Heavy snow brings widespread disruption across the U.K.
LONDON — Heavy snow and freezing rain has brought widespread disruption across the U.K., with several major airports forced to suspend flights and many key roads in the north of England unnavigable.
With the weather set to stay inclement on Sunday, there are concerns that many rural communities could be cut off with up to 40 centimeters (15 inches) of snow on ground above 300 meters (985 feet).
The National Grid, which oversees the country’s electricity network, said it had been working to restore power after outages across the country. The company’s live map shows power cuts in Birmingham in central England, Bristol in the west and Cardiff in Wales.
Many sporting events have already been postponed, but the heavyweight Premier League fixture between Liverpool and Manchester United is still on, though there will be another inspection later.
Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport and Manchester Airport had to close runways and divert flights, Birmingham Airport also suspended operations for several hours overnight but said it was on schedule for “business as usual” on Sunday.
The road network was heavily impacted too, on what would have been a very busy day with many families returning home from the Christmas and New Year break and students heading back to universities.
On the railways, many services were canceled with National Rail warning of disruption continuing into the working week.
Britain’s main weather forecaster, the Met Office, has forecast the sleet and snow will continue to push north on Sunday and be heaviest in northern England and into southern Scotland. After experiencing freezing rain for a time, the south will turn milder.
Frost and icy patches will continue through the early part of the week, but Monday and Tuesday will become drier with sunny spells and scattered wintry showers.
The National Zoo’s giant pandas make the most of DC’s snow
The two giant pandas were seen on camera playing around in the snowfall that blanketed much of the Midwest and mid-Atlantic on Monday.
Meta taps Trump ally and UFC CEO Dana White to join its board
White's election as a Meta director two weeks before Trump takes office comes as Silicon Valley is courting the incoming administration.
First bird flu death reported in the U.S., according to the CDC
Health officials in Louisiana say a person there has died after catching bird flu. This marks the first reported death in the U.S. from the virus during the current outbreak.
CFPB sues Berkshire Hathaway-owned mortgage lender for alleged predatory practices
The CFPB says that Vanderbilt Mortgage & Finance, owned by Berkshire Hathaway, ignored evidence that borrowers couldn't afford loans to buy manufactured homes.
Pentagon agrees to settle historic lawsuit with LGBTQ+ veterans over discharge status
The Pentagon has agreed to settle a class action lawsuit involving about 35,000 LGBTQ+ veterans that will help them get benefits like health care and disability.
32 dolphins have died since an oil spill near southern Russia, experts say
A dolphin rescue center said most of the dead dolphins were from the endangered Azov species.
