London weather misery set to continue

Freezing conditions and snowfalls that have grounded flights at London's Heathrow Airport will continue for most of February, say forecasters.

Parts of the UK yesterday woke to a second successive day of snow, 14cm deep in places, as some schools were closed and public transport services experienced delays, London's Daily Telegraph newspaper reported.

As temperatures dipped to well below freezing at the weekend, 600 flights were delayed or cancelled at Heathrow despite just 7.5cm of snowfall, disrupting the plans of as many as 18,000 travellers.

Yesterday all five terminals at the airport had resumed normal operations, but operator BAA warned of a backlog of cancellations.

Already facing criticism from stranded and delayed travellers, BAA may again have to adjust flight schedules at Heathrow based on meteorological forecasts.

"Most of England and Wales will be staying relatively settled but cold. The biggest risk is hard overnight frost and freezing fog," Met Office forecaster Steven Keates told the Telegraph.

"It looks as if this cold snap will last two or three weeks and this weather system looks as though it will erode from the west in the second half of February."

- AAP