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Several schools closed after snow hits but roads clear for journey home
SCHOOLS across the district were forced to close this morning after heavy snowfall overnight.
A band of snow swept across Calderdale in the early hours, making some roads impassable.
A slight rise in temperature did cause some of the snow to turn to sleet just after 7am. It meant some areas, particularly in Halifax, were almost clear by mid morning.
Going into this evening, snow is still causing problems on higher ground from Huddersfield into Derbyshire but the M62 through Calderdale is now reported clear.
Schools closing included:
Halifax High
Hipperholme Grammar
Brighouse High
Lightcliffe Prep, Halifax
Special schools: Wood Bank, Ravenscliffe High, Highbury
Stubbings Infants School, Hebden Bridge
Calder High School, Mytholmroyd
The Maltings Independent School, Halifax
Fountain Head Day Nursery, Halifax
Russell Hall, Queensbury
Fox Hill, Queensbury
Shibden Head, Queensbury
Keelham Primary School,Queensbury.
Queensbury School
Shelf J and I
Old Town Primary, Hebden Bridge
Hebden Royd
Deanfield Primary, Ovenden
Ash Green Primary
Siddal Primary
St Malachy's Primary
Heptonstall Primary
Phoenix Centre
Wyke Children's Centre
Wyke Manor School
Worthinghead Primary, Wyke
Bailiffe Bridge
Calder High Year 13 Parents Evening is postponed and Wyke Library was due to be closed until 2pm
The yellow bus service to North Halifax Grammar School at Illingworth was also cancelled although the school said it was open as normal.
Drivers faced long tailbacks on the M62 this morning as blizzard conditions set in especially around Rishworth Moor and and some routes through hilltop villages such as Queensbury were blanketed by snow.
First Buses between Bradford and Halifax were told to keep away from estates and side roads and travel only on main routes this morning.
And there were no access buses running in Calderdale.
A severe weather warning has been issued for all of northern England.
Police said drivers should only make journeys if it was absolutely necessary and warned them to allow extra time.
Sergeant Garry Alderson, of Calderdale Road Traffic Police, said: "Drivers need to take extra care and make sure their vehicle is in a roadworthy condition. People should give extra time so they don't feel rushed which can cause them to make serious errors."
The Highways Agency added motorists should be prepared with an emergency pack of warm clothes, food, water and de-icer.
David Tee, Calderdale Council's highways manager, said the council's full fleet of gritters would be tending all major roads.
The snow was expected to ease later today and temperatures rise to around 5 degrees C.
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Weather for Halifax
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -1 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North west
