“Ice could create some particularly tricky travel conditions,” the Met Office warned as yellow alerts rolled across the North on Wednesday and an amber alert was set for the North York Moors and parts of the Yorkshire Wolds on Thursday. Trains, roads and schools saw a patchwork of disruption as winter arrived with a jolt.

Snow was reported from London to Shetland, with Met Office stations logging 7cm at Lake Vyrnwy in Powys and at Altnaharra in the Highlands. Across our patch, from the Dales to Teesside, many woke to a fresh covering and treacherous icy stretches.

Dozens of schools closed in north‑east Scotland and the Highlands, with around a quarter shut in Shetland. Wales and Derbyshire reported hold‑ups on key routes, reminding Northern commuters that even short journeys may take far longer in these conditions.

The Woodhead Pass between Hollingworth and Flouch reopened on Wednesday afternoon after overnight snowfall forced a full closure. In Wales, the B4391 in Gwynedd between Rhyd y Sarn and Pen y Bryn was closed in both directions as crews worked to clear compacted snow.

Darren Clark, severe weather resilience adviser at National Highways, urged drivers to check lights and tyres before setting off and not be caught out. He said more than 500 gritters can be called on when snow hits, and motorists should carry food, warm clothing and a torch.

Traffic Scotland said frequent snow showers could lead to further disruption where warnings are in place. Bear Scotland confirmed gritters were patrolling trunk roads in the south‑east and north‑west, while CalMac Ferries warned of cancellations and short‑notice changes; bus and rail services may also see delays.

Yellow Met Office warnings for the Midlands and southern Scotland were in place until 11:00 GMT on Wednesday, with snow and ice alerts for Northern Ireland, northern Scotland, south‑west Wales and parts of England continuing into Thursday. Travellers were advised to plan routes carefully and check for closures.

A more severe amber warning covers the North York Moors and parts of the Yorkshire Wolds from 03:00 to 21:00 GMT on Thursday. Hills above 100m could see 15–25cm by close of play, with gusty winds bringing blizzards and even the risk of thunderstorms.

The Met Office said the set‑up is likely to cause substantial disruption, including rural communities being cut off, vehicles becoming stranded and a risk of power cuts. For farms, care workers and delivery drivers serving the Moors and Wolds, that raises real concerns about access and isolation.

The UK Health Security Agency has yellow cold‑health alerts across England until 08:00 GMT on Saturday, and amber alerts for the North West, North East, and Yorkshire and the Humber, flagging significant risks for older people and those with health conditions. Health and social care teams are preparing for extra demand.

Forecasters expect the coldest night of the week on Thursday, with temperatures widely below zero and down to –12C in rural Scotland. It should turn less cold by the weekend, with values edging back towards average by Saturday, though ice is still likely where snow has compacted.