UK weather: ‘Thundersnow’ hits as schools closed and travel disrupted in cold snap

Yorkshire Water’s director of water, Neil Dewis, has confronted by an angry resident as he joined other agencies’ representatives for a press conference in the Stannington area of Sheffield this afternoon, where thousands have been left without gas in freezing temperatures after a burst water main flooded the system.

Since the weekend, more than 200 engineers from distribution company Cadent have been working to restore gas to almost 2,000 homes which lost their supply as temperatures plummeted.

Lyndsey Hudson, who said she found her house flooding at the weekend due to the incident, told Mr Dewis that Cadent and the other agencies involved had provided “brilliant” help – but Yorkshire Water had not listened to her pleas.

“They have not been on the ground and they have not listened. Cadent have been brilliant. Northern Powergrid have been amazing on our road. But nobody from Yorkshire Water ... You haven’t taken it seriously.”

Mr Dewis apologised and asked for Ms Hudson’s details.

Cabinet Office minister Oliver Dowden has insisted he has confidence in the power networks “barring a very exceptional circumstance” when asked about the threat of blackouts during freezing weather.

Labour MP Afzal Khan told the Commons: “The UK’s power supply is already stretched to breaking point with the National Grid telling us that blackouts are now a very real possibility”, and asked Mr Dowden to “urgently explain to my vulnerable constituents what they should do to remain safe and warm in the event of a power blackout during freezing cold temperatures”.

Mr Dowden said: “In respect of the winter weather, the Cabinet Office is keeping a close eye on it, and indeed I have been briefed on the situation. On the wider situation in relation to energy supply, I am working closely with my colleague [business secretary Grant Shapps].

“He and I have strong confidence about the resilience of the UK power networks. And excepting a very exceptional circumstance, we are confident that we will continue supply throughout the winter.”

The weather warning for snow and ice, in force across the vast majority of Scotland, has now been extended all the way through until Sunday lunchtime.

Warning that snow showers and icy surfaces will bring some travel disruption, the Met Office says to expect:

“Thundersnow” has struck in Aberdeenshire, as thunderstorms illuminate the falling snow.

“Whilst most of the showers around the coasts are falling as rain or sleet today, there's been some snow over the hills,” said the Met Office. “There's even been some thunderstorms in Aberdeenshire, giving localised thundersnow over higher ground.”

There is an “increasing risk of snow as the week progresses”, the Met Office has said.

“Showers will turn more wintry with an increasing risk of snow as the week progresses, particularly in coastal areas or over higher ground,” said Met Office chief meteorologist Steve Willington.

“There will be widespread frosts with temperatures falling to as low as -10C overnight in isolated spots by the end of the week.”

With dozens of schools closed today in the Aberdeenshire area, the Met Office has reported 5cm of snow in Aboyne and 3cm at Dyce.

The BBC is reporting an overnight temperature of -9.3C on the mountain of Anoch Mor, close to Ben Nevis.

Edinburgh residents have been sharing images of snow in the Scottish capital on social media this morning.

Despite the currently icy conditions in the UK, scientists now expect that 2022 will turn out to have been one of the warmest years on record globally.

Manchester United has opened a warm room for people struggling with the cold weather and cost of living crisis, the South West News Service reports.

The football club has created a hub in the Red Cafe at their Old Trafford stadium for children and adults, available for three weeks between 5pm and 8pm for those seeking relief from the icy conditions, after opening earlier this week.

Here are more icy temperatures from across the country this morning, via BBC meteorologist Simon King.