Hundreds of schools across the UK are shutting their doors as a severe Arctic blast brings further snow, ice, and travel chaos, disrupting the return after the Christmas holidays.
Widespread Weather Warnings Issued
The Met Office has extended a series of yellow and amber weather alerts for Tuesday, 6th January 2026, covering large swathes of the country. The warnings predict significant disruption from snow showers and icy patches, with the potential for travel delays, power cuts, and impassable pavements.
Areas in the North East and East of England are under a snow and ice warning, with scattered showers expected to cause problems from Monday into Tuesday morning. A separate warning spans from Cornwall to Plymouth and covers the west coast of Wales.
Scotland and Northern Ireland Braced for Impact
Northern Ireland is forecast to see ice forming on untreated surfaces from Monday evening into Tuesday, creating hazardous conditions. Meanwhile, two separate warnings cover the whole of Scotland.
The first Scottish warning stretches down into England as far as Leeds, indicating snow and ice may cause disruption on Tuesday morning. A more severe warning is in place for regions north of Glasgow and Edinburgh, extending into the Highlands. This alert, active until Wednesday at midnight, states that snow and ice is likely to bring further disruption, particularly across central and northern mainland Scotland.
Check Your Local School Status
With hundreds of schools already closed this week due to the adverse conditions, parents are urged to check the status of their child's school for Tuesday. The safest way to get accurate, real-time information is to visit the official Government website and search using your local postcode.
The combination of heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures continues to test local authorities and transport networks nationwide, with the cold snap showing little sign of relenting.
