Met Office snow alerts: amber in Yorkshire on 20 Nov

If you woke up to snow this morning, you’re not imagining it. From London to Shetland, showers turned roads white and slowed journeys. Met Office stations logged 7cm of lying snow at Lake Vyrnwy in Powys and at Altnaharra in the Highlands, while wider yellow warnings for snow and ice remain in force. That’s why buses, trains and roads have been patchy today.

What’s in force now and next? The Met Office has yellow warnings for snow and ice across parts of Northern Ireland, northern Scotland, north‑east England, Wales and the South West. An amber snow warning will cover the North York Moors and parts of the Yorkshire Wolds on Thursday 20 November, 03:00-21:00 GMT, after the start time was brought forward. Amber means significant disruption is more likely, so plans may need to change.

Real‑world impacts began early. Multiple schools in the Highlands and in Shetland closed or opened late, with councils advising families to check local updates. The A628 Woodhead Pass shut overnight and then reopened, while in north‑west Wales the B4391 at Rhyd y Sarn was closed both ways. If you’re travelling, check before you set off and leave more time than usual.

Why do warnings look different from place to place? This cold snap is driven by Arctic air. Brisk northerly winds feed showers inland from the North Sea, so coastal and upland spots are first in the firing line. Elevation matters: hills collect more snow, while many central low‑lying areas stay brighter and drier between showers. Not everyone sees lying snow at the same time.

How to read the colours. Yellow means be aware and look closely at the details for your area; impacts can be uneven. Amber means be prepared to change your plans because travel delays, power cuts and temporary closures are more likely. Warnings are set using both the chance of impacts and how serious those impacts could be, shown in the Met Office impact‑likelihood matrix.

Health matters too. The UK Health Security Agency has amber Cold‑Health Alerts in place for the North East, North West, and Yorkshire and the Humber from 12:00 on Monday 17 November until 08:00 on Saturday 22 November, with yellow alerts for the rest of England. These are aimed at health and care services, but they help all of us: if you or someone you support is older or has a long‑term condition, try to keep living spaces around 18°C and plan ahead for medicines and food.

What to expect in the amber area on Thursday. By Thursday evening, the North York Moors and parts of the Yorkshire Wolds could see 15–25cm on hills above roughly 100m, with gusty winds giving brief blizzards and the chance of lightning in showers. Rural communities could be cut off for a time and there’s a risk of stranded vehicles and power cuts.

Travel basics that make a difference. National Highways says winter operations are active and more than 530 gritters are ready; drivers are urged to check lights and tyres, clear all windows, and pack warm layers, a torch, a phone charger and some food and drink. If you’re in Scotland, BEAR Scotland’s winter team runs 24/7 and can deploy extra gritters where needed.

Public transport needs the same mindset. National Rail has warned that speed restrictions may be used through Thursday 20 November, which can mean delays or cancellations-so do a full journey check before you go. Ferries can also be hit: CalMac recently cancelled and adjusted services at short notice during wintry spells, and the operator continues to flag that further changes are possible.

How cold and for how long? Forecasters expect Wednesday and Thursday to be the sharpest days of this cold spell, with rural Scotland dropping to around -11°C on Thursday night and widespread frost elsewhere. For most of us it turns less cold by Friday 21 November, a little wetter in the west, and then more typical late‑November conditions follow.

One last reading tip. Warnings update as confidence changes, so times can shift-just like Thursday’s amber start being moved to 03:00. When you check the map, open the “Further details” and the impact‑likelihood matrix for your area, then plan your day around what it says. That’s how we stay safe and keep classes, commutes and care plans on track.