Snow in Bristol 2022: Are buses and trains running today? Met Office forecast and travel advice

Bristol has woken up to a covering of the white stuff after the Met Office made an accurate snowfall prediction yesterday. Weather experts at the Met Office put in place a yellow weather warning for snow and ice across most of the west of the UK this weekend and advised people to expect icy patches on untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Steve Willington, said: “It is staying cold with daytime temperatures remaining only a few degrees above freezing in many places over the coming days and overnight temperatures dropping to -10°C or lower in isolated spots. Although below average, these temperatures are not that unusual for this time of year.

“There is still a risk we could see some freezing fog in places particularly southern England, especially for Sunday and Monday mornings.”

Today (December 11), we have seen the weather predictions play out as snow fell in the early hours of this morning which led to difficult driving conditions. There has been at least one crash involving two vehicles which closed Stockwood Lane at 7am but no one was badly hurt.

Highways England has also warned drivers to also take care and to make sure they have extra clothes and warm drinks in their vehicles. Meanwhile, a Level 3 Cold Weather Alert has also been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) covering all of England and is currently in place until Friday (December 16). These occur when severe cold weather is likely to significantly affect people’s health.

And it’s not just motorists who might be affected by the adverse weather conditions, those relying on public transport are also concerned about getting out and about. . Here’s the latest for anyone travelling by bus or train.

Are buses running today Bristol?

First Bus has confirmed that First West of England buses are running normally.

However, the bus service has put out a tweet to say that in Bath service 4 is currently using Wells way instead of Bloomfield Road due to the weather.

Metrobus Bristol also offered an update saying, "metrobus services are running normally on this snowy morning. Please take care if you’re out and about."

Are trains running today in Bristol?

Great Western Railways have currently issued  one notice in relation to trains being affected by the weather. Due to severe weather between Twyford and Henley-On-Thames all lines towards Henley-on-Thames are blocked, according to the rail provider. A statement reads: “Train services running to and from these stations will be cancelled. Disruption is expected until 11am”.

In a separate incident of a fault on a train between Slough and Windsor & Eton Central all lines are blocked with train services running to and from these stations cancelled. This is also predicted to last until around 11am.

AA Tips for driving in snow

The AA has issued travel advice for anyone who needs to drive in the snow.

• Be gentle on the throttle, avoiding any harsh acceleration which is likely to cause wheel spin.
• Pull away in second gear, easing your foot off the clutch gently to avoid wheel spin.
• To slow down, use engine braking through the gears – just touch the brake pedal lightly to show brake lights to others behind.
• If you’re approaching a hill, drop well back or wait until it’s clear of traffic so you won’t have to stop part way up. Keep a constant speed and try to avoid changing gear on the hill.
• Use a low gear and try to avoid braking. Leave as much room as you can to the car in front.
• If you drive an automatic car, check your manual to see if your car has a setting for icy conditions.
• Use your headlights in heavy snow. Daytime running lights won’t be enough, and there’ll be no lighting at the back of your car. You’ll need to make sure you can see ahead and cars behind you know you’re there.
• Think about your current driving environment. Just because the conditions might have improved on main roads, country roads or bridges might still be hazardous due to less traffic or because they’ve not been gritted. When you’re driving in icy conditions or snow, you should always be more cautious for at least a few days after.

Weather in Bristol today - Met Office forecast

The Met Office forecasts no more snow today, but temperatures will remain cold with a maximum of 3C, plus the possibility of wintry showers later. The national weather service  also predicts there will be no more snow for the rest of the week. However, Google’s weather forecast does suggest there could be more snow showers on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.