Summary

Live Reporting

Edited by Ben Hatton and Caitlin Doherty, with reporting from BBC Weather and teams across the UK

  1. 'We spent hours trying to make it safe - but we had to close'

    Abigail Taylor
    Live reporter

    Over 180 schools are closed mainly in the north-east and north-west of Northern Ireland, following a weekend of wintry weather which closed 200 schools on Monday.

    Brian Guthrie, the principal of Ebrington Primary School in Londonderry, had hoped to reopen today but conditions did not allow it.

    "I spent a good bit of time on site yesterday, maybe three or four hours, clearing pathways and so on to make it safe but, unfortunately, as the day went on it seemed more and more schools were making a call to close," he says.

    A yellow warning for ice is in place in Northern Ireland until 10:00 GMT.

    Ebrington Primary School with snow outside it.

  2. How is the cold weather affecting you?

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  3. Heading to Amsterdam? Flights and Eurostar hit by snowy conditions

    Trucks work to clear snow in front of a plane at Amsterdam airportGetty Images

    Snowfall at Amsterdam Schiphol airport, pictured yesterday, continues to cause delays and cancellations to flights

    Amsterdam Schiphol airport is reporting disruption to flights this morning "due to persistent winter weather".

    In a statement on its site, it warns that "only limited air traffic is possible to and from Schiphol" as snow crews work "around the clock" to keep runways clear and aircraft de-iced.

    As a result, local media sources are reporting at least 400 flights cancelled at Schiphol and long lines at information desks this morning. We'll have an updated number soon.

    The snowy conditions have also impacted Eurostar journeys between London and Amsterdam; the first train out of St Pancras station was cancelled, while the second will only travel as far as Brussels.

  4. Where are schools closed?

    In Wales, 384 schools are closed, with another 186 shut in Northern Ireland.

    We don't have a final number for Scotland, but there are more than 150 closed in Aberdeenshire alone, according to the council's website.

    We're also looking into closures in England. We'll bring you more numbers when we have them.

  5. Wintry conditions close hundreds of schools across UK with travel also disrupted

    Adam Goldsmith
    Live reporter

    A dog on a walk at a snowy start to the dayBBC Weather Watchers/Curly Claire

    With hundreds of schools across Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales closed because of ice and snow, we're restarting our live coverage of the wintry weather.

    The Met Office has six weather warnings in place; we'll catch you up with exactly what they mean in our next few posts.

    The cold snap of Arctic air has caused widespread sub-zero temperatures in recent days in the UK. And in mainland Europe, Amsterdam's Schiphol airport is warning of limited flights, with more than 300 cancelled, while Eurostar is also cancelling services between London and Amsterdam.

    We'll bring you updates on the rails and roads this morning, and we'll share some of your pictures along the way too.

  6. More cold weather on the way as school closures planned for second day

    Adam Goldsmith
    Live reporter

    Dogs near a frozen river in LancashireBBC Weather Watchers/59Fozzy

    Several schools in Scotland and Northern Ireland are set to remain closed tomorrow as a second day of weather disruption is expected across the UK.

    Many of us woke up to freezing conditions this morning, with yellow warnings for snow and ice in place across much of the country.

    Cold conditions have led to travel disruption and airport closures - though flights at airports in Liverpool, Aberdeen, Belfast, and Derry have now resumed.

    Tonight, it will be cold again; our map shows that some parts of Scotland could see temperatures as low as -10C (14F).

    Looking ahead, we've got a rundown of all the remaining weather warnings in our earlier post. Three out of four remain in place for tomorrow morning's commute across Northern Ireland, the west of England and Wales, and England's east coast.

    Thanks for sending in your updates and pictures; down in the newsroom we've enjoyed seeing a dachshund in the snow, tractors out to help, and even spontaneous ice hockey games breaking out.

    That brings our live coverage to a close, but you can read the latest weather updates in our story.

  7. How Britons spent a day in the snow

    A young woman dressed in black performs manouevres on ice skates on a frozen lochReuters

    Grace took to a frozen Loch Insh near Aviemore, Scotland for a quick skate

    A child tugs another child sitting on a yellow sled along a frozen lochReuters

    Bode and Reilly also took advantage of the frozen loch to play with their sled

    People write their names and make snow angels on a frozen, flooded fieldPA Media

    People also wrote their names and made snow angels on a frozen flooded field in Upware, Cambridgeshire

    A man sledges down a steep snow-covered hill in Robin Hood's Bay in Yorkshire

  8. Dozens take to frozen field to ice skate in Norfolk

    Jacob Phillips

    David Smith has been skating laps on a frozen field at Welney in Norfolk today.

    “As well as skating in nature in the open air while the swans fly over, it is about the people and the conversations you have," he tells me.

    "Sometimes it is new people, sometimes it is people you have not seen for 30 years.”

    The 58-year-old explains that there was around 3cm of snow on top of the ice making it harder to skate.

    “Snow and ice only go together on Christmas cards,” David jokes.

    In total he believes around 80 to 100 people will have gone to skate on the same frozen field throughout the day. He says the oldest person he saw skating today was a 71-year-old woman.

    Meanwhile, Great Britain speed skater Peter Riches held off returning home from the National skating Championships in Nottingham to also enjoy skating on the natural ice in Welney.

    A man wearing red, white and blue clothing and a helmet skates on the ice in the sunGetty Images

    Great Britain speed skater Peter Riches was one of the people skating in Welney on Monday

  9. Scenes 'from Narnia' and a white Christmas come true for sisters - your weather stories

    James Kelly and Alex Emery

    A family stands with a snowman and takes a selfie

    Caoimhe (in the teal coat) and Levi (wearing the pink hat) have never seen snow before

    Today we've been hearing your stories about how you've been affected by the snow and freezing temperatures.

    Caoimhe, nine, and Levi, six, are more used to a tropical climate because they live in Thailand where their mum and dad, Rachel Preston and Simon Jones, work as teachers.

    When the girls learned they would be paying a wintertime trip to visit family in England and Northern Ireland, they couldn't contain their hopes of experiencing snow for the very first time in their lives.

    The parents had to manage expectations, but at the home of their grandma, Avril Jones, in Ballyrobert, near Ballyclare in County Antrim, their Christmas wish was belatedly granted.

    "They've been amazed by the snow," Simon says. "It's definitely something they will always remember, but we're coming home next Christmas too and they'll be expecting snow again."

    Meanwhile, Ruth Davies in Denbighshire, Wales, tells us "it’s like a scene from Narnia here, however the roads are treacherous."

    "I can see I’ll be going nowhere for a good few days even though I have a 4x4," she says.

    Kyra Beswick told the BBC earlier she was forced to trek two miles (3.2 km) through deep snow yesterday, as she tried to head to Aberdeen Airport to catch a flight.

    Unfortunately her flight today has been cancelled, because of the weather.

    The conditions in Aberdeenshire are the worst one tractor driver has seen in 44 years of clearing the local routes of snow. Duncan Wright said he had to “crawl out of his tractor” yesterday after becoming stuck in a snowdrift.

  10. Schools in Scotland to remain closed on Tuesday

    Cars travel down a snow-covered residential roadPA Media

    Vehicles navigate the snow in Aberdeen, where the council says some schools will be able to reopen on Tuesday

    Councils across Scotland are beginning to announce a second day of closures on Tuesday.

    Schools in Aberdeenshire, Orkney and Shetland, as well as on the Islands of Lewis and Harris will stay closed.

    Aberdeen council has said some schools, with staff living nearby, will be able to reopen.

    While in Moray closures are being announced by schools themselves, on school by school basis.

  11. 'Snowdrifts forming as quickly as we clear them' on Scottish railways

    Scotland has seen some of the heaviest snowfall across the UK, and it's meant Network Rail Scotland (NRS) has been busy working to clear its tracks.

    Earlier it shared footage of a snowplough heading to Aberdeen from Inverness shovelling snow off the line.

    NRS Route Programme Manager Gary Hopkirk has told customers there is still "exceptionally deep snow and severe weather conditions".

    Heavy snowfall is limiting the progress of snow ploughs but the vehicles are continuing to push on in affected rail routes.

    "Snowdrifts are continuing to form as quickly as we clear them," Hopkirk said, adding a helicopter was being used to find trees on the routes.

    POV: Snow plough clears railway line north of Dundee

  12. In pictures: Parts of Europe embrace a snowy start to the year

    The UK is not alone with its wintry start to 2026. France, Spain and Serbia have also been experiencing cold conditions in recent days - let's take a look at some of the snowy scenes across the Channel:

    A man skis down a slope in front of the Sacre Coeur Basilica at the Butte Montmartre in Paris as winter weather with snow and cold temperatures hits a large part of the country, France, January 5, 2026Reuters

    The skis were out in central Paris despite a thin layer of snow dusting the front of Sacre Coeur Basilica

    A woman walks her dog in a snow-covered area in front the Eiffel Tower, as winter weather with snow and cold temperatures hits a large part of the country, France, January 5, 2026.Reuters

    A coating of snow also adorned the Eiffel Tower

    People take a selfie amid snow in Lleida, Spain, 05 January 2026, due to Storm Francis. Snow covers Spain, Lleida - 05 Jan 2026EPA

    In Spain, many locals woke up to unusually snowy conditions, with people in Lleida posing for pictures

    People walk in Zvezdara forest covered with snow, in Belgrade, SerbiaReuters

    In Serbia, a couple decided to brave the cold weather to take a walk in Zvezdara forest in Belgrade

  13. Aberdeen airport flights to resume
    Breaking

    Megan Bonar
    Reporting from Scotland

    Flights from Aberdeen airport are set to restart from 18:00, a spokesperson has said.

    Passengers are advised to check with their airline for flight information and to take care when travelling to the airport.

    Elsewhere in the city, the majority of bus services will remain suspended for the rest of the day.

  14. As the evening commute begins, how is travel affected across the UK?

    A yellow gritter lorry travels along a cleared road next to mounds of snowPA Media

    A gritter lorry on A87 from Inverness to Ullapool

    As the evening commute begins we have been looking at what services are still affected by the freezing conditions.

    National Highways has advised motorists to consider delaying their journeys if snow or ice is expected, and to keep an eye on traffic conditions.

    Earlier today, National Rail warned that ice can coat overhead cables - leaving trains stranded without electricity.

    Heavy snow is still causing disruption to trains across northern Scotland, with Network Rail Scotland warning “exceptionally deep snow and severe weather conditions” are limiting the progress of its snow ploughs.

    LNER has advised anyone travelling between Edinburgh and Aberdeen not to travel until 14:00 GMT Tuesday.

    Severe weather is also affecting services in Wales and trains are disrupted between Wales and Manchester Piccadilly as well as between Llandudno Junction and Blaenau Ffestiniog.

    There has been more positive news from Liverpool John Lennon Airport. The runway has reopened at the airport but flights may still be delayed or cancelled.

    Both City of Derry Airport and Belfast International Airport have said there were cancellations and delays on Monday.

    Eurostar services from St Pancras International have also been unable to operate beyond Brussels and trains that were scheduled to leave the Netherlands can not run.

  15. Snow batters east coast of Yorkshire

    Danny Savage
    North of England correspondent

    A snow-covered field with dark clouds in the skyDanny Savage/BBC

    Parts of north Yorkshire have been battered by heavy snow over the last couple of days

    For days, a small strip of the east coast of Yorkshire has been battered by snow.

    The district around Whitby and Scarborough has seen regular heavy snow showers since Friday.

    From outside the area, an ominous bank of black clouds can be seen to the east over the North York Moors.

    There is now plenty of snow in the hills while places to the west barely have a dusting. A yellow snow and ice warning remains in place until late tomorrow morning.

    During the showers, drivers struggle with the steep hills, but in between, the sun shines and people try and get done what they need to before the next band of snow sweeps in.

    A street sign post partially submerged by snow alongside a rural road in Yorkshire. The road passes through two fieldsDanny Savage/BBC

  16. Couple stranded in Inverness after trip to watch show

    James Kelly
    UGC Hub

    A middle-aged man with dark grey hair (L) and a smiling woman with red hair (R) take a selfie standing in front of a window. Behind him, a river view with the street and buildings covered in snowKeren Fitzgerald Pugh

    Keren Fitzgerald Pugh, from Lairg, is stranded in Inverness with her husband, Steve, after a trip to see the panto - yes, you've guessed it - Snow White.

    "The irony of the name!" she says.

    They travelled to Inverness by train on Saturday and planned to return today, only for the rail service to be cancelled within minutes of the couple leaving their hotel.

    "A replacement bus was available, but only for those who had been put up in the hotel the previous night by the railway company because of yesterday’s cancellations," she says.

    Keren is worried problems on the line caused by the snowfall, with more forecast, could potentially see them trapped for another couple of nights.

    She says: "Was it a good pantomime? Oh yes, it was. Was it a nice surprise to be staying in Inverness again tonight? Oh no, it wasn’t!"

  17. Cold health alerts in place as Britons warned to take extra care in cold

    Cold health alerts warning of the risk of a rise in deaths of older Britons are active across all English regions.

    The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued nine amber alerts on 2 January, warning that over 65s are at a higher risk of dying because of the cold, particularly if they have pre-existing health conditions. The alerts are to remain in place until 10am on 9 January.

    “Cold weather can make respiratory and heart conditions worse, increase the risk of slips and falls, and make winter viruses hit harder," says the chair of the Royal College of GPs, Victoria Tzortziou-Brown.

    "If you have a long-term condition, are pregnant, elderly, or looking after young children, please take extra care – and please do come forward for your flu and Covid jabs, if you haven’t already."

    She also urges people to keep their homes warm, wear layered clothing, stay hydrated, and wear appropriate footwear to mitigate slipping on icy surfaces outdoors.

    “We’d also encourage people to check in on neighbours, family members or anyone who may struggle with the cold or need help accessing support," Tzortziou-Brown adds.

  18. How cold will it get tonight?

    Darren Bett and Matt Taylor
    BBC weather presenters

    Two UK maps showing night temperatures in towns and cities (L) and rural (R)

    Expect another night of sub-zero temperatures across most of the UK tonight, with some of the lowest in rural areas where snow lies on the ground.

    Early in the night, in the clear skies, temperatures could again fall as low as -10C (14F) in Scotland and northern England.

    Temperatures will then lift later as cloud arrives and snow falls.

    For some places in Scotland, including Dalwhinnie, Balmoral, Inverbervie and Aviemore the temperature has not got above 0C since Friday – making the last three days officially “ice days”.

    Fylingdales on the North Yorkshire Moors has also had temperatures below freezing throughout the weekend and today too.

    Overnight, in the Midlands, Wales and southern England, temperatures will fall widely to -6C (21F) due to clearer skies than last night. And temperatures as low as -10C (14F) are likely over the snow cover in Wales.

    Northern Ireland may not be as cold as last night due to a westerly breeze. A touch of frost is still likely and temperatures may fall as low as -3C (27F) in County Down.

  19. In pictures: Snow-covered roads, growing icicles and a frozen canal

    Street scene, with road, cars and houses covered in thick snow. Heavy snow is fallingBBC Weather Watchers / Tyke

    Another day of heavy snowfall to greet the new week in Auchleven, Aberdeenshire

    Long pointed icicles hang from a roof with a snowy landscape behindBBC Weather Watchers / NikiB

    Temperatures have stayed below freezing in some areas since Friday and here at Stittenham, in the Highlands of Scotland, the icicles are growing

    View across a loch to a snow-covered hilly landscapeBBC Weather Watchers / Happy Days

    Serene beauty in Plockton, also in the Highlands, on Monday morning

    Canal flanked by snow-covered trees. Four barges float on the canal, which is covered in a layer of iceBBC Weather Watchers / CBontheradio

    Barges surrounded by ice on this frozen canal in Gnosall, Staffordshire as the big freeze continues

    You can see more of today's pictures from the BBC's Weather Watchers here.

    And if you would like to get involved in the future, you can find more details and sign up here.

  20. Passengers have certain rights when travel is disrupted

    Kevin Peachey
    Cost of living correspondent

    While extreme weather is clearly beyond the control of travel providers, their customers still have certain rights.

    Flight delays, in particular, should be made clear to passengers.

    Rory Boland, travel editor at the consumer group Which?, says that anyone flying with a UK or EU airline, or due to depart from a UK or EU airport with any carrier, is entitled to food and drink during delays of more than two hours for short-haul flights, three hours for medium-haul and four hours for long-haul.

    Anyone stuck overnight is entitled to accommodation.

    If a flight is cancelled, then passengers can choose a refund or to be rerouted on the next available flight, even if that is on a different carrier.

    The advice for passengers on any form of transport is to stay safe and be aware of any information from their provider before setting out.