Hundreds of schools have been closed in Britain after the coldest night so far this winter, and the weather is expected to remain cold and snow cover to increase in the coming days, writes the BBC.
As Arctic air masses reached Britain, the temperature in Norfolk dropped to minus 12 degrees on the night of the 5th to the 6th January. Residents have been warned that traffic disruptions and train delays are possible on the 6th of January, and orange and yellow warnings have been issued for parts of the country.
In Wales alone, more than 300 schools were closed on the morning of the 6th of January, while in Northern Ireland – more than 170. Several more schools started work later than usual. One school principal told the BBC that these were the worst weather conditions he had ever experienced.
Train services were disrupted in some areas on the 5th of January, with Eurostar trains unable to travel to the Netherlands, while the Scottish Railways warned of particularly deep snow, making it difficult to clear the tracks.
The cold wave has also disrupted air traffic.
Liverpool John Lennon Airport was temporarily closed on the 5th of January due to snow and ice.
The cold wave is not expected to end anytime soon. Strong winds and heavy rain are expected in the second half of the week, which could pose additional risks. The UK Met Office has warned that snow could cover areas that are currently snow-free on Thursday and Friday.
The UK Health Protection Agency has issued an orange health warning, which will remain in effect until the 9th of January.
The wintry weather has prompted the government to launch a cash payment scheme – meaning eligible households can automatically receive a 25 pound payment if temperatures remain below zero for seven days in a row.
The cold wave has also hit Western Europe, with travel disruptions in the Netherlands and France.
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