Brrrritain! Motorists and rail passengers to expect miserable commute as UK braces itself for the coldest night of the year so far
- Temperatures are expected to plummet overnight turning snow into ice which will wreck havoc during rush-hour
- Met Office extended a yellow weather warning in parts of the UK as some areas braced for coldest night of the year
- Parts of Britain woke up to blanket of snow after white stuff fell across Cumbria, Yorkshire and much of south east
- Forecasters warn it will remain 'very cold' in eastern parts of country today before fresh snowfall moves in overnight
- Have you taken a great photograph of today's snow? Send your pictures to: pictures@mailonline.co.uk
Britons could face a miserable commute tomorrow as temperatures are expected to plummet overnight turning blankets of snow into ice.
Forecasters have warned commuters to expect a chilly start amid warnings of sub-zero temperatures, sleet and black ice.
The Met Office tonight extended a yellow weather warning covering northern England and Scotland, as parts of the UK braced for the coldest night of the year.
Today parts of Britain woke up to a blanket of snow with up to five inches falling in some regions after temperatures plummeted to -11C overnight.
Areas including High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, London, Kent, Surrey, Yorkshire, Cumbria and Northumberland all awoke to a coating of snow, while much of the country saw a heavy frost.
The Met Office said up to five inches of snow was recorded in parts of Cumbria, the Pennines and on the Scottish borders while two inches fell in communities across west Yorkshire, including in the town of Bingley.
Photographs from the Yorkshire market town show revellers messing about in heavy snowfall after leaving bars and nightclubs in the early hours.
Scroll down for video and forecast
Here comes the snow: Areas across the country including High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, London, Kent, swathes of Yorkshire and Cumbria and Northumberland all woke up to a blanket of snow this morning. Pictured: Snow in Orpington, Kent, settled on cars today
Fun in the snow: Mia Gallagher, seven, and three-year-old Taylor Gallagher, both from Blackpool, play in the snow early this morning
Pretty in pink: A dog bounds through snow while wearing a jacket at a very snowy Bradgate Park in Newtown Linford, Leicestershire
Idyllic: Sunlight reflects from the snow-covered Wetherlam mountains as seen from the outskirts of Ambleside, Lake District, Cumbria
Still snowing: Daring drivers braved the snowstorm near Penrith in Cumbria today as snow continued to fall across parts of the region
Poor visibility: Motorists faced difficult driving conditions in parts of Cumbria today, particularly Penrith (pictured), due to the snowfall
Look at ewe: Two Swaledale sheep stand in a snow-coated field in Greystoke, Cumbria, as snow continues to fall across the region today
Hard work made easy: A boy enjoying the wintery scenes in Scotland is pulled along by a man riding through the snow on a quadbike
Sunshine and snow: In Lazonby, Cumbria, residents woke up to a healthy coating of snow but also blue skies and bright sunshine today
Oh I do like to be in the snow! Revellers leaving bars and nightclubs in Bingley, West Yorkshire, in the early hours play in the snow after around 5cm fell in the market town. It comes as forecasters warn more snow is on the way tonight with temperatures hovering around 0C
It's cold outside: A group of young women walk home from their night out in Bingley, West Yorkshire, after heavy snowfall in the town
Forecasters are now warning of further snowfall tonight, as cold air continues to move across the country from the east.
Temperatures are expected to hover around the 0C mark today, after plummeting below zero overnight. The coldest area recorded was Kinbrace in northern Scotland where the mercury plunged to -11.8C.
Meanwhile, Northumberland saw temperatures drop to -7C, north Yorkshire fell to -3C and much of the rest of the country saw the mercury dip to -2C.
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The Met Office said there would be an 'east/west' split across the country today with eastern parts from Scotland to East Anglia having a 'very cold start'.
Temperatures will remain around the 0C mark on the east coast, while in the west of England and Scotland it will be slightly warmer with the mercury rising to 5C.
London and Manchester received a light dusting of snow overnight, while parts of Yorkshire had a blanket up to two inches deep.
The Met Office said the '100-mile corridor' of snow swept down from Scotland, through the Pennines and Cumbria, the Midlands and across the capital and West Sussex.
The most snow seen in the south was an inch in High Wycombe, while on higher ground near the Pennines as much as five inches of snow fell.
Waking up to a white out: Cars in Orpington, Kent, were covered in snow this morning after the region got a dusting of the white stuff
Relaxing: A pony grazed in a snow-covered field in Orpington, Kent, this morning as the white stuff hit London and the south east
Snowballs: Mia Gallagher, seven, and three-year-old Taylor Gallagher, both from Blackpool, wrapped up warm to play in the snow today
Fun times: Two-year-old Avery Earle and sister Darcey, five, play in the snow in Bo'ness, West Lothian (left), while four-year-old Karis Milligan plays in the snow with her doll at the Helix near Falkirk in the Central Lowlands (right)
Sunday Funday: Children are pulled through the snow on small sledges after snowfall hit a park near Alexandra Palace in north London
Perfect scenes for a Sunday walk: The Union Canal at Helix Park near Falkirk, in the Central Lowlands, was covered in snow this morning
Four-legged friends: Barney the dog plays in snow at Helix Park near Falkirk (right), while two small dogs (left) also bound about in park
What a day for a hike: Mountaineer Alan Hinkes on the slopes of Skiddaw with the frozen snow-covered vista of Lake District fells beyond
Fascinating scenes: Mountaineer Alan Hinkes observes a dramatic ice formation as snow drifts and rime ice form on a fence which resembles a 'waffle' like structure created by wind driven snow on the slopes of Skiddaw as the Arctic weather continues to grip Britain
Playtime! Amateur photographer Christ Nesbit captured this Husky, called Sochi, playing in the snow in the Brecon Beacons, Wales today
It's a whiteout (nearly): Deer can be seen around Chatsworth House, Derbyshire, this morning where temperatures dropped to -4C overnight
Walking in a winter wonderland: Two dogwalkers enjoy the beautiful scenes as they take a stroll around Chatsworth House, Derbyshire
Picture perfect: There was a beautiful wintry scene in the Chatsworth area of Derbyshire today after a heavy amount of snow fell overnight
Another dawn, another day: Grangemouth, a town in east Stirlingshire, is seen on the horizon as snow covers the surrounding fields
Hazy: The Met Office said up to five inches of snow was recorded in parts of Cumbria, the Pennines and on the Scottish borders while two inches fell in communities across west Yorkshire including the town of Bingley and there was a coating in Biggin Hill, Kent (pictured)
Snowy days: There was a blanket of snow covering treetops and gardens in Oxted, Surrey (left), this morning while reader Lucy Clarke shared this photograph of her dog Poppy (right) outside her snowy home in Guildford today
Snowy scenes: About an inch of snow fell in Biggin Hill, Kent, overnight leaving gardens, trees and vehicles covered in the white stuff
Waking up to snow: The white stuff coated the streets of Muswell Hill, north London, this morning after snowfall finally hit the capital
Take care on the roads: One car ended up colliding with a fence in Shipley, West Yorkshire, after heavy snowfall fell across the country
Snow in London: There was a coating of the white stuff outside Elstree and Borehamwood Railway Station this morning as snow finally hit the capital and south-eastern parts. It came as precipitation from the west met cold air in the east, causing snow to fall in parts of the UK
A severe weather warning for snow and ice remains in place for parts of the country until 10am tomorrow, amid fears overnight snowfall could cause dangerous, icy conditions on roads and footpaths.
Travellers are being told to take care in areas such as the north of England, including Yorkshire and Cumbria, and on the Scottish borders.
Police are also warning drivers in Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Cumbria to be extra vigilant if they are going out, due to snow and ice.
The snowfall overnight has already caused problems on the roads, with a number of crashes across southern England.
Police in Sussex said there had been mayhem this morning as drivers faced helter-skelter journeys on frozen roads - many of which were covered with a thin layer of snow.
The B2123 Falmer Road in Rottingdean was closed in both directions due to snow, while motorists were told to expect delays on the A283 Steyning by-pass due to an overturned vehicle.
Gary Rae, campaigns and communications director at Brake, said: 'Our roads are at their most dangerous during the winter months, so drivers must be at their most cautious.
'Ice, snow, heavy rain and fog make driving incredibly risky.
'Stopping distances double in wet weather and can increase up to ten-fold in ice and snow.
'If snow is forecast, we urge people to think about whether their journey is necessary, but if you get caught out driving in bad weather the critical thing is to slow right down and keep your distance.'
Met Office forecaster Sophie Yeomans said 'the band of sleet and snow is staying over the country, but it is dying out'.
Of the snow which has moved eastwards across Britain, she said: 'In low-lying areas some people might be waking up to 2-4cm of snow and possibly more, 5-10cm, on the higher ground. There could be a dusting for many places.'
With temperatures dropping below 0C in southern regions, central Wales and the south west, Ms Yeomans added: 'It is moving over London and the south east. There is a lot of rain in that but in parts of London there will be sleet falling as well.'
Further snowfall is expected tonight with forecasters warning an area of rain moving off the Atlantic from the west will mix with colder air from the east and turn to snow, particularly on higher ground.
A spokesman said: 'In the east it is likely to snow, and there is potentially quite a bit of snow forecast for Scotland through the early hours and into tomorrow. Elsewhere it will fall as rain and a bit of sleet.'
'It won't be as cold tonight as it was last night but there will still be a frost widely across the country and it will get down to -6C in Scotland.' He added it would be around 0C-2C widely across the rest of the UK.
A spokesman for the Nevis Range ski resort said it is it expected to be busy over the weekend, with good skiing right across the front of the hill and a mix of groomed and un-groomed runs.
What a pretty sight: A woman takes a stroll through the garden of Bowes Museum, County Durham, following heavy snowfall overnight
Say cheese! A woman rides a blue sledge with a dog after heavy snowfall at Bradgate Park in Newtown Linford, Leicestershire
Laughing in the snow: A woman plays with two children in the snow in Ambleside, Cumbria, after up to five inches fell in the Lake District
Loving the snow: Teresa Kingston is showered by snowflakes falling from branches laden with snow following heavy falls in County Durham overnight (left). Meanwhile, others made the most of the snowfall today by making a snowman at the Kelpies in Falkirk (right)
Snowmen: Emma Lopez said her son and partner made the most of the snow in London today by building three snowmen (above)
There he goes! A boy on a sledge is towed in a Perthshire field after several inches of snow fell across a '100-mile corridor' of the UK
Making the most of it: Visitors ride sledges down a hill after snowfall at Bradgate Park in Newtown Linford while clouds gather overhead
Serene: There was a stunning snowy scene in Chatsworth, Derbyshire, today after temperatures plummeted to around -4C overnight
Chocolate box village: Snow covered the rooftops in the idyllic community of Chatsworth in Derbyshire first thing this morning
Absolutely stunning: There was a beautiful scene in Ambleside in Cumbria today as snow covered the tops of the Lake District hills
On the prowl: A Eurasian lynx was seen walking in the snow at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, near Dunstable in Bedfordshire, this afternoon
So cute: Zoo workers feed the penguins in their snow-covered enclosure at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, near Dunstable in Bedfordshire, today
Taking a closer look:A Rockhopper penguin goes for an icy swim at Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire after snow covered their enclosure
Stormy: Hurricane Alex, bottom left, is pushing mild air into conflict with cold air from the east, causing an outbreak of snow over the UK
Warnings: A severe weather warning for snow and ice remains in place for the spine of the country until 10am tomorrow, amid fears overnight snow could cause icy conditions on roads and footpaths (left). Right: Snow in Ambleside, in the Lake District, this morning
Ski chiefs in Glencoe said it 'should be a cracking weekend for snow sports with light winds and great snow conditions'.
Cairngorm reported that all open terrain had mostly good cover of packed powdery dry snow, while most runs were complete with pisted packed snow at Glenshee.
It came as rescue experts warned climbers that snow lies more than three feet deep on some Snowdonia peaks.
Meanwhile, Network Rail engineers are having to repair flood damage at more than 100 locations on just 28 miles of rail track in north Wales.
It is hoped the work between Llandudno Junction and Blaenau Ffestiniog will be completed by the end of next month, with an alternative bus service now in operation.
The line has been closed since December 27 after 'unprecedented rainfall'.
Sparring: Two stags go head-to-head in a snowy Richmond Park in west London this morning after snowfall hit the capital and south east
Little robin: A small bird sits on a snowy wall in the Pennines, Yorkshire, where up to 15cm of snow has fallen over the last couple of days
Morning frost: A light dusting of snow covers fields in Roydon, Essex, as a 100-mile wide corridor of snow saw some wake up to snow
A new dawn: The sun rises over Kirklees today, casting its light on Castle Hill, Yorkshire, and showing off the snow-covered fields
Flock: Sheep make their way through the snowy fields in the Pennines, Yorkshire, after a band of the white stuff swept in overnight
All white: Temperatures were set to dip to -2C in Pickering, north Yorkshire overnight, while the mercury in Leeds (above) dropped to -1C
Snowy roads: Motorists are being urged to take care on the nation's roads today after snow fell across large swathes, including in Leeds
BRITISH MOTORISTS ARE 'DANGEROUSLY UNPREPARED' FOR WINTRY CONDITIONS, ACCORDING TO NEW RESEARCH
Icy scenes: Snowy roads in Chatsworth, Derbyshire, this morning
Many motorists are 'dangerously unprepared' for freezing winter weather, according to new research.
One in four drivers admit they 'do nothing' to prepare for winter weather and dangerous driving conditions, while 40 per cent cut corners and take to the roads without being able to fully see through their windscreen.
With snow falling across the UK, the survey of 1,000 drivers for Asda found that just a quarter use antifreeze in the cooling system, while a third don't top up screenwash to combat dirt and rain. Only one in seven (14 per cent) will check oil levels and change, while more than four out of five (82 per cent) set off on a long journey without checking their battery.
Just six per cent change to winter tyres, while less than a third of drivers will check their brakes are working properly.
Less than four out of 10 (38 per cent) will test their front and rear lights, while 26 per cent admit they 'do nothing' to prepare their car for winter.
Shockingly, many motorists claim they don't have time to fully defrost their car with 39 per cent admitting they will 'drive with ice or steam on the windscreen' resulting in poor visibility. But the study did show that five out of six drivers (83 per cent) keep an ice scraper in their car.
Below are the top 10 items Brits carry in their car in wintry conditions:
1. Ice scraper (83%)
2. De-icer (77%)
3. Torch (53%)
4. Blanket (43%)
5. Shovel (31%)
6. Bottled water (29%)
7. Antifreeze (27%)
8. Phone charger (26%)
9. Emergency food supplies (14%)
Hundreds of tons of ballast have been washed away, with bridges, embankments and signalling cable damaged. At North Llanrwst station in the Conwy Valley, floodwater reached the height of the platforms.
Forecasters say the shock weather comes as a knock-on effect of Hurricane Alex in the Atlantic, which is pushing mild air from the west into conflict with cold air coming from the east, causing an outbreak of the white stuff.
It means there will be two bouts of snow over London within three days as experts believe a weather system bound for the capital on Monday will still come in regardless of the current conditions.
The emergence of the Atlantic hurricane has come as a surprise to experts, with 'hurricane season' in the area usually between June and November, according to CNN.
The tropical storm hit Portugal's Azores islands on Friday morning with winds reaching 85mph, before heading north towards Greenland.
Morning sunshine: There was a glimmer of sunlight in the Yorkshire Dales this morning as residents awoke to a thick blanket of snow
All white in the morning: A derelict farmhouse stands surrounded by snow in the three peaks area of the Yorkshire Dales this morning
Stunning: There was a glorious red sunrise over the snow-covered Brecon Beacons National Park in South Wales early this morning
Picturesque: The sun briefly breaks through the clouds at first light as snow covers the rooftops in Dorking, Surrey, early this morning
Artistic: Amateur photographer Christ Nesbit captured the stunning scenery of the Talybont Reservoir in the Brecon Beacons, Wales today
Stats: A graph by MetDesk showing where and how much snow in centimetres was expected to fall over the UK by 6am this morning
- Have you taken a great photograph of today's snow? Send your pictures to: pictures@mailonline.co.uk
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