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UK weather LIVE: Hour-by-hour updates as snow closes Manchester airport and causes travel chaos on Britain’s roads – amid warnings more is to come

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Hello and welcome to MailOnline’s live blog on today’s weather as snowy conditions continue to batter Britain.

An Arctic blast has brought heavy snow, freezing rain, and ice that has shut roads, halted travel and caused power outages across the UK this weekend. 

The Met Office updated severe weather warnings covering areas of the Midlands, Wales and much of northern England today. 

Liverpool and Leeds Bradford airports have been forced to shut their runways this morning due to snowy weather conditions, they announced on social media.

Manchester Airport reopened its runways after closing them in the early hours of the morning, but warned of continued delays throughout the day.  

Meanwhile, Birmingham Airport also confirmed it has reopened after snow clearing, but passengers are advised to check with their airlines for updates.

As road closures and travel chaos continue into today, stay updated on the latest developments below. 

Breaking:Manchester Airport runways reopen but delays ahead

Pictured: Five inches of snow in North Yorkshire garden

Watch: Snow brings disruption amid amber weather warnings

Pictured: Snow surrounds planes at John Lennon Airport in Liverpool

The scene at Liverpool John Lennon Airport in Liverpool is bleak this morning with snow surrounding the aircraft.

Heavy overnight snow is causing chaos across the UK today as the cold start to the new year rages on.

The scene at Liverpool John Lennon Airport in Liverpool. Heavy overnight snow is causing disruption across the UK as the cold start to the new year continues. Picture date: Sunday January 5, 2025. PA Photo. Two amber weather warnings from the Met Office have been put in place in England and Wales, with 3cm to 7cm of snowfall predicted for much of the affected area, mixing with rain at times in lower-lying areas. The Met Office said Bingley, West Yorkshire, had seen 12cm of snow up to 7am on Sunday, with Shap in Cumbria and Capel Curig, Gwynedd, both seeing 10cm. One amber warning for snow and freezing rain, which covers much of Wales and the Midlands as far north as Manchester, is in place until midday on Sunday. See PA story WEATHER Winter. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire
The scene at Liverpool John Lennon Airport in Liverpool. Heavy overnight snow is causing disruption across the UK as the cold start to the new year continues. Picture date: Sunday January 5, 2025. PA Photo. Two amber weather warnings from the Met Office have been put in place in England and Wales, with 3cm to 7cm of snowfall predicted for much of the affected area, mixing with rain at times in lower-lying areas. The Met Office said Bingley, West Yorkshire, had seen 12cm of snow up to 7am on Sunday, with Shap in Cumbria and Capel Curig, Gwynedd, both seeing 10cm. One amber warning for snow and freezing rain, which covers much of Wales and the Midlands as far north as Manchester, is in place until midday on Sunday. See PA story WEATHER Winter. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire

Airport key events so far

  • Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds Bradford airports have shut their runways today
  • Birmingham Airport has reopened its runway after snow clearing overnight
  • Bristol Airport reopened at around 11pm but warned of further delays today
Disruption and runways closed at Manchester airport this morning.Heavy overnight snow was causing disruption across the UK as the cold start to the new year continued.

Manchester airport diversions so far

  • Dublin: Hainan Airlines from Beijing, Tui from Barbados, Aer Lingus from New York
  • Shannon: Norse from Barbados
  • Paris CDG: Air Transat from Toronto
  • Birmingham: Qatar Airways from Doha, Juneyao Air from Shanghai, Etihad from Abu Dhabi, Vueling from Barcelona
  • London Heathrow: Gulf Air from Bahrain, Virgin Atlantic from Atlanta, Cathay Pacific from Hong Kong
  • Glasgow: Aer Lingus from Orlando

New yellow rain warning for southern parts of England

The Met Office has just given us an update on another yellow weather warning for southern parts of England.

The rain warning is set to stay in place until 9am tomorrow morning.

Pictured: Snow falls on tails of aircraft in Manchester

Manchester Airport has been forced to shut its runways this morning due to heavy overnight snowfall.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the airport confirmed: ‘Our runways are temporarily closed due to heavy snow, as our teams work hard to clear them as quickly as possible.

‘The safety of our passengers is our top priority, and we appreciate your patience during this time. Please check with your airline for the latest flight information and allow extra travel time today.

‘We will update you as soon as possible. Thank you.’

Snow is seen on the tails of aircraft after overnight snowfall caused the temporary closure of Manchester Airport in Manchester, Britain, January 5, 2025. REUTERS/Phil Noble
Staff use tractors to help clear snow from around aircraft after overnight snowfall caused the temporary closure of Manchester Airport in Manchester, Britain, January 5, 2025. REUTERS/Phil Noble

Leeds Bradford Airport forced to shut runway due to snow

Pictured: Snowfall along Hunt’s Cross line in Liverpool

Wintery images of snowfall along Hunt’s Cross line in Liverpool have been captured this morning.

Heavy overnight snow is causing disruption across the UK as the cold start to the new year continues.

Many have experienced travel chaos today, with snow affecting train lines, roads and flights.

A train makes its way along the Hunt's Cross line in Liverpool. Heavy overnight snow is causing disruption across the UK as the cold start to the new year continues. Picture date: Sunday January 5, 2025. PA Photo. Two amber weather warnings from the Met Office have been put in place in England and Wales, with 3cm to 7cm of snowfall predicted for much of the affected area, mixing with rain at times in lower-lying areas. The Met Office said Bingley, West Yorkshire, had seen 12cm of snow up to 7am on Sunday, with Shap in Cumbria and Capel Curig, Gwynedd, both seeing 10cm. One amber warning for snow and freezing rain, which covers much of Wales and the Midlands as far north as Manchester, is in place until midday on Sunday. See PA story WEATHER Winter. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire
A worker clears snow from the platform at Hunt's Cross station in Liverpool. Heavy overnight snow is causing disruption across the UK as the cold start to the new year continues. Picture date: Sunday January 5, 2025. PA Photo. Two amber weather warnings from the Met Office have been put in place in England and Wales, with 3cm to 7cm of snowfall predicted for much of the affected area, mixing with rain at times in lower-lying areas. The Met Office said Bingley, West Yorkshire, had seen 12cm of snow up to 7am on Sunday, with Shap in Cumbria and Capel Curig, Gwynedd, both seeing 10cm. One amber warning for snow and freezing rain, which covers much of Wales and the Midlands as far north as Manchester, is in place until midday on Sunday. See PA story WEATHER Winter. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire

More road closures in County Durham and Cumbria

The A66 in County Durham and Cumbria has closed between the M6 and A1M because of the conditions.

Meanwhile, National Rail said the line between Leeds and Halifax via Dewbury has closed in both directions, with disruption on northern routes expected into tomorrow.

Up to 12cm of snow falls in parts of UK

The Met Office said Bingley, West Yorkshire, has seen 12cm of snow until 7am this morning, with Shap in Cumbria and Capel Curig, Gwynedd, both seeing 10cm.

More diversions from Manchester airport as chaos continues

Heavy snow has closed both runways at Manchester airport this morning.

The last plane landed at 6.05am, and since then a string of long-haul planes have been waiting to touch down.

So far Qatar Airways from Doha and Vueling from Barcelona have gone to Birmingham, while the Virgin Atlantic flight from Atlanta landed at London Heathrow. Aer Lingus from Orlando in Florida is currently on the ground at Glasgow.

Disruption and runways closed at Manchester airport this morning.Heavy overnight snow was causing disruption across the UK as the cold start to the new year continued.

Met Office updates severe weather warnings

The Met Office has updated severe weather warnings covering areas of the Midlands, Wales and much of northern England today.

Much of the UK is affected by the warnings, including Birmingham, Newcastle and parts of Cardiff.

Watch: Motorists struggle to drive as snow covers Newcastle

Motosists have been struggling to get on the road this morning amid snowy weather conditions in Newcastle city centre.

An Arctic blast has brought heavy snow, freezing rain, and ice that has shut roads, halted travel and caused power outages across the UK this weekend.

Key Updates

  • Manchester Airport runways reopen but delays ahead

  • Manchester airport diversions so far

  • Up to 12cm of snow falls in parts of UK

  • Met Office updates severe weather warnings

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