Weather warning as temperatures plummet and snow returns

The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning across the UK with heavy snow storms and widespread icy roads affecting large areas of the country.

Snow is expected to fall in nearly every part of the UK over Saturday and Sunday, with temperatures struggling to climb above freezing.

Scotland has been hit by blizzards causing major disruption to travel networks. Police in the Highlands have advised against travel. Heavy falls around Aberdeen left traffic at a standstill, with four-mile journeys taking up to four hours.

Heavy snow has also affected Northern Ireland, parts of Wales and south-west England with some delays for commuters trying to reach London.

Some airports, such as Belfast International, have closed in Scotland and Northern Ireland. London City Airport’s runway was also closed today. Passengers are urged to check with their travel operator.

At least 772 schools in Wales, 200 in Scotland and 220 in Northern Ireland are closed.

“There is an ongoing risk of snow across the UK through the weekend with the potential for significant snow leading to disruption on Saturday,” Martin Young, chief forecaster at the Met Office said.

“We are continuing to keep a close eye on how the forecast develops over the next day or so.”

Fuel rationing

With snow and icy roads delaying travel fears are growing that thousands of homes could be without heating and presents could go undelivered over the Christmas period.

Rocketing oil prices and restricted deliveries have already left families without fuel and the Government has warned the situation could become “very serious” if the cold weather persists.

“This year in Scotland and the North East it is likely Father Christmas won’t be coming.” Global Freight Solutions

Ministers warned that homes, schools and hospitals could face fuel rationing over Christmas as supplies of heating oil hit “crisis” point during the latest cold snap.

In the last month alone oil prices have jumped from under 40p a litre to more than 70p in some cases, amid allegations oil companies are fixing their prices.

Christmas delivery disruption

A backlog of around four million parcels could grow during the predicted cold snap, as private carriers struggle to overcome delays caused by the first spell of snow and ice.

Several internet retailers have stopped taking orders for deliveries in Scotland, according to the Guardian, as freight experts warn that gifts may not arrive in time for the Christmas holiday.

Industry insiders said it could be the first year in which depots and offices do not clear all their gifts.

Simon Veale, director of parcel and carrier management firm Global Freight Solutions, said dealing with the backlog was like “bailing water out of a sinking ship”.

“This year in Scotland and the North East it is likely Father Christmas won’t be coming,” he added.

“There are likely to be more than four million new parcels in the system every day this week on top of several million more which still had to be cleared from the recent extreme weather.

“If there are additional falls of snow, as the weather forecasts are suggesting, the unhappy situation will be compounded further still.”

The Royal Mail is planning to deliver 7,000 rounds on Sunday to around one million addresses.

Blood donors urgently needed

The current bout of bad weather has had a severe affect on medical blood supplies.

The NHS today made an urgent appeal for blood donors – particularly people who are O negative – as stocks run low.

Stocks of O negative blood have fallen below “preferred levels”, with just 1,928 units left in store (each unit is just under a pint).

During the last cold patch of early December a total of 69 donor sessions were cancelled in one week during the worst of the recent weather in England and North Wales, figures show.

Even those centres that managed to hold sessions saw fewer donors coming through the doors.

Festive getaway

The disruption came as the start of the Christmas getaway began, with the AA predicting that 18 million cars will take to the roads over the festive period.

The delays at UK airports were happening on what travel organisation Abta said was one of the two busiest pre-Christmas days for plane departures, with the other being next Thursday.

Abta has estimated that nearly four million Britons will be heading overseas over the Christmas and new year period.

The snowfall at the end of November was the earliest widespread snow for 17 years, according to the Met Office. Thousands of schools were forced to close, flights and trains were cancelled, and the AA said it came close to its busiest day on record with callouts peaking at almost 25,000.

Children slide down a snow covered hill at Stormont estate in Belfast, Northern Ireland.