Live snow tracker UK as ‘major incident’ declared in Cumbria and Met Office issue yellow warning

Where is Rudolph when you need him?

David Holdsworth, 61, who works as Santa Claus, is stuck in his grotto at Heyes Garden World, Ambleside, after a failed attempt to get home to Cartmel 22 miles away. The A591 remains blocked with multiple closures.

Mr Holdsworth says he and his colleagues usually get picked up from work by a shared van service, but after an hour of trying to get onto the road to travel home, they accepted defeat.

He said: “Santa’s been stranded. It’s chock-a-block. It’s chaos.

“I’m stuck in my grotto, I’m just laid down trying to keep warm. There’s no heating, I’m going to stay here and see if the roads open.”

Mr Holdsworth says his fellow Santa Claus, Keith, is with 12 other colleagues in the centre’s café.

The 61-year-old who supports Liverpool says he is going to pass the time by watching Newcastle Versus Manchester United.

“I might be a grumpy Santa tomorrow,” he added.

Areas of rain, sleet, and away from immediate coastal areas, snow, are expected to push north and east across the area later this evening and into the early hours of Sunday.

Whilst not everywhere will see accumulating snow, some places will likely see 1-3 cm, with 5-10 cm possible over some hills and mountains of Wales, the Peak District and South Pennines.

Ice will be an additional hazard, says the Met Office.

Cumbria Police is advising motorists to travel only if necessary as heavy snowfall is causing challenging road conditions across the county. A yellow warning for snow and ice is currently in place for most of Cumbria and is set to remain so for the rest of today. The Met Office have also issued an amber weather warning for snow covering large sections of south and west Cumbria , which is in place until midnight. If motorists must travel, the advice is:

• Please plan ahead for any journeys today, allowing for extra time.
• Take extra care and, where possible, please use main roads which have been treated.
• Drive slowly and with extra care and attention.
• Please ensure that you have provisions such as water, snacks, blankets, and a charged mobile phone with you.
• Please allow vulnerable road users including cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians more room than usual.

The snow has hit the North Western county hard as drivers have taken to X to share their concern about the hazardous wintry conditions.

Julie Coldwell said: It’s awful here now. Lots of cars are potentially going to be trapped overnight between Ambleside/Windermere and Kendal.”

Lauren Machen added: “We’re trapped and have been for the last few hours. No sign of any help.”

Social media users share their anguish as they report being stranded in the snow.

South Lakes police have opened the Ambleside Parish Centre as an emergency refuge space for those stuck in their vehicles.

Nicola Ashton said: “This has surely got to be an emergency situation now, we’ve been sat on the Ambleside to Windermere road for three hours now, where is any support for those stuck in be vehicles? Nowhere to leave the vehicle safely!”

Laura Duncan added: “We have been grid locked in Ambleside for 3 hours now and haven’t seen a snow plow or gritter. Are there any on their way?”

Alaina McAdam replied: “We are the same. [We] spoke to the police and they said they were on their way. We’ve been stuck for six hours now.”

The Independent have been unable to independently verify these reports.

• A591 Kendal – queuing traffic between the A5284 Windermere Road to Wythburn.
• A591 at Newby Bridge – queuing traffic between Newby Bridge and Windermere
• A591 Lake Road – queueing traffic between Skelwith bridge and Ambleside.
• A595 Kirkby-in-Furness – queuing traffic between Kirkby-in-Furness and Grizebeck.
• A6 Wickersgill – queueing traffic between Wickersgill to Garth Row.
• B5286 Clappersgate – queuing traffic between Clappersgate and Hawkshead
• Harras Road in Whitehaven – queuing traffic between York Terrace and Red Lonning.
• Woodhouse Road in Whitehaven – queuing traffic between the B5345 St Bees Road and Fell View Avenue.

Hazardous conditions have left many drivers across Cumbria stuck in the snow.

The police have declared a ‘major incident’ as drivers get stuck in treacherous snowy conditions across Cumbria.

Agencies are responding to multiple reports of vehicles stuck in traffic due to heavy snowfall in the South Lakes area, particularly in Bowness and Grizedale, says Cumbria Police.

Police are urging residents to only drive where necessary as an amber snow warning covers large swathes of the region.

Superintendent Andy Wilkinson. Cumbria Constabulary, said: “Agencies across Cumbria are working together in response to the impact that heavy snowfall is continuing to have on the county’s roads.

“We are working at pace, to help clear roads so those currently affected can get moving.“I would urge anybody considering travelling in Cumbria tonight, to only do so if necessary. The cold temperatures forecast will make road conditions even more difficult.” Police are reiterating their message to the public that people should only travel where necessary today, particularly those considering travelling in the South Lakes and Millom areas. Due to the current and forecasted low temperatures, road conditions will remain challenging.

Cumbria Police have advised residents to travel ‘only if necessary’ today, as the Met Office’s amber snow warning remains in place for the region. Pictures show how much snow has settled in the area.

The London Fire Brigade has issued advice to anyone in the capital this weekend as temperatures are set to be ‘freezing cold’.