Amber “danger to life” weather warnings have been issued for parts of the UK on Thursday as Storm Goretti is expected to bring heavy snowfall, ice and wind.
The storm, named by French meteorological service Meteo-France, means that six weather warnings will cover the United Kingdom on Thursday including an amber wind warning for 80-90mph winds in Cornwall, meaning there will be a “danger to life” from large waves and debris.
An amber snow warning on Thursday night will bring accumulations of 10-15 cm widely, with the potential for 20-30 cm in some locations, mainly on hills above 200 m elevation, more especially in Wales and/or the Peak District.
Four yellow weather warnings for snow and ice cover other parts of the UK, including Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Midlands.
Icy weather today has caused travel disruption after a bus in Kent slipped off the road into a ditch.
Kent Fire and Rescue Service warned: “Crews are reminding everyone to use extra caution when driving in cold temperatures as there could be black ice on the roads, so avoid sudden breaking and leave plenty of space between you and the vehicle in front.”
Key Points
- Fire service issues warning about black ice after bus slips off road
- New weather warning for Northern Ireland and Scotland on Thursday
- Thousands of UK passengers grounded by chaos at Amsterdam airport
- What weather warnings are in place for today?
- Storm Goretti brings amber warnings for heavy snow
Nine children among 18 injured after school coach crashes with Reading bus due to black ice
13:23 , Tara CobhamNine children are among 18 people who have been injured after a school coach crashed with a bus due to black ice.
Police confirmed there were two collisions at a roundabout in Reading on Wednesday as a result of the bad weather – one involving two cars and one involving a school coach and a Reading bus.
Nine children from the school coach suffered minor injuries, along with the coach driver, and eight adults from the Reading bus also suffered minor wounds. Two people were taken to hospital, while the remaining 16 people were discharged at the scene.
No one was injured in the crash involving two cars.
Thames Valley Police said “road conditions were very icy at the scene” with “weather-related black ice” confirmed as the cause of the incidents.
Cold weather payments triggered in over 400 postcodes
13:01 , Bryony Gooch Cold weather payments triggered in over 400 postcodes – check if you’re eligible
Watch: Moment passerby walks over frozen lake to save dog walker stuck in ice
12:50 , Bryony GoochVulnerable pensioners to receive extra support as Cold Weather Payments triggered
12:41 , Bryony GoochVulnerable pensioners and other households on low incomes will receive automatic payments of £25 to help them stay warm this week, the Department of Work and Pensions has said after cold weather payments were triggered six times since November last year.
Over one million eligible households to automatically receive £25 for every seven-consecutive-day period of very cold weather.
Payments have been triggered in 697 postcodes across parts of England, Wales and Northern Ireland as temperatures drop to zero degrees or below.
Support is available to those on Pension Credit as well as some on Universal Credit and other qualifying benefits
Red Cross teams on the ground in Scotland and Northern Ireland
12:25 , Bryony GoochBritish Red Cross teams have been on the ground in areas including Scotland and Northern Ireland, providing support to those affected by the freezing conditions. The charity has also deployed emergency response vehicles to help transport domiciliary care workers, ensuring vital care reaches people who need it most.
Eleanor Stack, British Red Cross Operations Lead, said: "With multiple yellow weather warnings for snow and ice on Wednesday and Thursday, our teams are on standby again.
“As the temperature dips, there are some simple steps we can all take to make sure we are prepared for the colder weather. This includes thinking about your home heating and other ways to keep warm as well as preventing water pipes from freezing.
“Your travel might be disrupted by severe winter weather too. Consider whether you really need to travel or if you should wait until conditions improve, especially if the weather is severe. You should especially bear this in mind when travelling with people who may need more help such as younger children or older people. Always check the weather forecast and travel updates and think about planning alternative routes in case you need them.”
Storm Goretti brings amber warnings for heavy snow
12:17 , Bryony GoochThe Met Office has issued an amber warning for heavy snow from Thursday evening into Friday, covering parts of Wales, the Midlands and South Yorkshire.
The snowfall, brought by Storm Goretti, will mean trains and planes could be delayed or cancelled, rural communities may cut off, and power cuts or disruption to mobile signal are likely, forecasters said.
The warning stretches from Sheffield in the north, down to Leicester, across much of the west Midlands and into Wales.It comes into force at 8pm on Thursday and ends at 9am on Friday.
In pictures: Bus slips off road because of black ice
12:10 , Bryony Gooch Why is it called Storm Goretti?
12:00 , Bryony Gooch Why is it called Storm Goretti?
Storm Goretti to bring 80-90mph winds to Isles of Scilly
11:53 , Bryony GoochAn amber wind weather warning is in place over Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly on Thursday from 5pm to 11pm.
The warning, which means there will be a “danger to life” from large waves and debris being thrown onto beachfront roads and properties, covers the Scilly Isles and parts of Cornwall including Truro and Newquay.
Storm Goretti may bring a short period of exceptionally strong northwesterly winds to the Isles of Scilly and parts of Cornwall on Thursday evening, with peak gusts potentially of 80-90 mph in exposed areas. This will depend on the exact track of Storm Goretti, and should the low pressure system track further south then the risk of these very strong winds would reduce.
This system has been named by Meteo France as the strongest winds associated with Storm Goretti are most likely over northern France.
Mapped: Amber weather warning issued for Thursday
11:35 , Bryony Gooch Warning about scam airline accounts on social media
11:28 , Bryony GoochSimon Calder, Travel Correspondent reports:
KLM’s customer service operation has been overwhelmed by having to deal with more than 350,000 passenger whose flights have been cancelled.
To try to cash in on travellers’ frustrations, many scam accounts have been set up by fraudsters impersonating the airline. They will ask for details and a contact number by direct message (DM), and then call to pretend they are wanting to pay compensation – while actually helping themselves to hundreds of pounds.
One example – reported, along with many others, to X – is a fake account called Client Helpline KLM. It was set up in the past few days and has just two followers. One passenger was told: “We would like to closely look at the concern raised. Kindly follow back and share with us via dm your email address and mobile number we reach out and assist.”
As The Independent has reported, if the passenger realises a fraud is underway and breaks contact, there is a danger that the booking may be cancelled out of spite – potentially costing hundreds of pounds.
Fire service issues warning about black ice after bus slips off road
11:24 , Bryony GoochKent Fire and Rescue Service was called to reports of a bus which had slipped off the road on the A28 in Great Chart, near Ashford.
Three fire engines attended and crews worked to make the scene safe and assist with disembarkation of passengers safely off the bus and into alternative transport.
There are no reported injuries and the cause is believed to be the vehicle slipping on black ice.
Crews are reminding everyone to use extra caution when driving in cold temperatures as there could be black ice on the roads, so avoid sudden breaking and leave plenty of space between you and the vehicle in front.
Mapped: New weather warning for Northern Ireland and Scotland on Thursday
11:23 , Bryony Gooch How are storms named?
11:15 , Bryony GoochStorms for each year are named as part of a collaborative effort between the Met Office and their partners in Ireland and the Netherlands. More than 50,000 suggestions were submitted for this storm season, which includes entries from members of the public that have been submitted to Met Éireann and KNMI.
However, Storm Goretti was named by Meteo France, given that the brunt of the bad weather is expected to be felt in France. While the word has no particular significance in the French language, its origin stems from an Italian virgin saint of particular importance to the Catholic church.
This can regularly occur when a bout of severe bad weather develops overseas before arriving in the UK - Storm Benjamin, which hit in October, was named by Meteo France, and Storm Claudia in November was named by Spain’s forecaster AEMET.
Yellow ice warning dissipates over Northern Ireland
11:01 , Bryony GoochA yellow ice warning which was in place over Northern Ireland has finished, according to the Met Office.
Northern Ireland saw an ice risk overnight, especially on untreated surfaces, and a fresh dusting of snow in a few places.
A yellow snow and ice warning remains in place over Scotland, which has faced the brunt of disruption.
Five day weather forecast
10:45 , Bryony GoochToday:
An icy start for many. Plenty of dry weather around though with some sunshine. Sleet and snow showers across northern and northeastern Scotland. Thicker cloud with rain arriving across Northern Ireland, southwest Wales and southwest England later. A cold wind.
Tonight:
Wintry showers easing in the northeast. Widely frosty in the north and east with freezing fog patches. Meanwhile, rain in the west edging slowly east, with some snow in north.
Thursday:
Bright spells in the north but with showers, mainly northern and western Scotland where some wintry. Turning wet and windy further south with snow, especially on hills. Coastal gales developing.
Friday to Sunday:
Wind, rain and snow associated with storm Goretti clearing eastwards on Friday. Mostly fine on Saturday. Frost early and late. Further wet and windy weather, with some snow arriving Sunday.
Chaos for passengers seeking to fly to Paris Orly
10:30 , Bryony GoochSimon Calder, Travel Correspondent reports:
The second airport in the French capital, Paris Orly, has been turning flights away because of severe slow. Many flights, including long-haul arrivals from the Caribbean, have been diverted to more southerly airports – particularly Lyon and Marseille, but also Toulouse, Bordeaux and Basel. They are unable to divert to Paris CDG because of restrictions on movements at the leading French airport.
Other flights, including from Milan Linate and Madrid, returned to their starting points.
One Iberia departure from Madrid to Paris Orly is diverting to London Heathrow – where many passengers may face problems because they will not have the electronic travel authorisation (ETA) required of all foreign arrivals in the UK except Irish citizens.
Storm Goretti map: Where Britain will be hit by heavy snow and ice with further disruption expected
10:17 , Bryony Gooch Storm Goretti map: Where Britain will be hit by heavy snow and ice
Eurostar disarray due to snow and ice in France and the Netherlands
10:11 , Bryony GoochSimon Calder, Travel Correspondent reports:
Eurostar, which runs trains between London St Pancras International and Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris, has warned of “severe delays and last-minute cancellations”.
All the morning trains between London and Paris are delayed, some by over an hour. An early evening round-trip between the two cities has been cancelled.
One service from Amsterdam via Brussels to London is being started at the Belgian capital.
The train operator warns: “Due to adverse weather conditions on the Eurostar network, our trains are likely to be subject to severe delays and last-minute cancellations.”
Ice warning ends in England and Wales
10:00 , Bryony GoochA yellow ice weather warning has come to an end in England and Wales, but warnings remain in place in both Northern Ireland and Scotland as weather conditions remain cold and slippery.
Scotland will be under a yellow snow and ice weather warning until midnight.
Recap: Scottish ministers meet local authorities to discuss response to severe weather
09:52 , Bryony GoochMinisters in Scotland met police, local authorities, utilities companies and other bodies on Tuesday to discuss the response to the severe weather.
Justice Secretary Angela Constance, who chaired the meeting, said “difficult conditions” are expected to remain this week, and ministers will “continue to closely monitor the situation and to engage with local partners in severely affected areas”.
Posting on social media, John Swinney said: “Please be aware of amber warning of snow affecting much of the north of Scotland today and the yellow warning of snow and ice across most of Scotland.
“I am very grateful to all public bodies and volunteers for the support that is being provided. Please stay safe.”
The First Minister had earlier paid tribute to the “truly exceptional” efforts of farmers, volunteers and members of the public in helping clear roads, dig out cars and keep people safe, which he said showed “heartening” community spirit.
Snow wrecks schedules at Paris CDG airport
09:46 , Bryony GoochSimon Calder, Travel Correspondent reports:
Many of the passengers whose journey plans via Amsterdam are disrupted have been re-routed through Paris CDG – but the French hub is now covered with heavy snow. The French Civil Aviation Authority, the DGAC, has ordered airlines to cancel 40 per cent of flights on Wednesday.
Passengers on Air France are worst affected, with at least 76 flights cancelled so far – including links to and from Heathrow, Birmingham and Newcastle. Further cancellations are expected.
British Airways has grounded a single round-trip from Heathrow, while easyJet has cancelled a flight to and from Venice.
Mapped: Where Storm Goretti will hit on Thursday
09:38 , Bryony Gooch How you could be fined for de-icing your car
09:30 , Bryony Gooch How you could be fined for de-icing your car
Roads closed in Scotland, England and Wales
09:26 , Bryony GoochSimon Calder, Travel Correspondent reports:
Roads in northern Scotland are severely disrupted and many routes are only passable with extreme care. Traffic Scotland has closed the A93 Perth-Aberdeen road between Braemar and the Spittle of Glenshee turn-off. The A939 linking Nairn on the Moray coast with the Grampians remains closed.
In Cumbria the main north-south route through the Lake District, the A591, is closed because of ice between Keswick and Grasmere. The A57 Snake Pass in Derbyshire is also closed.
In Wales, the Horseshoe Pass on the A542 is closed.
Analysis: Could Amsterdam chaos drive more passengers to fly direct?
09:20 , Bryony Gooch Could Amsterdam chaos drive more passengers to fly direct?
LNER issues adverse weather travel alert
09:12 , Bryony GoochLNER has issued an adverse weather travel alert for customers hoping to catch a train to Scotland.
“Disruption to services in northern Scotland until the end of the day on Thursday 8 January
“Heavy snow is causing disruption to services across northern Scotland. There are yellow weather warnings in place for snow and ice.
“As a result of the weather forecast, customers should expect cancellations, alterations or heavy delays to services running in the areas affected by the poor weather.
“Disruption to journeys is expected to continue until the end of the day on Thursday 8 January.”
Analysis: KLM cancels more than 100 UK flights as Amsterdam airport passengers endure sixth day of chaos
09:07 , Bryony GoochSimon Calder, Travel Correspondent reports:
The Dutch airline KLM has cancelled at least 600 flights on Wednesday as it struggles with extreme wintry weather at its hub, Amsterdam Schiphol, for a sixth day.
KLM told passengers: "By making this decision now, we can provide our passengers with timely clarity and prevent last-minute flight cancellations, leaving travellers stranded at Schiphol.
“Many KLM colleagues, including office staff and crew, are making extra efforts to assist our passengers at Schiphol as best as possible."
More than 100 are to and from the UK are grounded, affecting an estimated 10,000 passengers.
At least four services to and from Aberdeen, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Heathrow, Humberside, Leeds Bradford, London City, Manchester, Newcastle and Norwich have been grounded.
British Airways has cancelled 10 flights linking Heathrow with Amsterdam, and a round-trip from London City.
Cold weather payments triggered in over 400 postcodes
09:00 , Bryony Gooch Cold weather payments triggered in over 400 postcodes – check if you’re eligible
In pictures: Alford covered in snow after Aberdeenshire Council declares 'major incident'
08:51 , Bryony Gooch Rail travel in the north of Scotland remains blocked by snow
08:36 , Bryony GoochSimon Calder, travel correspondent, reports:
Railways in the far north of Scotland are still blocked by snow. ScotRail trains on key lines in the north of the country have been cancelled due to heavy and drifting snows north of Lairg and on the entire lnverness-Kyle of Lochalsh line.
LNER is advising passengers not to travel between Edinburgh and Aberdeen as the rail firm “cannot that guarantee a service will run until Friday 9 January at the earliest”.
Further south, LNER terminated an early Edinburgh-London King's Cross train at Newcastle “due to heavy snow”. Other services on the East Coast Main Line have been cancelled or curtailed “due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time”.
In southeast England, rush-hour rail passengers face another morning of disruption on the Elizabeth and Great Western lines to and from London Paddington due to overrunning engineering work.
In South Yorkshire, another theft of signalling cables between Doncaster and Sheffield means that some line are disrupted. As a result, trains will have to run at reduced speeds on some lines. Trains may be delayed up to 30 minutes or cancelled.
Mass flight and train cancellations as snow wreaks travel chaos
08:26 , Bryony GoochMore than 350,000 passengers flying to and from Amsterdam Schiphol – including tens of thousands from the UK – have now had their flights cancelled as a result of extreme wintry weather. On the sixth day of flight chaos at the Dutch hub, the home airline KLM is warning it could run out of de-icing fluid.
In the UK, the Met Office warns: “The current cold snap continues, before a deep area of low pressure threatens to bring further snow, strong winds and heavy rain to southern parts of the UK from Thursday night.”
The Independent’s travel correspondent Simon Calder reports:
Mass flight and train cancellations as snow wreaks travel chaos
Watch: Airport staff make most of snowy weather as big freeze wreaks travel chaos
08:22 , Bryony GoochNorthern Scottish pupils unable to return to school for third day
08:16 , Bryony GoochHundreds of schools in northern Scotland will remain closed for a third day as much of the country braces itself for further snow and icy conditions.
Heavy snow in the first part of the week led to hundreds of schools being closed across northern Scotland on Tuesday, and while many are set to reopen on Wednesday, disruption continues in many areas.
This includes Aberdeenshire, where all schools and council-run nurseries will remain closed, along with dozens of schools in Moray and Aberdeen and a number of those in Orkney and Shetland.
Pupils in the Highlands were due to return from the festive break on Wednesday but many will have an extra day off with more than 120 schools shut due to the weather conditions.
Aberdeenshire Council declared a major incident on Tuesday, warning of a “good chance” some rural communities will be cut off, as well as the possibility of power cuts.
How to stay safe during icy conditions
08:02 , Bryony GoochAs the Met Office warns drivers and travellers to be careful on their journeys due to icy conditions, the RAC has issued advice on how to stay safe.
RAC breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson said: “In these conditions, the key is allowing more time at every stage of the journey, whether that’s clearing vehicles of snow and ice before setting off or reducing the speed at which you’re travelling.
“Never be tempted to use hot water to clear a frozen windscreen which, rather than being a hack could actually lead to an expensive crack.
“Instead, leave more time before setting off and carry a decent scraper and de-icer so you can clear the windscreen quickly.
“It’s important to have plenty of screen wash that protects down to at least minus 10 degrees, ensuring you always have a clear view due to all the dirt from gritted roads.”
In pictures: Sheep graze in a field in the snow in Scotland
07:56 , Bryony Gooch Cold weather payments triggered for thousands of households
07:51 , Bryony GoochThe recent drop in temperature has triggered cold weather payments for hundreds of thousands of households, designed to help elderly and vulnerable people with heating costs, the Government said.
Eligible households automatically receive £25 when temperatures are recorded or forecast to be zero degrees or below over seven consecutive days.
Payments will support households in 451 postcode areas in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, including Penrith in Cumbria, the Yorkshire Dales, Norwich in Norfolk, Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire, and Crawley in West Sussex.
Cold weather payments have been triggered on five separate days: 30 December, 1 January, 2 January, 3 January and 6 January, and have been triggered twice for households in parts of Cumbria and Northumberland, which stand to receive a £50 payout.
Met Office advises people travelling to be careful on their journeys
07:45 , Bryony GoochThe Met Office has advised those travelling on Wednesday morning to check road conditions, bus and train timetables and amend travel plans if necessary.
Forecaster Marco Petagna said: “In the ice warnings, be careful of slippery surfaces and potential for injuries, so take care on footpaths.
“Icy patches could affect untreated roads, not all roads and pavements and cycle paths are treated so just be aware that away from major highways there could be icy and slippery conditions for a while tomorrow morning.”
Ice warnings in place across the UK this morning
07:42 , Bryony GoochIce warnings are in place across the UK ahead of a storm which is set to bring heavy snow later in the week.
The Met Office has issued yellow ice warnings for most of the UK, including Northern Ireland, for Wednesday morning amid an Arctic air mass which has brought wintry showers across the country.
A yellow warning for snow and ice is in place all day on Wednesday in northern Scotland, with residents there told to expect a further 5-10cm of snow.
On Tuesday, the temperature at Marham in Norfolk dropped to minus 12.5C, according to the Met Office.
Full list of all UK schools closed today due to snow and ice
07:36 , Bryony GoochFind out which schools might be closed today in your area as the cold snap continues with ice warnings across the UK.
Read more here:
Full list of all UK schools closed today due to snow and ice
Mapped: What are the latest weather warnings today?
07:32 , Bryony Gooch What weather warnings are in place on Wednesday?
03:00 , Simon CalderA yellow warning for snow and ice is in place all day on Wednesday in northern Scotland, with residents there told to expect a further 5-10cm of snow.
Temperatures are expected to drop as low as minus 6C in parts of rural Scotland and just below freezing more widely overnight, the Met Office said.
In England and Wales, a yellow warning for ice will be in place until 10am. The same warning will apply in Northern Ireland until 11am.
Cranking up the thermostat in freezing weather won’t help your home warm faster, heating experts warn
03:00 , Shaheena UddinA rare cold snap has brought snow and ice to much of the UK, and with the sub-zero temperatures and heavy snow forecast to continue into the weekend, experts are advising people how to keep warm without wasting money.
The Met Office has issued a new yellow weather warning for snow across much of the country from Thursday evening until midday on Friday.
The Independent’s reporter Harry Cockburn reports:
Turning up the thermostat in freezing weather won’t warm your home, experts warn
Snow plough employed by Network Rail
01:00 , Shaheena UddinNetwork Rail Scotland (NRS) used a snow plough to clear up the tracks near Dingwall.
In a post on X, NRS said the plough was being used to deal with snowdrifts and deep snow up to 1.2m deep in areas of the track.
🌨️ 🚂 Our snowplough has just departed Dingwall for Kyle of Lochalsh. It's off to deal with snowdrifts and deep snow up to 1.2m deep in places. We'll keep you updated on the crew's progress as they work to reopen the Inverness - Kyle of Lochalsh route.@transcotland @ScotRail pic.twitter.com/8RKEV5ZC4P
— Network Rail Scotland (@NetworkRailSCOT) January 6, 2026
Schools closed in Scotland but some may reopen on Wednesday
00:01 , Shaheena UddinHundreds of schools in northern Scotland were shut for a second day on Tuesday as the snowy weather caused travel disruptions.
Similarly schools in Shetland, Orkney and Aberdeenshire remained shut on Tuesday.
This comes after pupils already enjoyed an extra day of holiday on Monday following the festive break due to the icy conditions, while most in Moray and the city of Aberdeen are also closed.
Schools in the Highlands are due to reopen on Wednesday, though more snow is expected on Tuesday afternoon.
In pictures: Snow storm strikes in Scotland
Tuesday 6 January 2026 23:00 , Shaheena Uddin Recap: Aberdeenshire Council declared a 'major incident'
Tuesday 6 January 2026 22:00 , Shaheena UddinAberdeenshire council have declared a “major incident” as ongoing snow continues to cause travel disruptions and school closures.
The local authority said treating it as a major incident enabled it to “focus attention on the emergency response, prioritise and reallocate staff and resources, and work efficiently with partners to protect life”.
A Met Office amber warning covers much of Aberdeenshire and the north east of Scotland until 7pm on Tuesday.
Snowy conditions in the region are expected to continue throughout Wednesday, with a yellow warning for snow and ice in place all day across northern Scotland, and a yellow warning of ice in the rest of the country until 10am.
A yellow warning of snow and ice is also in place as far south as Perth until midnight on Tuesday.
Police Scotland comment as Aberdeenshire council declares major incident
Tuesday 6 January 2026 21:00 , Shaheena UddinAberdeenshire Council declared a major incident as the region deals with ongoing heavy snow.
Police Scotland have commented that the impact of the snow is likely to be felt over the next few days in the north and north-east of Scotland, and they have urged people to follow travel advice.
Assistant chief constable Alan Waddell said: “Local resilience partnerships are continuing to meet to co-ordinate and deliver the response to disruption experienced by communities in the north and north-east of Scotland following heavy snowfall over the weekend.
“We have been working closely with resilience partners across local authorities, other emergency service partners, transport partners, NHS and health and social care partnerships, and other local organisations to support communities affected by adverse weather and keep public services open where possible.
“Some services may be impacted by adverse weather and I would encourage the public to check on neighbours or relatives, if they are able to do so safely.”
Ministers met police, local authorities, utilities companies and other bodies on Monday to discuss recovery efforts and to prepare for further snow and ice warnings.
Snow depths and temperatures are 'extraordinary for modern standards'
Tuesday 6 January 2026 20:45 , Shaheena UddinMet Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern said last night weather was “extraordinary for modern standards.”
He explained “these kinds of temperatures in these kinds of places and the kinds of snow depths we’ve been seeing have been noteworthy for our modern climate.
“They wouldn’t perhaps have stood out in the 1980s, but last night we saw lows”.
He referenced the lowest temperature was recorded in Marham, Norfolk as opposed to where you would expect the coldest temperature to be in Scotland or Norther Ireland.
Several regions had a temperature below minus 10 C, even “the typically balmy spots of Southern England, for example, Bournemouth, minus eight and a half celsius”, he said.
He added: “The reason East Anglia and the South East were the coldest spots last night is because they stayed clear for longest. Parts of Scotland would have been much colder because of the widespread snow cover, had the wind and rain and snow not picked up later.”
Met Office shares overnight forecast of snow, ice and winds
Tuesday 6 January 2026 20:30 , Shaheena UddinRemaining cold this evening with further outbreaks of rain, sleet and snow spreading eastwards across the country
— Met Office (@metoffice) January 6, 2026
Latest info 👉 https://t.co/QwDLMfRBfs
Stay #WeatherAware⚠️ pic.twitter.com/4N1LrrC9VW
Thousands of UK passengers grounded by chaos at Amsterdam airport – which is running out of de-icing fluid
Tuesday 6 January 2026 20:28 , Simon CalderDozens of flights between the Dutch hub and UK airports on KLM are once again cancelled – including services to and from Aberdeen, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Heathrow, Humberside, Inverness, Leeds Bradford, London City, Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich and Teesside.
The airport says: “Due to persistent winter weather, only limited air traffic is possible to and from Schiphol. Our snow crews are working around the clock to keep the runways clear, and aircraft are being carefully de-iced to ensure everyone can travel safely.“
However, the wintry conditions are expected to cause disruptions to the flight schedule in the coming days.”
With some understatement, the airport adds: “This may result in delays and cancellations.” On Tuesday afternoon, KLM warned that supplies of de-icing fluid were “under pressure”.
The Dutch airline said: “Due to a combination of extreme weather conditions and delays in supply from the provider, stock levels are running low.
“The supplier, based in Germany, is currently unable to guarantee timely replenishment. This challenge is currently widespread across Europe.
“De-icing is performed with a mixture of heated water and glycol. Every departing aircraft must be completely free of snow and ice before it can safely take off. KLM operates a fleet of 25 de-icing trucks, all of which have been in continuous use since Friday.”
The flight-tracking website Flightradar24 calculates that 45 per cent of Amsterdam’s flights have been cancelled on Tuesday. Already, 171 flights scheduled for Wednesday have been grounded.
In total, since last Friday, around 2,500 flights have been cancelled – affecting at least one-third of a million passengers.While the only easyJet UK cancellation so far is a round-trip from Edinburgh, many flights are severely delayed.
The 6.15am from London Gatwick to Amsterdam is now expected to leave at 4.50pm, over 10 hours late.
The Emirates flight from Dubai due in at 8pm on Tuesday arrived at 4pm on Wednesday, 20 hours behind schedule.
Under air passengers’ rights rules, travellers whose flights are cancelled or severely delayed are entitled to be flown to their destination as soon as possible on any airline, and to be provided with meals and hotels until they get there.
Here's the best clothes to wear to keep warm during a snow storm
Tuesday 6 January 2026 20:15 , Shaheena UddinWhen it comes to dressing during snowy weather, it all comes down to layering and insulating staples. IndyBest shares their top tips for clothes to wear to help you wrap up warm during a storm:
The best thermals are a blessing during cold spells, from zip up turtlenecks to fleece-lined leggings. Keeping feet dry and warm, the top-rated kids’, men’s and women’s snow boots aren’t just the reserve of ski resorts (invest in some thermal socks, too).
Baby snowsuits can be useful throughout winter, not just during blizzard season, while duvet coats are your best friend during snow storms. Tested in wet and windy conditions, the best umbrellas also have you covered.
Recap of rail travel delays on Tuesday
Tuesday 6 January 2026 20:00 , Shaheena UddinSimon Calder, The Independent’s Travel correspondent reports on the rail disruptions caused by snow:
Air & rail chaos today due to snow and ice.
— Simon Calder (@SimonCalder) January 6, 2026
Amsterdam: 330,000 passengers hit by cancellations since Friday; 415 more flights grounded today.
Rail: Widespread cancellations and delays on Great Western and East Coast Main Line.
Road: Scotland/Wales hard hithttps://t.co/ECMzgtAyNT
In pictures: The big freeze
Tuesday 6 January 2026 19:45 , Shaheena Uddin UKHSA extends amber cold health alerts into Sunday
Tuesday 6 January 2026 13:23 , Bryony GoochThe UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has extended amber cold health alerts for England as an early warning that adverse temperatures are likely to affect health and wellbeing, running until Sunday.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA, said: “As the colder weather sets in, it is vital to check in on friends, family and neighbours that are most vulnerable.
“The forecast temperatures can have a serious impact on the health of some people, leading to increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections, particularly for individuals over the age of 65 and those with pre-existing health conditions.”
