Schools shut, firms hit... now another 6 inches of snow
Britain will be blanketed by up to six inches of snow today as the Arctic blast tightens its grip and brings more chaos to the roads, railways and schools.
The South is expected to see the worst of the weather as heavy winter showers move south across England and Wales throughout the day.
The warning follows another day of misery for commuters - and an extra day's holiday for up to three million workers who used the freezing conditions as an excuse to stay at home.
Business lobby groups estimated that as many as one in ten failed to make it back into the office after the two-week festive break.
Northern England and Scotland saw the worst of the winter yesterday as temperatures plunged to -12c (10f).
Forecasters warned there would be no let-up in the Arctic weather with snow and sub-zero temperatures expected to blast across Britain today, reaching southern counties by the evening.
Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire and Oxfordshire could have up to six inches of snow tonight. The Met Office issued an advisory for heavy snow and ice across much of the UK today.
A spokesman said: 'Most places could get some snow, with the showers moving down from the Pennines and Peaks to the South of England by the evening.
'The South could see around six inches on Tuesday evening, while there will be a few centimetres elsewhere.'
Temperatures will plummet to a treacherous -8c (18f) on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, he added.
The sub-zero temperatures and snow showers are expected to continue until at least the weekend.
The Met Office yesterday confirmed that December was the coldest in Britain since 1995. However, despite the chilly snap, the whole of 2009 was milder than 2008 and remained the 14th warmest year in the UK since records began in 1914, it added.
Dozens of schools failed to reopen after the holidays yesterday, leaving thousands of parents searching for last-minute childcare.
Local councils confirmed that 19 schools were closed in Northumberland, 13 in Lancashire and 12 in Durham. Seven were also closed in North Yorkshire.
In Scotland, Renfrewshire and Fife Councils said they were being forced to preserve salt stocks and warned of ' significant problems' if supplies were not replenished.
The moves will provoke fears that councils in England and Wales could also run out of grit and salt within days.
The dread of the big return to work triggered a mass sickie with workers using the bleak weather as a cover for their lack of enthusiasm about going back to work.
The Federation of Small Businesses said it estimates about 10 per cent of Britain's workers could not bear to go back to work.
Stephen Alambritis, from the business lobby group, said: 'Some will have had a genuine reason, but many are just trying it on.
'They may have just drunk too much and ate too much over Christmas, and they just can't be bothered to go into work.'
He estimates the cost to the economy will be about ? 600million from lost productivity and lost taxes.
Other business lobby groups said workers who stayed at home were not being fair on their colleagues or their companies.
Phil Orford, chief executive of the Forum of Private Business, said: 'There may be cases where some staff members are unable to come into work for legitimate reasons.
'But others have clearly view this cold snap as an opportunity to stay at home with potentially damaging effects on small firms and the economy.
'Small employers need their key staff to be responsible, brave the harsh weather and come in wherever possible.
'It is a case of all hands to the pump, particularly given the recessionary conditions we are still facing.'
The Forum of Private Business estimates the cost of the economy will be less, around ?230million, but this is still equivalent to a drop of around 5 per cent in the country's daily economic output.
Many workers may have tried to get to work but genuinely had trouble with their car, according to the AA.
The breakdown service received more than 22,000 call-outs yesterday, compared to just 9,500 on a normal Monday - making it the busiest day for more than ten years.
An AA spokesman said: 'I'm sure there are some who use the weather as an excuse, but it is pretty treacherous out there. If the local police advise against driving, we urge them to heed this advice.'
Trains in and out of London's Liverpool Street station were delayed for up to 60 minutes by over-running engineering work and services between Glasgow and Edinburgh were also interrupted by poor weather.
Network Rail said about 75 per cent of trains were running on time on Monday, compared with recent punctuality figures of about 90 per cent.
Britain will be blanketed by up to six inches of snow today as the Arctic blast tightens its grip and brings more chaos to the roads, railways and schools.
The South is expected to see the worst of the weather as heavy winter showers move south across England and Wales throughout the day.
The warning follows another day of misery for commuters - and an extra day's holiday for up to three million workers who used the freezing conditions as an excuse to stay at home.
Business lobby groups estimated that as many as one in ten failed to make it back into the office after the two-week festive break. Northern England and Scotland saw the worst of the winter yesterday as temperatures plunged to -12c (10f).
Forecasters warned there would be no let-up in the Arctic weather with snow and sub-zero temperatures expected to blast across Britain today, reaching southern counties by the evening.
Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire and Oxfordshire could have up to six inches of snow tonight. The Met Office issued an advisory for heavy snow and ice across much of the UK today.
A spokesman said: 'Most places could get some snow, with the showers moving down from the Pennines and Peaks to the South of England by the evening.
'The South could see around six inches on Tuesday evening, while there will be a few centimetres elsewhere.'
Temperatures will plummet to a treacherous -8c (18f) on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, he added.
The sub-zero temperatures and snow showers are expected to continue until at least the weekend.
The Met Office yesterday confirmed that December was the coldest in Britain since 1995. However, despite the chilly snap, the whole of 2009 was milder than 2008 and remained the 14th warmest year in the UK since records began in 1914, it added.
Dozens of schools failed to reopen after the holidays yesterday, leaving thousands of parents searching for last-minute childcare.
Local councils confirmed that 19 schools were closed in Northumberland, 13 in Lancashire and 12 in Durham. Seven were also closed in North Yorkshire.
In Scotland, Renfrewshire and Fife Councils said they were being forced to preserve salt stocks and warned of ' significant problems' if supplies were not replenished.
The moves will provoke fears that councils in England and Wales could also run out of grit and salt within days.
The dread of the big return to work triggered a mass sickie with workers using the bleak weather as a cover for their lack of enthusiasm about going back to work.
The Federation of Small Businesses said it estimates about 10 per cent of Britain's workers could not bear to go back to work.
Stephen Alambritis, from the business lobby group, said: 'Some will have had a genuine reason, but many are just trying it on.
'They may have just drunk too much and ate too much over Christmas, and they just can't be bothered to go into work.'
He estimates the cost to the economy will be about ? 600million from lost productivity and lost taxes.
Other business lobby groups said workers who stayed at home were not being fair on their colleagues or their companies.
Phil Orford, chief executive of the Forum of Private Business, said: 'There may be cases where some staff members are unable to come into work for legitimate reasons.
'But others have clearly view this cold snap as an opportunity to stay at home with potentially damaging effects on small firms and the economy.
'Small employers need their key staff to be responsible, brave the harsh weather and come in wherever possible.
'It is a case of all hands to the pump, particularly given the recessionary conditions we are still facing.'
The Forum of Private Business estimates the cost of the economy will be less, around ?230million, but this is still equivalent to a drop of around 5 per cent in the country's daily economic output.
Many workers may have tried to get to work but genuinely had trouble with their car, according to the AA.
The breakdown service received more than 22,000 call-outs yesterday, compared to just 9,500 on a normal Monday - making it the busiest day for more than ten years.
An AA spokesman said: 'I'm sure there are some who use the weather as an excuse, but it is pretty treacherous out there. If the local police advise against driving, we urge them to heed this advice.'
Trains in and out of London's Liverpool Street station were delayed for up to 60 minutes by over-running engineering work and services between Glasgow and Edinburgh were also interrupted by poor weather.
Network Rail said about 75 per cent of trains were running on time on Monday, compared with recent punctuality figures of about 90 per cent.
