Motorists trapped and roads closed as blizzards blow in

So far the worst of the weather has been in Northern Ireland and western parts of Britain but the cold front is moving steadily northwards with snow and hail expected into the evening.

The A66 is closed in both directions on the Cumbrian side of the border and Durham Police are advising motorists only to travel if necessary.

North Yorkshire Police say the road near the Tan Hill Inn near Reeth is impassable, with the force's own 4x4 struggling.

Officers are also trying to rescue a female motorist stuck in snow at West Stonesdale near Keld in the Yorkshire Dales.

Leeds Bradford Airport has suspended all flights.

Elsewhere in the country. already up to to 8in (20.3cm) of snow has fallen in the worst-affected parts of north west England, North Wales and south west Scotland.

Higher areas could even see up to 16in (40.6cm), while bitterly cold gale-force winds create blizzard-like conditions and plunge temperatures down to well below freezing.

A Durham Police picture of the A66

John Lee, forecaster with MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said it could be the coldest March in 50 years.

He said the average temperature expected for central England at this time of year is 6C (42.8F), but so far this month the average is 2.2 degrees below that - at 3.8C (38.8F).

That is significantly colder than last March, when averages were 8.3C (46.9F) - 2.3 degrees above the expected average.

‘‘Comparing it to similar winters, it’s provisionally going to be the coldest March in 50 years, although that can’t be confirmed until we reach the end of the month,’’ Mr Lee said.

He referred to 1962 - when average temperatures were even colder, at 2.8C (37F), adding: ‘‘That will take some beating.

‘‘But the way we are going it looks like we are heading towards being the coldest March since then.’’ More snow is forecast for many areas, he said, but gradually, by the end of Saturday and the end of Sunday, it will be mostly dry.

The Met Office issued a number of severe weather warnings, urging the public to be prepared for ‘‘severe disruption’’ to transport and energy services.

In Yorkshire, Leeds Bradford International Airport suspended all flights due to ‘‘adverse weather conditions’’ and heavy overnight snow also caused severe traffic problems and school closures across West Yorkshire.

The AA issued warnings to motorists that even short journeys could be difficult, and there could be a repeat of the scenes in southern England last week when hundreds of drivers were stranded in their cars overnight.

Darron Burness, the AA’s head of special operations, said: ‘‘It’s going to be a real witch’s brew of driving wind, rain and snow, which will inevitably cause disruption on the roads.’’ The Local Government Association said council gritting and ploughing teams were out in force to try to ensure main roads remained passable.

Peter Box, chairman of the Local Government Association’s economy and transport board, said hundreds of thousands of tonnes of salt had been spread this winter, but hundreds of thousands more tonnes were available in council depots and new deliveries were coming in.

He said: ‘‘Council staff will be out and about over the next few days, checking in on the people they know to be vulnerable and delivering hot meals and portable heaters, collecting prescriptions, defrosting pipes, fixing frozen boilers and making sure they have what they need.’’ He also urged residents with elderly or vulnerable family or neighbours to check in on them to make sure they were coping with the latest freeze.