UK weather: Snow brings frozen start to bank holiday getaway with blizzards leaving planes grounded

Snow flurries and flight delays heralded a frozen start to the bank holiday getaway.
With the Met Office predicting "wintry showers for many" in the UK for the next five days travel chaos is only likely to get worse.
Commuters in northern England and southern Scotland awoke to yellow warnings of snow, while showers of rain and sleet are expected to hit lower levels.

Snowfall left flights delayed at Leeds Bradford Airport this morning where 15 inches of snow fell overnight.
Some flights were held up by four hours causing misery for passengers.

Passengers were hit by a blizzard at Leeds Bradford Airport this morning

A Monarch plane covered in snow at Leeds Bradford Airport

Planes were also left grounded for hours after their scheduled departure time at Manchester Airport.
Met Office meteorologists have said conditions will "remain unsettled with outbreaks of showery rain, sleet and hill snow over some northern and eastern areas".

 

Other areas may see sunny spells, but these are likely to give way to heavy showers, hail and thunder.
Motorists looking to take advantage of the three-day weekend were warned to take extra care after a catalogue of weather-related collisions in the north of England this morning.

Snow covered runways after the north was hit by blizzards

Met Office forecaster Helen Roberts said: "The remnants of the system that is bringing snow across southern Scotland and England will be lingering into Friday evening, predominantly in the north east of England.
"Mostly it will be rain showers and a wintry mix of snow, sleet and hail for the rest of the country."
Hail was expected "just about anywhere", she said, adding: "Later in the day we are most likely to see hail cause trouble on the roads if the ice builds up as conditions become slippery."