MORE snow for big-freeze Britain today was putting further pressure on the country’s already stretched winter resources.
Forecasters warned up to 20cm of snow could settle in many parts today, heralding a fresh round of travel disruption as grit supplies continue to dwindle.
The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning for Wales, the East Midlands, Yorkshire and Humber and north-east England. There were also predictions that the rest of England is likely to see more falls of up to 10cm today.
Police in Kent – which yesterday saw some of the heaviest snowfalls – said the Army was on standby to help deal with the weather and advised people not to travel unless absolutely necessary.
There were other flurries across the south of England, although initial reports suggested they were not as heavy as expected.
Fresh falls will increase the pressure on dwindling grit supplies across the country as local authorities have already been forced to cut their use of grit salt by a quarter to help conserve supplies.
Around 12,000 tonnes of salt at a UK distribution facility has been diverted from going abroad, and is being trucked to local councils.
Fifty trucks were leaving the INEOS Runcorn salt distribution facility yesterday, with another 50 due to go today.
Temperatures were bitterly cold in the Scottish Highlands overnight, as low as -16C (3F), but much less severe elsewhere. London was just above freezing, Manchester a shade below and Cardiff -2C.
Clare Allen, of MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said temperatures would struggle to rise above 1C or 2C today.
“There will be a north-east wind again which will make it feel colder, but much of northern England and Scotland will be dry and clear,” she added.
National Grid yesterday lifted its latest gas supply alert after more supplies came in from the market.
It was imposed yesterday after an imminent shortfall appeared to be looming, and it came after Prime Minister Gordon Brown insisted gas was not running out, despite recent record levels of demand.
