Travel delays and train cancellations expected across UK

Yellow snow and ice warnings are in place across the south-west, north-west and east coast of England, and Wales and Northern Ireland, until Monday.

Heavy snowfall has already covered parts of Scotland, with the Met Office predicting up to 40cm (15in) in some areas and 5cm across England and Wales.

Daytime temperatures are expected to remain in the low single figures for much of the country, and below freezing in parts of northern Scotland.

Take the worry out of winter travel by preparing a few essential items to keep in your car in case you get stuck in severe weather 🚗

Follow @TheRAC_UK for more tips and advice on how to make sure your vehicle is ready for winter ❄️

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— Met Office (@metoffice) January 3, 2026

On Friday night, the Met Office expects sub-zero temperatures to blanket the country, external, including minimum temperatures of -6C to -8C across much of Scotland, and -4C to -5C in rural areas of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

What should I expect?

• Some roads and railways likely to be affected with longer journey times by road, bus and train services
• Some injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces
• Probably some icy patches on some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths

What Should I Do?

Snowy, wintry weather can cause delays and make driving conditions dangerous. Keep yourself and others safe by planning your route, giving yourself extra time for your journey. Check for road closures or delays to public transport and amend plans if necessary.

Keep yourself and your family safe when it is icy. Plan to leave the house at least five minutes earlier than normal. Not needing to rush reduces your risk of accidents, slips, and falls.

If you need to make a journey on foot, try to use pavements along main roads, which are likely to be less slippery. Similarly, if cycling, try and stick to main roads which are more likely to have been treated.

Give yourself the best chance of avoiding delays by checking road conditions if driving, or bus and train timetables, and amending your travel plans if necessary.

If driving, make sure you have some essentials in your car in the event of any delays (e.g., warm clothing, food, water, a blanket, a torch, ice scraper/de-icer, a warning triangle, a high visibility vest and an in-car phone charger).

Be prepared for weather warnings to change: when a weather warning is issued, the Met Office recommends staying up to date with the weather forecast in your area.