A SIBERIAN blast brought Huddersfield's heaviest snowfall for years.
Dozens of schools were shut and roads closed as heavy snow fell across the whole of Yorkshire overnight, when the country's cold snap entered its most bitter phase.
Huddersfield and the southern Pennines were the hardest hit, with up to 6in of snow in many areas and reports of drifts up to 3ft deep on the moors.
More than 100 Huddersfield schools were shut for the day and there were also big problems on the roads.
Routes shut included the A635 Greenfield Road above Holmfirth, the A6024 Holme Moss road and the A640 New Hey Road through Outlane.
Buses were stranded on some roads, despite a huge clearing operation by gritting teams.
Forecasters expect today to be the worst day of the harsh spell, with temperatures struggling to rise above freezing.
More snow is expected throughout the day.
Stephen Davenport, of the PA WeatherCentre, said: "It is going to be a fresh and very raw, bitter day."
The mercury is unlikely to rise beyond 3°C (37.4°F) - and it will feel much colder than that because of the sharp east north-easterly wind.
Every gritting crew in Kirklees was out during the night, battling to keep roads open.
Terry Walker, of Kirklees Highways Service, said: "It is very bad, the worst weather we have had for years.
"We have got heavy snow in many areas, up to 6in deep, although the eastern parts of Kirklees did get only an inch or so.
"There was also a strong wind, which blew snow back on the roads as fast as we could plough them.
"We did a full grit on the roads at 6pm last night and were then out again with night patrols.
"Every one of our vehicles was out again at 5am today. We have concentrated on the primary routes.
"Some roads are closed. We will continue to keep clearing the main routes throughout the day.
"We hope to get on the minor roads at some point, but it depends on how we can work on the main roads."
Graham Riley, business director for First Bus, said a handful of buses had had problems this morning, with two buses stuck in the Ashenhurst area.
Buses did not run this morning to Manchester from Huddersfield, through the Marsden and Diggle areas, and no buses had travelled to Halifax via Outlane.
Mr Riley said conditions had been difficult, particularly on high ground, in the Holme and Colne valleys.
But services should improve during the day as more traffic travelled on the roads and cleared routes.
He praised the gritting teams.
Next page: List of schools closed >>>
SCHOOLS CLOSED:
Hinchliffe Mill J&I, Holmbridge; Carr Green J&I, Rastrick; South Crosland Junior, Netherton; St John's J&I, Golcar; Denby First School, Upper Denby; Slaithwaite J&I; Skelmanthorpe First & Nursery; Flockton First; Colne Valley High, Linthwaite; Kirkroyds Infants, New Mill; Holmfirth High; Longley School; Newsome Junior.
Hartshead Moor Special School; Shelley First; Golcar J&I; Highfields School, Edgerton; Lydgate School, New Mill; Hepworth J&I , Holmfirth; Berry Brow I&N, Almondbury I&N; Honley High; Scholes J&I; Hade Edge Primary.
Shepley First; Howden Clough Girls' High; Outlane Infants and Outlane Junior; Honley Junior; Meltham Moor Primary; Earlsheaton Technology College, Dewsbury - open only to Years 10 and 11.
Kayes First & Nursery, Clayton West; Beech Early Years J&I, Golcar; Fixby J&I; Moorend Technology College, Crosland Moor; St Peter's School, Birstall; Dryclough Infants, Crosland Moor; Turnshaws School, Kirkburton; Rawthorpe High; Birkdale High, Dewsbury; Wellhouse J&I, Golcar; Wooldale Junior, New Mill; Lepton CE J&I; Birdsedge First.
Meltham CE Primary; Shelley College; Headfield Junior, Dewsbury; Kirkburton Middle; King James's School, Almondbury;
Scissett Middle; Batley High School for Boys; Paddock J, I&N; Scapegoat Hill J&I; Wilberlee J&I, Slaithwaite. Honley I&N; Upperthong J&I.
Style Common Junior, Newsome; Kirkburton First; Marsden I&N; Hinchliffe Mill J&I; South Crosland Junior, Netherton; Holmfirth J, I&N; Battyeford Primary, Mirfield; Farnley Tyas First.
Netherton I&N; Holme School, Holmfirth; Kirklees Music School - tuition not on today and Huddersfield Music Centre closed tonight; Old Town Primary, Holmfirth; West Moor Junior, Dewsbury Moor; Birkby J&I; Thurstonland First; Denby Dale Nursery School; Batley Music Centre - closed tonight; Birstall Primary; Fartown High; Netherthong Primary.
Overthorpe CE J&I, Thornhill; Cowlersley Primary; Knowles Hill Infant and Nursery, Dewsbury; Hyrstmount Junior, Batley; Field Lane Primary, Brighouse; St Andrew's Junior, Brighouse - school open but trip to Tropical World is off; The Mirfield Free Grammar and Sixth Form; Kirkheaton Primary; St Aidan's First, Skelmanthorpe; Moldgreen Community Primary.
All Saints' Catholic High, Huddersfield; St John's Primary, Clifton; Fieldhead J&I, Birstall; Salendine Nook High; Crow Lane J&I, Milnsbridge; Nields J, I &N, Slaithwaite; Thornton Lodge Nursery School; Rosemeade School, Almondbury; Huddersfield Grammar; Lindley Junior School.
