Amber Snow Warning Hits North York Moors as 25cm Falls and Blizzard Conditions Loom

When the Met Office dropped an amber warning for snow across north-east England on Wednesday night, few expected it would turn into a full-blown winter siege — but by Thursday morning, roads in the North York Moors were buried under snow falling faster than plows could clear them. Meteorologist Jo Wheeler, speaking on TalkTV’s Mark Dolan Show, warned viewers: "As much as 25cm of snow could settle on high ground." And it did. By midday Thursday, drifts in the moors reached waist height in places, stranding hikers, closing trails, and turning rural lanes into impassable ice rinks.

What Happened on the Ground

Wednesday, November 20, 2025, started as a typical late-autumn day in North Yorkshire. By 4 p.m., the sky turned slate gray. Snow began falling in earnest around 6 p.m. near Pickering and Whitby, and by midnight, the A169 — a vital link between the two towns — was shut after multiple vehicles skidded off the road. Local council crews worked through the night, but the snow came down at a rate of 3cm per hour in the higher elevations. "It was snowing on the roads as quickly as they could clear them," Wheeler told Dolan. "You’d clear a stretch, and by the time you got back to it, it was gone again." The North York Moors National Park, a 554-square-mile protected area, became a ghost town. Visitor centers closed. The North Yorkshire Police issued a plea: "Stay off the hills. This isn’t a scenic walk anymore — it’s a survival situation."

The Bigger Picture: A Cold Front That Won’t Quit

According to WION’s Climate Tracker report, this wasn’t just a local blip. The storm was part of a larger Atlantic low-pressure system that had swept across Europe, bringing early winter to the UK, Germany, and parts of France. Temperatures plunged to -5°C in the moors, with wind chill making it feel like -12°C. "This is the first major arctic blast of the season," the WION anchor noted. "And it’s not leaving anytime soon." The Met Office’s amber warning — the second-highest alert level — remained active until 9 p.m. GMT on Thursday, November 21. But the real concern is what comes next. Experts say the cold front is locked in place, with models suggesting a brief warmup early next week might only bring a few days of thaw before frost and snow return. "We’re looking at wintry conditions stretching into early December," the WION report warned. That’s unusual. Most of northern England doesn’t see sustained snow this early — let alone multiple rounds.

Who’s Affected — And How

It’s not just travelers. Farmers in the region reported livestock trapped in fields. One sheep farmer near Ruswarp said he had to helicopter in hay after snow blocked access roads. Power cuts hit over 12,000 homes in North Yorkshire and southern Scotland as ice weighed down overhead lines. Emergency services were stretched thin: Yorkshire Ambulance Service reported a 40% spike in calls related to falls and hypothermia. Even recreational activities took a hit. The annual North York Moors Winter Trail Run, scheduled for Saturday, was canceled — the first time in 14 years. "People come from all over for this," said organizer Sarah Kettlewell. "But when the ground’s frozen solid and visibility’s under 10 meters? No amount of enthusiasm makes that safe."

What’s Next: A Winter That Might Not End

The Met Office has already signaled that another low-pressure system is forming over the North Atlantic, with potential to deliver more snow by December 3. Climate scientists point to a pattern: the polar vortex is weakening, allowing colder air to spill south more frequently. "We’re not saying this is climate change — yet," said Dr. Elena Ruiz, a climatologist at the University of Leeds. "But what we’re seeing is more volatile transitions. Winter isn’t arriving on schedule. It’s crashing the door down." Meanwhile, local councils are preparing for a long haul. North Yorkshire Council has activated its emergency snow response plan, deploying 87 salt spreaders and calling in reserve staff. "We’ve got the gear," said council lead Mark Hargreaves. "We just hope we’ve got the patience."

Ice, Not Just Snow

While the moors got the snow, the east coast got the ice. As clouds cleared over Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire on Thursday morning, temperatures dropped rapidly. Wheeler warned: "Very big risk of ice as the cloud clears away." That meant black ice on bridges, overpasses, and rural roads — invisible, deadly, and widespread. By noon, the National Highways agency had closed 14 stretches of road in the region. One driver in Scarborough described it as "like driving on glass."

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