As the United Kingdom woke up to a fresh blanket of snow on Monday, January 5, 2026, communities across Norfolk, Suffolk, and much of the country found themselves grappling with the harsh realities of winter weather. From school closures and hazardous travel conditions to suspended bin collections and flight delays, the cold snap—driven by arctic air from Scandinavia—has left its mark on daily life, prompting warnings and adaptations at every level.
According to the BBC, the overnight snowfall was the second of the year for Norfolk, with several inches accumulating in some areas. Temperatures plunged as low as -9.5C in Norfolk, creating icy road conditions and leading to widespread disruption. The Met Office issued yellow and amber weather warnings for snow and ice, in effect until 11:00 GMT on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, for much of the UK, including Northern Ireland, the west of England and Wales, and England's east coast.
School closures quickly became one of the most visible impacts of the wintry blast. Nearly 30 schools in Norfolk alone were closed or partly shut by the morning of January 6, with a full list updated on the Norfolk County Council website. As of 7:45am, 29 schools had announced closures or partial shutdowns, citing a range of issues from hazardous travel conditions and icy school sites to heating failures and burst water pipes. Among the affected institutions were Acle Academy, Brisley Church of England Primary Academy, Bure Park Specialist Academy, Chapel Green School, and The Bridge Easton School, which reported, “After a lot of work trying to make the site ready to open on Tuesday, we have had to make the decision to fully close again on Tuesday due to health and safety reasons related to the impact of snow, ice and dropping temperatures.”
Suffolk and Ipswich were not spared either. Red Oak Primary School in Lowestoft closed due to “severe weather conditions,” while Morland Church of England Primary School in Ipswich shut its doors because of a faulty boiler, as reported by BBC and confirmed on local council websites. In East Suffolk, bin collections were suspended indefinitely, with households advised to keep their bins out for when conditions improve. “For safety reasons, all waste collections from East Suffolk Services Ltd are currently suspended until further notice, with conditions assessed on a daily basis,” local authorities advised.
Travel woes extended beyond the school run. Main roads in the East of England were generally clear, thanks to gritting crews working overtime, but untreated roads proved treacherous for drivers. There were reports of delays on the A47 Southern Bypass near Thickthorn due to a broken-down vehicle, and Great Northern trains suspended service between King’s Lynn and Ely because of poor weather. The dangers were not limited to snow itself; as temperatures hovered below freezing, the risk of black ice loomed large. ITV News Anglia meteorologist Aisling Creevey warned, “Drivers should also watch out for black ice, which is see-through ice that makes roads appear as though they're clear.”
Air travel was also disrupted, though not as severely as on the ground. Norwich Airport saw cancellations of flights to Amsterdam and Aberdeen due to snow at the destination airports, while flights at Liverpool, Aberdeen, Belfast, and Derry airports had resumed by Monday afternoon, according to BBC. Luton and Stansted airports, meanwhile, continued to operate normally.
The cold snap’s reach extended far beyond Norfolk and Suffolk. Several schools in Scotland and Northern Ireland were set to remain closed on January 6 as a second day of weather disruption was forecast across the UK. Some parts of Scotland braced for temperatures as low as -10C (14F) overnight, and three out of four weather warnings remained in place for the Tuesday morning commute, affecting large swathes of the country.
Public health officials were quick to highlight the risks posed by the extreme cold. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued amber snow and ice warnings for the East of England, emphasizing that the weather was “likely” to cause significant impacts across health and social care services. The agency specifically warned of a potential rise in deaths among those with pre-existing health conditions or aged 65 and over. The Met Office echoed these concerns, advising road users to drive slowly, use higher gears, and accelerate and brake smoothly to reduce the risk of skidding.
For many families, the sudden closures brought both relief and challenge. While the safety of children and staff was paramount, the logistical headaches of last-minute childcare and remote learning returned. Some schools, like Drayton Community Infant School and Nightingale Infant & Nursery School, opted for delayed openings at 10am to allow for safer travel and site preparation. Others, such as Greenpark Academy and Little Plumstead Church of England Primary Academy, shifted to online learning, sending instructions to parents via email and platforms like Class Dojo.
Behind the scenes, maintenance crews and school staff worked tirelessly to address heating failures, burst pipes, and icy walkways. The Clare School reported, “Due to a failed boiler, limited hot water, a lack of fresh running water and a burst water pipe we are unable to meet our Health and Safety requirements for pupils or staff. Engineers will be on site during the day. We hope the issue will be rectified in preparation for reopening on Wednesday.”
Despite the disruptions, there were moments of community and resilience. Social media buzzed with photos of dogs frolicking in the snow, tractors helping to clear rural lanes, and even impromptu ice hockey games breaking out on frozen ponds. As the BBC noted, “Thanks for sending in your updates and pictures; down in the newsroom we've enjoyed seeing a dachshund in the snow, tractors out to help, and even spontaneous ice hockey games breaking out.”
Looking ahead, the forecast offers little immediate relief. Late Monday evening, snow showers were expected to retreat to coastal areas, but the clear skies would bring even colder overnight temperatures, with a minimum of -8C anticipated. Tuesday was set to bring rain and sleet after dark, with a maximum temperature of just 2C, and the rest of the week promised sunny spells before another bout of wind and sleet closer to Friday.
As communities across Norfolk, Suffolk, and the UK adapt to the latest round of winter weather, the collective response—marked by caution, flexibility, and a touch of British stoicism—shows no sign of thawing. For now, the snow remains both a challenge and a reminder of nature’s power, keeping everyone on their toes, whether at home, on the roads, or waiting for the school gates to reopen.
