Evastar
Inactive User
The earliest widespread snowfall for 17 years has begun to grip many parts of the UK.
Up to 10cm (4in) of snow settled in northern Scotland and north-east England overnight, with falls also reported in Northern Ireland and Wales.
The Met Office has issued warnings of heavy or drifting snow and widespread icy roads, particularly for the eastern side of the UK.
Weather forecasters predict the cold spell will last for almost a fortnight.
Temperatures are expected to drop to -5C in some areas over the next few days, far lower than those normally experienced in November.
Northern and eastern parts of the UK are expected to bear the brunt of the wintry conditions.
Chris Fawkes, from the BBC Weather Centre, said 2-5in (5-13cm) of snow was expected in low-lying areas later, but places like the North York Moors, which were particularly exposed to the north-east wind, could see falls of up to 20cm.
"Winter has arrived early this year," he said. "This cold snap is probably going to last the best part of a fortnight."
He said many central parts of the UK would be dry and sunny by day, but cold and icy by night, and snow was likely to hit southern counties of England next week.
The Met Office's severe weather warnings stretch from the Scottish Highlands to Cornwall.
Across Scotland, the worst affected areas are Grampian, East Lothian and the Borders, with the snow forecast to spread to the rest of the country by the weekend. Seventy schools in north-east Scotland have either closed or cancelled pupil transport.
Motorists were urged to exercise caution on the roads as temperatures plunged and snow settled on ice.
Grampian Police say road conditions throughout the region are treacherous and are urging motorists not to travel unless it is absolutely necessary.
A number of main roads are closed, and many more are passable only with care, including the A96 at the Glens of Foudland and the A90 at Toll of Birness.
The AA said it rescued a "handful" of cars stuck in snow in the Aberdeenshire and Moray areas on Wednesday, while call-outs were up significantly in North Yorkshire and Newcastle.
Some councils have already said they would not be gritting as many roads this year to save money.
BBC Radio Cornwall has had several reports of snow and slippery roads. It said gritters had been out throughout the night and Thursday morning, but there were accidents and delays on the main trunk road, the A30. Lorries and coaches have been getting stuck on some roads.
The highest parts of County Durham and Northumberland have seen 15cm (6in) of snow, and there have been reports of accidents and smaller roads not been gritted.
A car has overturned on the A1 southbound in Gateshead, and in County Durham one lane of the A1 northbound was blocked between Carrville and Chester-le-Street because of a jack-knifed lorry.
The drive into work was hazardous for motorists in North Yorkshire in the morning. The A170 at Sutton Bank was particularly affected by snow, as was the B1249 at Staxton Bank near Scarborough, and the A165 Reighton bypass was partially blocked.
The prospect of continued snow has sparked a surge in rock salt sales of 1,600%, according to DIY chain B&Q.
Wellington boots were also flying off the shelves, it said.
BBC News - Snow arrives as prolonged spell of cold weather starts
Up to 10cm (4in) of snow settled in northern Scotland and north-east England overnight, with falls also reported in Northern Ireland and Wales.
The Met Office has issued warnings of heavy or drifting snow and widespread icy roads, particularly for the eastern side of the UK.
Weather forecasters predict the cold spell will last for almost a fortnight.
Temperatures are expected to drop to -5C in some areas over the next few days, far lower than those normally experienced in November.
Northern and eastern parts of the UK are expected to bear the brunt of the wintry conditions.
Chris Fawkes, from the BBC Weather Centre, said 2-5in (5-13cm) of snow was expected in low-lying areas later, but places like the North York Moors, which were particularly exposed to the north-east wind, could see falls of up to 20cm.
"Winter has arrived early this year," he said. "This cold snap is probably going to last the best part of a fortnight."
He said many central parts of the UK would be dry and sunny by day, but cold and icy by night, and snow was likely to hit southern counties of England next week.
The Met Office's severe weather warnings stretch from the Scottish Highlands to Cornwall.
Across Scotland, the worst affected areas are Grampian, East Lothian and the Borders, with the snow forecast to spread to the rest of the country by the weekend. Seventy schools in north-east Scotland have either closed or cancelled pupil transport.
Motorists were urged to exercise caution on the roads as temperatures plunged and snow settled on ice.
Grampian Police say road conditions throughout the region are treacherous and are urging motorists not to travel unless it is absolutely necessary.
A number of main roads are closed, and many more are passable only with care, including the A96 at the Glens of Foudland and the A90 at Toll of Birness.
The AA said it rescued a "handful" of cars stuck in snow in the Aberdeenshire and Moray areas on Wednesday, while call-outs were up significantly in North Yorkshire and Newcastle.
Some councils have already said they would not be gritting as many roads this year to save money.
BBC Radio Cornwall has had several reports of snow and slippery roads. It said gritters had been out throughout the night and Thursday morning, but there were accidents and delays on the main trunk road, the A30. Lorries and coaches have been getting stuck on some roads.
The highest parts of County Durham and Northumberland have seen 15cm (6in) of snow, and there have been reports of accidents and smaller roads not been gritted.
A car has overturned on the A1 southbound in Gateshead, and in County Durham one lane of the A1 northbound was blocked between Carrville and Chester-le-Street because of a jack-knifed lorry.
The drive into work was hazardous for motorists in North Yorkshire in the morning. The A170 at Sutton Bank was particularly affected by snow, as was the B1249 at Staxton Bank near Scarborough, and the A165 Reighton bypass was partially blocked.
The prospect of continued snow has sparked a surge in rock salt sales of 1,600%, according to DIY chain B&Q.
Wellington boots were also flying off the shelves, it said.
BBC News - Snow arrives as prolonged spell of cold weather starts
