As freezing temperatures grip the UK, numerous schoolchildren are enjoying an unexpected break from classes as hundreds of schools have closed nationwide due to the harsh winter weather conditions.
The Met Office has issued fresh cold weather alerts after temperatures plummeted below minus 10 degrees in Cumbria overnight. In Banffshire, Scotland, Met Office sensors have detected 20 inches of snow. Yellow warnings are currently in effect for Scotland, Northern Ireland, and northern England.
Additional warnings have been issued for the eastern regions of England, as well as western Wales, Devon, and Cornwall. Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office, Matthew Lehnert, warned of ongoing winter weather risks including low temperatures, snow showers, and icy conditions throughout the week.
Numerous schools remained closed on Monday, affecting regions such as Wales, South West England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Schools are already announcing closures for Tuesday, with many in Northern Ireland deciding to remain shut.
Parents seeking information on school closures can visit the gov.uk School Closures website and enter their postcode for local council updates. The cold spell is expected to persist, with frontal systems approaching from the west later in the week, bringing rain, sleet, and snow alongside potential strong winds.
Tomorrow’s forecast predicts another cold day for Tuesday, with a mix of rain, sleet, and snow in the north, while the south can expect drier conditions with sunny intervals before precipitation moves in later in the evening.