Heavy snowfall causes airport closures in the UK

Heavy snowfall overnight has caused several airports in the UK, including Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds, to close their runways.

All incoming flights at Manchester Airport have been diverted elsewhere as they would have been unable to land, the BBC has reported. Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport is trying to clear its own runway, while Leeds Bradford Airport is also facing cancellations and delays.

The UK’s Met Office has issued eight weather warnings – six yellow and two amber – for areas across the UK, with the two amber warnings (which warn of potential risk to life and are considered more serious) for the Midlands, Wales and areas of northern England. There have been warnings of ice and snow, the latter of which is expected to continue falling through Sunday, with as much as 40cm of snow forecast to accumulate in the areas worst affected.

The weather service has told the public to brace itself for train delays and cancellations, power cuts and road issues in the affected areas. It has called on people to be aware of icy conditions, with freezing rain, ice and heavy rain causing a number of potential weather hazards in the country.