(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Motorists have had to abandon their vehicles in icy conditions in the Lake District and flights have been delayed across the UK, with the bad weather expected to cause further travel disruption.
Several flights were delayed or cancelled yesterday at Stansted, where the runway had to be cleared of snow, and Luton, where passengers said they had been grounded for hours.
The RAC said it expected to help more than 9,000 motorists by the end of the day, with many callouts relating to damage from potholes caused by freezing weather and high water levels.
Police said drivers abandoned their vehicles on Honister Pass in the Lake District due to icy conditions.
The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for ice across large parts of the UK and isolated snowfall was expected on higher ground in England, Wales and Scotland.
Motorists on the A14 in the east Midlands were yesterday morning at a standstill for more than seven hours after multiple collisions in snow and ice. The road was reopened in both directions by early afternoon, albeit with traffic still moving slowly in some places.
The RAC has told drivers to check weather reports, leave extra time for journeys and pack winter travel kits before leaving home. It warned of black ice on the roads.
Pete Williams, a spokesman, said: 'We are experiencing higher breakdown volumes than expected with callouts up by 15%-20% compared with seasonal norms.
'It's busiest in the Midlands, eastern England, the north, south-west, Kent and south London, with snow and ice making driving hazardous for many. We are also seeing a significant increase in vehicles with pothole-related damage so punctures, wheel damage, steering and suspension problems.
'The toxic combination of high water levels, ice and snow is causing many road surfaces to crumble, causing potholes to open up.
Thousands of people were left without power on Tuesday evening and yesterday morning as freezing temperatures and strong winds swept in. Western Power Networks, which serves the Midlands, Wales and the south-west, said more than 14,000 properties were affected.
Up to 7cm (2.8in) of snow fell over Exmoor, south Wales and the Cotswolds overnight, and there were also flurries in other areas.
'We have had a number of reports of areas affected; it shut part of the M5 just south of Bristol because lorries could not get uphill, Simon Partridge, a Met Office meteorologist, said.
'There (have) also been some power cuts reported and road traffic accidents as well, although these have been more to do with surface water.
Strong winds were recorded in parts of the south-west overnight, with gusts of up to 50mph (80km/h) across Cornwall.
The government's flood information service for England has nine warnings in force, where flooding is expected and immediate action required, and 94 alerts, where flooding is possible and people should be prepared.
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