MINUS 13C: Shropshire is the coldest place in the country
Scores of schools remained closed and commuters struggled to work on icy roads today after Shropshire was officially the coldest place in the country overnight, with a temperature of -13C recorded at Shawbury.
New Yellow weather warnings for ice were issued by the Met Office between 4pm today and 11am on Wednesday, after council gritters were out on the streets again today.
The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital's midwife-led unit has closed for births and inpatient care until the end of January after snow damaged its roof. The unit will remain open to outpatient services including day attendees, hearing screening and the registrar.
Expectant mothers will have to use the two maternity units at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford or give birth at home.
This afternoon many schools were announcing whether they would be opening on Wednesday. For up to date details go to:
Trains between Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton were being cancelled or delayed by 30 minutes after an obstruction on the track blocked the line between Wellington and Telford. West Midlands Railway warned that the delays could be in place until 1pm.
Trains between Craven Arms and Llanelli were suspended after fallen trees and over hanging branches blocked the line. The line is not expected to open until Wednesday while work is carried out.
Madeley Road in Ironbridge was closed to allow workers to deal with trees posing a danger following the snow.
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Bus services in the county were also disrupted today, with Telford Council suspending all its Community Bus services, Dial a Ride and Wrekin Rider services today. Refuse colleciton services across the county were also hit.
Clear skies overnight saw temperatures plummet below the -12.4C (9.6F) low recorded on Saturday night – with the Met Office recording a new low in Shawbury.
Met Office meteorologist Craig Snell said: “In Shawbury we saw -13C (8.6F) which is the coldest night of the year so far."
“We have to go back to the night of February 13/14 2016 when we saw -14.1C (6.6F) in Braemar for the coldest before that.
“Benson saw -9C (15.8F) and Kew Gardens in London had -4.2C (24F) and Teddington saw -4.8C (23F).”
He added that there was the potential for a “dusting” of snow on higher levels over coming days, and that there was a risk of problems caused by rain falling in already icy areas.
“It will take a good few days for the snow to melt away,” he added.
