A major road across the Pennines, the A66, has been closed due to heavy snow from an Arctic blast hitting Scotland and northern England. On Friday morning, National Highways shut the road between the A67 near Bowes, County Durham, and the A685 near Brough, Cumbria, because of "concentrated snowfall." Crews are working with winter treatment vehicles, but more snow is expected through the morning. Cumbria police are helping to clear traffic. Travelers are advised to plan ahead and seek alternate routes. The Met Office has issued two yellow warnings in the region, valid until noon Friday. Scotland faces snow showers up to 10cm on high ground with 2cm at low levels. In northern England, rain, sleet, and snow could make pavements slippery and roads icy, causing longer journey times and public transport delays. Snow of 10cm may settle above 300 meters. Freezing temperatures have also triggered a four-day health alert for cold weather in northern England and the Midlands, starting Friday morning until Monday. The UK Health Security Agency cautions that vulnerable people face a greater risk to life and higher healthcare demand. This wintry blast follows a wet start to 2026, with parts of Devon, Cornwall, and Worcestershire experiencing rain for 40 days straight. On Friday, 76 flood warnings and 154 alerts remained active in England, with four alerts in Wales. Meanwhile, Aberdeen ended a 21-day sunless spell with 30 minutes of sunlight on Thursday. The cold, frosty conditions may improve soon. Met Office forecaster Marco Petagna said Saturday looks set to be "the best day we’ve seen for some time," with plenty of sunshine across the UK. Despite cooler than average temperatures, the sunshine should make the day more pleasant.