Manchester Airport closed both runways again today amid heavy snow as weather warnings remained in force across the UK with commuters enduring more disruption.
Icy roads and torrential rain presented additional hazards along with flooding and thawing snow, with 146 flood warnings and 283 alerts issued across England.
Teams at Manchester Airports worked to clear the runways of snow this morning amid delays and diversions for flights, a day after both were shut for the same reason.
Meanwhile thousands of journeys on the M25 in Surrey were delayed as the road was closed from junction 10 for the A3 to junction eight for Reigate due to a lorry crash.
Elsewhere, the M5 in Gloucestershire was closed southbound from junction 11A for Gloucester to junction 12 for Quedgeley because of ‘extensive flooding’.
And there was a huge North/South split in temperatures early this morning as the mercury dropped to -12.5C (9.5F) in the Highlands but was at 11C (52F) in London.
It comes after most of the UK saw heavy snow or icy rainfall over a wintry weekend that had two larger Met Office amber weather warnings in place, while there were stranded vehicles and collisions which blocked key roads across northern England.
Today, a yellow rain warning for southern England from Cornwall across to Kent will last until 9am this morning, while a separate rain warning covering much of Wales, the Midlands and parts of Greater Manchester and Yorkshire was in force until 8am.
A yellow warning for snow and ice for most of northern England and Wales will be in place until midday, while a yellow ice warning for Northern Ireland expires at 11am.
Manchester Airport closed both runways again this morning as flights were delayed
A person walks through snow in Bradford, West Yorkshire, today amid the wintry weather
The Environment Agency had issued 146 flood warnings (in red), meaning flooding is expected, and 283 flood alerts (in amber), meaning flooding is possible, across England today
The north and west of Scotland had a yellow warning for snow and ice until 11am today, with another for snow and ice in central and eastern parts until midday.
A further yellow snow warning covering part of the Scottish Lowlands including Edinburgh was in place until midday.
An amber weather warning for snow – which covered parts of Lancashire, Cumbria and the Lake District – expired at 6am today.
The Environment Agency issued 146 flood warnings, meaning flooding is expected, and 283 flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible, across England this morning.
It said a combination of melting snow and rain could lead to ‘significant river flooding’ in areas of Lancashire and Warwickshire today, and it advised people to stay away from swollen rivers and to not drive through flood water.
A person walks through snow in Bradford, West Yorkshire, today amid the wintry weather
A snowy start to the day in Bradford, West Yorkshire, today as warnings remain in force
Thousands of journeys on the M25 in Surrey were being delayed as the motorway was closed in the anti-clockwise direction from junction 10 for the A3 to junction eight for Reigate.
National Highways said a lorry has ‘struck the central reservation and come to rest sideways across the carriageway’.
In a later update, it said the vehicle has been removed and the road surface was ‘being assessed by a specialist engineer for damages’. A diversion was in place via A-roads.
National Highways also said the M5 in Gloucestershire was closed southbound from junction 11A for Gloucester to junction 12 for Quedgeley because of ‘extensive flooding’.
In an update at 7.05am, it said ‘contractors are en route to try and deal with the flooding’.
The link road from junction 11A southbound to the A417 southbound at Brockworth interchange was closed after ‘flooding following heavy rainfall in the area caused drains to become blocked’.
The road was later reopened.
Warwickshire Police said early today that a stretch of the A46 was shut in both directions due to flooding.
The force said in a statement: ‘The northbound section has been shut at Sherbourne and Longbridge, while the southbound section has been shut from Stanks to prevent traffic entering.’
South Wales Police warned the A48 was closed from the Llanedeyrn roundabout due to a serious road traffic collision, with eastbound traffic down to one lane.
Natural Resources Wales had four flood warnings and 29 flood alerts in place.
Cold air will return and remain across the whole country from today onwards after a brief spell of milder conditions in southern areas, the Met Office said.
Deputy chief forecaster Mike Silverstone said: ‘The low pressure that brought the snow and heavy rain in the south will move out to the east by Monday.
‘This will allow a cold northerly flow to become established again for much of next week.
‘This will bring further sleet, snow and hail showers to northern Scotland in particular, but possibly to some other areas, especially near western coasts, with a fair amount of dry and bright weather elsewhere.
‘Temperatures will remain below average, with widespread frost and the threat of ice at times. Some areas, especially in the north, may struggle to get above freezing for several days.’
Further weather warnings could be issued with the potential for some snow to fall in southern and central England and Wales around the middle of the week, Mr Silverstone said.
