Snow and freezing temperatures swept across the United Kingdom and Ireland this week, bringing widespread disruption to schools, transport, and daily life as authorities scrambled to keep communities safe and essential services running. The cold snap, which began over the weekend and intensified into Monday, January 5, 2026, has prompted a series of weather warnings, school closures, and urgent appeals for caution on roads and in neighborhoods.
In Sussex, southern England, residents woke up on Monday morning to a rare sight: snow blanketing towns like Worthing, Horsham, and Shoreham. According to BBC Sussex, snow coverings of between 2 and 3 centimeters were reported, with temperatures across the county struggling to climb above freezing. While the south east was not under a formal Met Office warning for snow and ice, the wintry conditions were enough to disrupt routines. The Chailey School in South Chailey, East Sussex, announced it would be closed due to a lack of hot water and heating, although all schools in West Sussex managed to remain open as normal.
Amid these conditions, an amber cold health alert was issued for the south east of England, remaining in place until 10:00 GMT on Friday, January 9, 2026. The Met Office warned that the persistent cold was likely to cause an increase in deaths, greater demand for health services, and significant travel delays. The alert underscored the seriousness of the situation, with officials urging the public to take extra care and to check on vulnerable neighbors, especially the elderly and those living alone.
But the most severe impacts were felt further north and across the Irish Sea, where the winter weather brought even more significant disruption. In Northern Ireland, a new ice warning was issued from Monday evening, January 5, at 17:00 until Tuesday morning, January 6, at 10:00. The Met Office’s earlier yellow snow and ice warning had already caused widespread chaos, particularly to schools and transport networks.
More than 200 schools were shuttered across Northern Ireland on Monday, with over 100 already confirming closures for Tuesday. The closures were a direct response to hazardous road conditions and the risk posed by untreated surfaces, especially after snow showers left many areas slick and treacherous. The principal of St Patrick and St Brigid's College in Claudy, Phillip McCullagh, explained his reasoning for closing the school: “There were too many risks involved.” He noted that clearing the site and surrounding footpaths would take significant time, adding, “It's as bad as I've seen it.”
Louise Creelman, principal of Lislagan Primary School in Ballymoney, echoed these concerns. She acknowledged the disruption that school closures can cause but emphasized that the sheer volume of cars arriving at the school on a normal day is “chaotic,” let alone when snow and ice are involved. Both principals planned to assess conditions as weather warnings expired, hoping to reopen as soon as it was safe to do so.
Outside the classroom, the cold snap made its mark on nearly every aspect of daily life. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) urged motorists to exercise extreme caution, advising drivers to clear their windscreens of ice and snow, slow down, and increase the distance between vehicles. Some roads, like the Aghagaskin Road in Castledawson, County Londonderry, were closed overnight due to collisions and blocked vehicles. Police asked drivers to seek alternative routes, highlighting the risk of untreated surfaces turning into icy hazards overnight.
Transport services struggled to cope with the conditions. Flights at Belfast International Airport were cancelled on Monday morning, though operations resumed later in the day. Belfast City Airport also faced cancellations, with passengers advised to check for live updates as the situation remained fluid. At City of Derry Airport, the runway was temporarily closed for snow and ice clearance before reopening. Public transport was similarly affected, with several Translink bus services and trains disrupted, and routes in places like Magherafelt, Lisburn, Armagh, and Londonderry operating only on treated main roads.
Local councils responded with a range of measures. Derry City and Strabane Council suspended household bin collections and closed some community centers, while Belfast Zoo remained closed. In Mid and East Antrim Borough, bin collections in Ballymena, Carrickfergus, and Larne did not take place, reflecting the logistical challenges posed by the weather.
Behind the scenes, road maintenance crews worked tirelessly to keep major routes open. Simon Wells from the Northern Ireland Road Service described “virtually round-the-clock salting of roads,” noting that more than 100 lorries were dispatched, each driving up to 100 kilometers and salting for 70 kilometers per run. Wells explained, “It costs more than £100,000 each time we do a grit,” and praised staff who “go above and beyond,” even working on Christmas Day and Boxing Day to keep roads safe. He advised motorists that salted roads are passable with care, but that people “need to drive over the grit for it to properly activate.”
For those living in rural or isolated areas, the challenges were even greater. The Mourne Mountain Rescue Team reported that several carers were unable to make essential calls to patients in outlying regions, necessitating 4x4 assistance from rescue volunteers. In a social media post, the team reminded the public to check on vulnerable neighbors, stressing the importance of community support during extreme weather.
Farmers like Thomas Conway in Park, County Londonderry, spoke to BBC Radio Foyle about the difficulties faced in remote communities: “The main routes are salted and they're passable with care, but all the by-roads... we used to have local farmers employed to put snow ploughs on them, which helped immensely, but that seems to have all stopped now.” Despite the setbacks, Conway remained optimistic, saying, “We'll get through it and we'll hunker through it and it'll be fine.”
The Republic of Ireland was not spared, with Met Éireann issuing new warnings for snow, ice, and low temperatures on Monday. A yellow alert for snow and ice covered Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, and Mayo from 11:00 on January 5 until 09:00 on January 6, while a separate warning for low temperatures extended across the rest of the country. The cold weekend followed Northern Ireland's coldest night this winter, with Katesbridge, County Down, recording -7C on New Year's Eve.
As the week continues, forecasts indicate little immediate respite. With the amber cold health alert for the south east of England and ongoing warnings in Northern Ireland and the Republic, officials are urging people to remain vigilant, limit unnecessary travel, and look out for one another. The winter of 2026 has arrived with a vengeance, reminding everyone of the power of nature—and the importance of community when the weather turns harsh.
