Icy conditions in Sunderland caused this car to flip over (Picture: PA)
Drivers in North Yorkshire were forced to abandon their cars and walk on foot after heavy snow, with more wintry weather on the way today.
Parts of north-east England, where an amber warning for snow has come into force, could see blizzard conditions, the Met Office said.
Sleet and snow showers continued to hit UK coasts overnight into Thursday with the worst-affected areas set to face disruption to travel and potential power cuts, according to the forecaster.
As much as 25cm of snow could settle on high ground on the North York Moors and the surrounding area. The region’s amber warning remains in place until 9pm this evening.
The snow grounded some flights at Aberdeen Airport this morning too, affecting routes to Amsterdam and Manchester as well as delaying arrivals from Kirkwall, Sumburgh and Manchester.
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Photos of motorists facing long queues near the Moors on the A171 Birk Brow, and some left stranded in sub-zero temperatures, went viral on social media yesterday.
Brrrrridlington in Yorkshire is facing harsh winter conditions today (Picture: LNP)
Locals in Newcastle woke up to blankets of snow (Picture: North News and Pictures)
Met Office meteorologist Greg Dewhurst said: ‘Thursday will be a sunny day for most, but there will be further sleet and snow showers for coastal stretches, which will filter a little inland too. Heavy across north-east England in particular.
‘The highest snowfall totals from Wednesday night through Thursday will likely be across the Sperrins, North Yorkshire Moors, Northwest Highlands, Grampians and upland Pembrokeshire.’
The national weather service said rural communities could become cut off in the amber warning area as gusty winds hit, creating ‘occasional blizzard conditions’, with the possibility of lightning a further hazard.
Shaun Jones, AA Expert Patrol, warned that when snow and ice hit, the roads can quickly become treacherous.
‘Stopping distances can increase tenfold on icy surfaces, so slowing down and leaving plenty of space is absolutely vital,’ he said.
Snow and ice are expected today, with some amber warnings issued (Graphic: Metro)
Heavy snowfall has been seen in northern England and across Scotland (Picture: Facebook)
On health concerns from the temperature dropping, Boots Superintendent Pharmacist Claire Nevinson said: ‘Cold weather can affect the body’s ability to fight off viruses and infections.’
She said older people and ‘those with existing health conditions’ are more at risk, so people should take steps to stay warm such as using ‘a heated blanket’, ‘layering up’ before going outside and wearing ‘hand warmers’.
Wintry showers will hit East Anglia, western Wales and Cornwall overnight, but persisting snow in the North East could cause ‘substantial disruption’, the Met Office said.
Some five yellow warnings for snow and ice are in place across the country on Thursday, with alerts for the coast of north-east England, Cornwall, Devon and western Wales in place until 11.59 pm.
Reindeer were spotted in the snow near Aviemore, Scotland (Picture: PA)
The Scottish Highlands have seen a thick blanket of snow (Picture: PA)
National Rail has urged rail commuters to check their journeys before travelling during the snowy and icy weather.
It said speed restrictions may be in place for trains to run safely, which could result in cancellations, alterations and delays to services.
Cold Arctic air continues to take hold across the country, with the mercury overnight dropping to as low as -6C at Spadeadam in Cumbria.
But the coldest temperatures could still be ahead, the Met Office warned, with potential for lows of -12C in areas of lying snow in Scotland on Friday.
Temperatures will begin to rise closer to averages for this time of year at the weekend when wetter and windier weather arrives, but it will not be as ‘exceptionally mild’ as it was earlier in November, the forecaster said.
More than 100 schools in northern Scotland shut
Around 100 schools in northern Scotland are closed as snow and ice bring further disruption across the area.
More than 90 schools are shut in Aberdeenshire, while two are shut in Moray. In the Highlands, seven are closed, while many have delayed opening times due to the weather.
In the highlands, eight nurseries, 13 primary schools and one secondary school are closed or partially closed.
Aboyne Academy – Closed to everyone
Aboyne Primary School – Closed to everyone
Alehousewells School – Closed to everyone
Alford Academy – Closed to everyone
Alford Primary School – Closed to everyone
Arduthie School – Closed to everyone
Auchnagatt School – Transport not operating
Auchterellon School – Opening delayed
Auchterless School – Closed to everyone
Ballater School – Closed to everyone
Ballogie Nursery – Closed to everyone
Banchory Academy – Closed to pupils only
Banchory Primary School – Closed to everyone
Banchory-Devenick School – Closed to everyone
Banff Academy – Changes to transport routes
Banff Primary School – Opening delayed
Barthol Chapel School – Closed to everyone
Bervie School – Closed to everyone, transport not operating
Braemar School – Closed to everyone
Cairney School – Closed to everyone
Carronhill School – Closed to everyone
Catterline School – Closed to everyone
Chapel of Garioch School – Closed to everyone
Cluny School – Closed to everyone
Craigievar School – Closed to everyone
Crathes School – Closed to pupils only
Crathie School – Closed to everyone
Crombie School – Closed to everyone
Crossroads Nursery, Durris – Closed to everyone
Cultercullen School – Closed to everyone
Daviot School – Closed to everyone
Drumblade School – Closed to everyone
Drumoak School – Closed to everyone
Dunecht School – Closed to everyone
Dunottar School (Nursery is not operational at present) – Closed to everyone
Durris School – Closed to everyone
Echt School – Closed to everyone
Ellon Academy – Opening delayed
Ellon Primary School – Opening delayed, Transport not operating
Elrick School – Closed to everyone
Finzean School – Closed to everyone
Fishermoss School – Closed to everyone
Fyvie School – Opening delayed
Glass School – Closed to everyone
Glenbervie School – Closed to everyone
Gordon Primary School – Closed to everyone
The Gordon Schools – Closed to everyone
Gourdon School – Closed to everyone
Hatton Fintray School – Closed to everyone
Hatton School, Cruden – Closed to everyone
Hill of Banchory School – Closed to everyone
Hillside School – Closed to everyone
Insch School – Transport not operating, Opening delayed
Inverurie Academy – Closed to everyone
Johnshaven School – Closed to everyone
Keig School – Closed to everyone, transport not operating
Keithhall School – Closed to everyone
Kellands School – Closed to everyone
Kemnay Academy – Closed to everyone
Kemnay Primary School – Closed to everyone
Kennethmont School – Closed to everyone
Kincardine O’Neil School – Closed to everyone
Kinellar School – Closed to everyone
Kintore School – Closed to everyone
Lairhillock School – Closed to everyone
Logie Durno School – Closed to everyone
Lumphanan School – Closed to everyone
Lumsden School – Closed to everyone
Mackie Academy – Closed to everyone
Mearns Academy – Changes to transport routes
Meldrum Academy – Closed to everyone
Meldrum School – Closed to everyone
Methlick School – Closed to everyone
Midmar School – Closed to everyone
Midmill School – Closed to everyone
Mill O’ Forest School – Closed to everyone
Mintlaw Academy – Changes to transport routes
Monquhitter School – Opening delayed
Monymusk School – Closed to everyone
New Machar School – Closed to everyone
Newtonhill School – Closed to everyone
Old Rayne School – Closed to everyone
Oyne School – Closed to everyone
Pitmedden School – Closed to everyone
Port Elphinstone School – Closed to everyone
Portlethen Academy – Closed to everyone
Portlethen School – Closed to everyone
Premnay School – Closed to everyone
Rayne North School – Closed to everyone
Redmyre School – Closed to everyone
Rhynie School – Closed to everyone
Rothienorman School – Closed to everyone
Skene School Closed to everyone
St Andrew’s School, Inverurie – Closed to everyone
St Cyrus School – Closed to everyone
Strathburn School – Closed to everyone
Strathdon School – Closed to everyone
Tarland School – Closed to everyone
Tarves School – Closed to everyone
Torphins School – Closed to everyone
Tough School – Closed to everyone
Towie School – Closed to everyone
Turriff Academy – Closed to everyone
Turriff Primary School – Closed to everyone
Udny Green School – Closed to everyone
Uryside School – Closed to everyone
Westhill Academy – Closed to everyone
Westhill Primary School – Closed to everyone
Highlands
Achiltibuie Primary: Partially closed – opening two hours later
Arisaig Primary: Partially closed – opening one hour later
Bun-Sgoil Shlèite: Closed
Coulhill Primary: Partially closed – opening one hour later
Coulhill Primary Nursery: Partially closed – opening one hour later
Gairloch High School: Partially closed – opening one hour later
Gairloch Primary: Partially closed – opening one hour later
Gairloch Primary Nursery – EM: Partially closed – opening one hour later
Gairloch Primary Nursery – GM: Partially closed – opening one hour later
Gledfield Primary: Partially closed – opening one hour later
Kyle Primary: Partially closed – opening one hour later
Kyle Primary Nursery: Partially closed – opening one hour later
Kyleakin Primary: Partially closed – opening one hour later
Kyleakin Primary Nursery: Partially closed – opening one hour later
Lady Lovat Primary: Partially closed – opening one hour later
Lairg Primary: Closed
Lairg Primary Nursery: Closed
Lochinver Early Learning and Childcare: Closed
Mallaig Primary: Partially closed – opening one hour later
Rogart Primary: Closed
Rogart Primary Nursery: Closed
Rosehall Primary: Closed
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