HUNDREDS of schools will remain closed for a third day as yellow weather warnings for ice and snow blanket the UK.
Fresh alerts were issued as Brits brace for Storm Goretti to hit, while temperatures on Tuesday plummeted as low as -12C.
Thousands of pupils were affected across Scotland, Northern Ireland, England and Wales on the first day back from their Christmas holidays on Monday.
But disruption continued on as the mercury remained below freezing for much of Britain yesterday.
Many woke up to winter wonderlands in their gardens and braved heavy snowfall.
And, the Met Office predicts another bone-chilling night, with fresh alerts for snow and ice put in place tomorrow, as well as several issued for the rest of the week.
A yellow weather warning for ice came into force at 7.30pm on Tuesday and remains in place until 10am Wednesday.
It stretches from Northern Scotland all the way down to the south west coast of England, while stretching across Wales and the Midlands.
A further yellow alert for snow and ice has been issued across Scotland and the Highlands which begins at midnight tomorrow and remains in place for 24 hours.
On Thursday there could be up to 8 inches (20cm) of snow in some areas of Wales, according to the Met Office.
Higher areas of Wales are more likely to see heavy snow, said the forecaster.
Meanwhile, the Met Office confirmed that other areas of England and Wales could also see up to 10cm of snow.
French meteorological service, Météo France, has named the storm Goretti, though the exact track it will take over the island remains uncertain.
The sub-zero temperatures will persist until the storm hits, with heavy snowfall and strong winds expected.
The Met Office said: “Storm Goretti likely to bring heavy snow leading to disruption and difficult travelling conditions.”
Meanwhile, the UK Health Security Agency has issued amber cold weather health alerts for all regions of England – lasting until Friday January 9.
And the Met Office says Brits could face three potential “multi-hazard” scenarios later this week, with more “disruptive” snow, wind and rain on the cards.
Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Chris Bulmer said: “A deepening area of low pressure – named Storm Goretti by Meteo France – will move across the south of the UK during Thursday and into Friday.
“It will clash with the very cold air here, meaning Thursday night could be what we call a ‘multi-hazard’ event, with snow on the northern flank of the low, wind and rain on the southern flank.”
Despite most schools across the UK reopening on Wednesday, a number of schools in northern Scotland will remain closed for a third day.
Forecasters have warned a further 5-10cm of snow is likely to fall across ground above 100m, while areas above 200m could see up to 20cm.
Continued disruption is expected in Aberdeenshire, where all schools and council-run nurseries will remain closed, along with a number of sites in Aberdeen, Highland, Moray, Orkney and Shetland.
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.
To find out if your child’s school is affected, you can also enter your postcode into the gov.uk school closures website.
This is the list of schools to be closed today:
Northern Ireland
- Duneane Primary School
- Magherafelt Primary School
- Royal School Armagh
Moray
- Moray Council had also confirmed the closure of 18 nurseries tomorrow:
- Hythehill Primary School Nursery
- St Gerardine Primary School Nursery
- Findochty Primary School Nursery
- Cullen Primary School Nursery
- Lady Cathcart Nursery
- Linkwood Nursery
- St Thomas Primary School Nursery
- Keith Primary School Nursery
- Fochabers Nursery
- Rothes Primary School Nursery
- Mortlach Primary School Nursery
- Tomintoul Primary School Nursery
- Aberlour Primary Nursery
- Mosstodloch Early Learning and Childcare Centre
- Busy Bee’s Childcare
- St Peter’s Primary School Nursery
- Millbank Primary School Nursery
- The Cabin Nursery
Aberdeen
- Abbotswell School
- Aberdeen Grammar School
- Links Nursery and Hub
- Aberdeen School for the Deaf
- Airyhall School
- Ashley Road School
- Braehead School
- Bramble Brae School
- Bridge of Don Academy
- Brimmond School
- Brimmond school and ELC
- Brimmond ELC
- Broomhill School
- Bucksburn Academy
- Charleston ELC
- Charleston School
- Cornhill School
- Countesswells School
- Culter School
- Cults Academy (Secondary)
- Cults Primary School
- Danestone School
- Duthie Park Outdoor Nursery
- Hazlehead Outdoor Nursery
- Dyce Academy
- Dyce School
- Dyce ELC
- Fernielea School
- Ferryhill School and ELC closed
- Forehill School
- Gilcomstoun ELC
- Gilcomstoun School
- Glashieburn School
- Greenbrae ELC
- Greenbrae School
- Greyhope School
- Hanover Street School
- Harlaw Academy
- Hazlehead Academy (Secondary)
- Hazlehead Primary School
- Heathryburn ELC
- Heathryburn School
- Holy Family RC School
- Kaimhill School
- Kingsford School
- Kingsford ELC
- Kingswells School
- Kirkhill School
- Kittybrewster ELC
- Kittybrewster School
- Links Nursery and Hub
- Lochside Academy
- Loirston School
- Manor Park School
- Middleton Park School
- Mile-End School
- Milltimber School
- Muirfield School
- Northfield Academy
- Oldmachar Academy
- Orchard Brae School
- Quarryhill School
- Riverbank School
- Scotstown School
- Seaton School
- Skene Square School
- St Joseph’s RC School
- St Machar Academy
- St Peter’s RC School
- Stoneywood School
- Sunnybank School
- Tullos School
- Westpark School
- Woodside School
Highlands
- Abernethy Primary
- Achiltibuie Primary
- Alness Academy
- Alvie Primary
- Ardross Primary
- Auchtertyre Primary
- Aviemore Primary
- Avoch Primary
- Bonar Bridge Primary
- Bridgend Primary
- Brora Primary
- Bualnaluib Primary
- Bun-Sgoil Shlèite
- Carrbridge Primary
- Castletown Primary
- Coulhill Primary
- Cromarty Primary
- Culbokie Primary
- Deshar Primary
- Dingwall Academy
- Dingwall Primary
- Dornoch Academy
- Dornoch Primary
- Drummond School
- Dunbeath Primary
- Farr High School
- Farr Primary (Suth)
- Gledfield Primary
- Glenelg Primary
- Golspie High School
- Golspie Primary
- Grantown Grammar School
- Grantown Primary
- Halkirk Primary
- Helmsdale Primary
- Hill of Fearn Primary
- Hilton of Cadboll Primary
- Inver Primary
- Invergordon Academy
- Kiltearn Primary
- Kingussie High School
- Kingussie Primary
- Knockbreck Primary (Tain)
- Kyle Primary
- Kyleakin Primary
- Lairg Primary
- Loch Duich Primary
- Lochcarron Primary
- Lochinver Primary
- Lybster Primary
- Melvich Primary
- Miller Academy Primary
- Milton Primary
- Munlochy Primary
- Newmore Primary
- Newtonmore Primary
- North Kessock Primary
- Noss Primary
- Obsdale Primary
- Park Primary School
- Pennyland Primary
- Plockton High School
- Plockton Primary
- Poolewe Primary
- Reay Primary
- Resolis Primary
- Rogart Primary
- Rosehall Primary
- Shieldaig Primary
- South Lodge Primary
- St Clement’s School
- St Duthus School
- Strathdearn Primary
- Strathpeffer Primary
- Tain Royal Academy
- Tarbat Old Primary
- Tarradale Primary
- Tomnacross Primary
- Tongue Primary
- Tore Primary
- Ullapool High School
- Ullapool Primary
Shetland
- Baltasound
- Mid Yell
- Sandwick junior high
- The Burravoe
- Cunningsburgh
- Dunrossness
- Foula
- Nesting
- North Roe
