow additional time for journeys while warnings remain active.
Public bodies should align activity with established winter plans. Local Resilience Forums and councils may open warm spaces, prioritise welfare checks for people at risk of fuel poverty and coordinate with voluntary and community groups. NHS providers and integrated care boards typically escalate discharge planning, review staffing and community capacity, and communicate with care homes and domiciliary care when amber Cold‑Health Alerts are in place.
Thursday night is expected to be the coldest period of the week, with temperatures widely below zero and down to around −12C in rural parts of Scotland, according to the Met Office. Conditions are forecast to ease into the weekend, with temperatures moving closer to seasonal norms by Saturday, though residual ice and snow may continue to affect higher routes and shaded surfaces.
For the public, the priority is safety: consider whether journeys are essential during periods of amber warning, carry winter essentials in vehicles, and check on neighbours who may be vulnerable. For organisations, focus remains on clear public messaging, continuity of critical services and timely updates using official channels from the Met Office, UKHSA and relevant transport operators.