Fresh weather warnings issued as parts of UK threatened with blizzard conditions

UK Weather: Fresh Warnings as Blizzard Conditions Threaten

Date: Thursday, 20 November 2025

1. Weather Warnings in Force

• Amber snow warning for northeast England (Scarborough, Whitby, and areas south of Middlesbrough) until 9pm Thursday.

• Multiple yellow warnings for snow and ice across large areas of the UK.

• Conditions expected to remain hazardous into Friday, with additional ice warnings issued.

2. Expected Conditions

• Up to 25 cm (10 inches) of snow possible on higher ground in the North York Moors and Yorkshire Wolds.

• Gusty winds may create temporary blizzard conditions, significantly reducing visibility.

• Risk of lightning strikes embedded in snow showers.

• Clear skies overnight will lead to a severe frost and widespread ice, especially on untreated roads and pavements.

3. Travel Disruption

• Some A-roads in North Yorkshire reported as “gridlocked.”

• Snow ploughs and gritters have been deployed across the North York Moors.

• Images show:

  • Stranded vehicles on the A169

  • An overturned car on the A19 near Sunderland

  • Heavy snow in County Londonderry and the East Riding of Yorkshire

4. School Closures

• Dozens of schools in North Yorkshire and Scotland have been closed due to unsafe conditions.

5. Coldest Night of the Season

Recorded overnight lows from Wednesday into Thursday:

• –6.6°C in Benson, Oxfordshire

• –6.4°C in Wales (Sennybridge)

• –6.4°C in Scotland (Dundreggan)

• –2.8°C in Northern Ireland (Altnahinch Filters)

6. Health Alerts

• Two amber cold-health alerts in force across:

  • North East England

  • North West England

  • Yorkshire and the Humber
    Valid until 8am on 22 November.

• Alerts signal increased risk for elderly people and those with health conditions.

• Yellow cold-health alerts in place for the rest of England.7. Safety Advice

• NHSGGC urges people to “walk like a penguin” to reduce slips on icy surfaces—taking small, shuffling steps to stay balanced.

• Particularly important for older adults who face higher injury risks.

8. Weekend Forecast

• A shift in weather is expected:

  • From cold and wintry

  • To wet and windy conditions on Saturday, with heavy rain moving across the country.

• British weather will briefly turn milder before shifting back to a chillier northerly flow.