Would you drive from Kent to Southport tomorrow (Sunday)

I think you made a wise choice especially with a small baby in the car. If you did break down it becomes really cold incredibly quickly in a car and would be so stressful with a baby.

Having been on the motorways today (but further north... M62 and A1) I think you were wise. We were returning home, and there's school tomorrow, but it wasn't the day for fun driving. I think Highways did brilliant on rutting and clearing but it was still a bit dicey.

I was really hoping that the OP would have updated to say they had stayed at home.

What did you do in the end OP?

It's thick snow here and I'm 10 miles from Southport

I was referring to the AA who issue these warning all the time. I go out to drive to work expecting the worst and find out there was nothing to worry about. Which inevitably makes me less likely to pay attention the next time.

Why on earth would you with all these warnings?

It's potentially a nearly 5 hour drive in normal conditions OP. We're in north Derbyshire, south of Manchester and we've had several inches of snow overnight. The cross Pennine routes are affected. Manchester and Liverpool airports have closed their runways while they trying to clear the snow. I got home around 7 last night and no gritting had been done or was being done that I saw. We live off a busy A road and in bad weather it becomes very busy because everyone who would normally take country roads diverts to the safer, but longer, route.

Absolutely don't go with a young child. It's just not worth the stress.

They really don't. Check how many times they advise against all but essential travel, it's not that often at all.

waves to fellow Southport people

I'm in Southport and it's been snowing for a couple of hours now and is forecast to carry on until the morning. I really wouldn't risk it with a baby.

The problem is they issue “do not travel” warnings whenever there is as little as a light breeze now so it’s hard to judge.

Snow is no joke to drive in though so as others have said maybe assess the conditions in the morning, I would warn PIL this was the plan so it’s not a last minute cancellation.

Midlands - snowing here now. I imagine it's only going to get worse so no. That journey would be horrific at the best of times.

I wouldn’t go with the baby. Can DH go on his own?

This!

With a 4 month old baby I absolutely wouldn't go. Or with a 4 year old either. But I am a wimp who drives very rarely, so I'm not the oracle on this.

Not with the baby.

Talk about selfish - my parents and even my ILs would have been talking us out of it!!

I definitely wouldn’t even think of attempting it, @Flowersandforests.

(FWIW I drive up to where you’re going from the SE on a regular basis and know that route like the back of my hand)

I think it is worth cancelling. It would be awful if you were held up. I would stay at home. There will be other times you can meet up. The weather is freezing anyway.. I wouldn't travel if it was me deciding.

We are south midlands and at low level so rarely get snow. Birmingham is 1000m higher and will definitely have a foot or more snow by the morning. If you are travelling M40 then M6 then the area around Birmingham will be the problem.
My DSis once set off to visit us from South Yorkshire. There was no snow until Birmingham, it took her nearly 4 hrs to do the last 30mins because the roads were blocked by cars stuck in the snow. Fortunately she had a 4x4 at the time so could drive round them with a bit of digging out along the way. She had thrown a shovel in the boot last minute. We are from West Yorkshire originally where it snow heavily every year so always travel well prepared.
So if you are not travelling in a 4x4 forget it.

There is an interesting design fault along most of the Midlands motorway network, all the exit roads are uphill. They become blocked with stranded vehicles and I have had friends stuck on the M5 and M42 for hours (12+) some years. In fact there was a baby born on the M5 a few years back when snow blocked all the carriageways.

The only motorway that you can always drive on during snowy weather is the M62 because they are so used to snow the council are well rehearsed in keeping it clear.
I suspect that the warnings have been very loud this week because they are not prepared, haven’t stocked up with salt and unable to guarantee they can continually salt to keep the motorways ice free.

With a 4 month old in the car? Not a chance!

I live in Southport we have just started getting snow here I wouldn’t come if I where you the weather is set to be bad and it’s not like your going round the corner it’s already a long drive that will be made even longer with the bad weather and a 4 month old in tow I wouldn’t chance it if I where you. I’m sure your DH’s relatives will understand why you can no longer make it and I highly doubt they would want you travelling in the bad weather.

I'm not far from Southport and it's just started sleeting. It's baltic out there. No way would i consider anything other than a totally necessary journey. Imagine if there was a crash or even just bad traffic on the way and being stuck in the freezing temperatures for hours with such a tiny baby. No chance.

This. The warnings are for a reason. People who put pressure on others to ignore them are exceptionally selfish.