Parts of the UK risk being ‘cut off’ due to heavy snowfall this weekend, the Met Office has warned.
Temperatures will struggle to get above freezing as many Britons are due to return to school or work after the festive period – with some roads already ‘impassable’.
A string of snow and ice warnings are in place across the UK for Monday as the national weather forecaster said that cold conditions would bring a range of wintry hazards for the next few days.
England and Wales recorded their lowest temperatures of the season so far on Saturday night, with temperatures hitting -9.3C at Benson in Oxfordshire and -7.3C at Sennybridge in Powys.
On Sunday morning, four amber weather warnings were issued for snow in parts of Scotland – with another 12 inches set to fall overnight.
The alerts are in place until 10am on Monday morning, and cover vast swathes of the country including Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Inverness-shire, Ross and Cromarty, Sutherland, and the Orkney and Shetland islands.
The forecast heavy snow has led to warnings of travel delays, rail and air chaos, power cuts, and even rural communities becoming cut off amid blizzard conditions.
Many roads across the north of Scotland were left impassable, with vehicles abandoned at the weekend amid treacherous weather conditions which saw more than 20 inches of snowfall in parts of the country.
SCOTLAND — A snow plough struggles through the snow on the A9 at Brora in the Scottish Highlands on January 4, 2026
SCOTLAND — Graham Gibb, wearing a dayglo work jacket, clears the snow in front of his home in Insch, Aberdeenshire
WALES — Snow covers the town of Carmarthen in the west of Wales on January 4, 2026
Despite snow ploughs being out in force, for some roads the sub-zero conditions proved too brutal to remain open.
Separate yellow warnings for snow and ice are in place for Wales, Greater Manchester and south-west England, while much of the east coast of England is covered by a yellow warning for ice.
A yellow warning for snow and ice covers much of Scotland north of Glasgow, and expires at midnight on Monday.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has also issued an amber cold health alert, as an early warning that adverse temperatures are likely to affect health and wellbeing, for England, running until Tuesday.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA, urged people to check in on vulnerable friends, family and neighbours.
He warned: ‘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.’
Continuing low temperatures mean transport chaos is also set to continue plaguing the UK’s airports and railways.
Strong winds caused snow drifts on the train line between Aberdeen and Dundee, which are up to 4ft deep at Laurencekirk, Network Rail Scotland reported.
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Amber weather warnings have been issued as Britons are warned that wintry conditions are anticipated to worsen across the UK
Temperatures plummeted to -9.3C in some parts on Saturday night as England and Wales recorded their lowest temperatures of the winter season so far
Some routes in the north and north-east of Scotland will remain closed until at least midday on Monday January 5, the rail operator said.
The closure is to allow snow ploughs to clear the tracks owing to the heavy snowfall and blustery squalls forecast for Sunday night.
Passengers using the Aberdeen to Dundee, Aberdeen to Inverness, and Inverness to both Wick/Thurso and Kyle of Lochalsh lines are likely to be affected.
The Met Office also warned of flights potentially being cancelled, and said that mobile phone coverage could be impacted.
Norwich Airport closed on Saturday due to snow and on Sunday only one of four scheduled departures operated from the hub – with flights to both Aberdeen and Amsterdam cancelled due to snow and icy conditions in the destination cities.
The disruption to the UK’s transport network is likely to prove a blow to those set to return to work after the Christmas and New Year period.
But children will be left delighted by an unexpected extra day of their Christmas break, with more than 100 schools in the North to remain closed.
The cold weather also wreaked havoc on the English Football League’s fixtures.
SCOTLAND — Heavy snow in north-east Scotland as a man attempts to dig a car out on Sunday
LONDON — People walk in Richmond Park surrounded by heavy frost at dawn, January 4, 2026
TYNESIDE — Swans on Tynemouth boating lake, which has frozen over due to the plummeting temperatures this weekend
NORTH TYNESIDE — A wintry snow scene over Tynemouth on the north east coast of England, January 4, 2026
LIVERPOOL — An aerial photograph taken with a drone shows snow covering rooftops in the Mossley Hill, January 4, 2026
LONDON — Early morning walkers make their way through the churchyard at St Martha-on-the-Hill Church at sunrise in Chilworth
LIVERPOOL — Golfers putt on the 5th Green on Lee Park Golf course with a layer of snow in Lee Park, January 4, 2026
Sheffield United’s Championship meeting with Oxford and Portsmouth’s clash with Ipswich were among a host of Sunday’s matches postponed due to frozen pitches.
The Blades said the match referee called off their fixture after a pitch inspection at Bramall Lane due to concerns over player safety. Pompey’s Fratton Park was also deemed unplayable after an 11am inspection.
Matthew Lehnert, a Met Office chief meteorologist, warned: ‘Snow showers are expected to become more frequent on Sunday night, with some locations within the amber warning areas seeing a further 20-30cm accumulate by Monday morning.’
The expected overnight snowfall was forecast to add to the heavy snow already on the ground across the North. The most was in Tomintoul, Banffshire, where yesterday afternoon the Met Office logged 20.5in.
Meanwhile in Durris, Aberdeenshire, there was more than 12in and at Loch Glascarnoch, in Ross-shire, over 10.5 in.
The Scottish Police Authority’s Assistant Chief Constable Alan Waddell said ‘driving conditions are likely to be hazardous in some areas’.
He added: ‘Our advice is to plan ahead and consider if your journey is really necessary.’
