Thundersnow has wreaked havoc across northern Britain as hundreds of schools were shut and commuters were warned of treacherous conditions following the arrival of Storm Fionn.
Severe weather warnings were upgraded across the UK last night, with much of Scotland and Northern Ireland blanketed in snow and ice and members of the public told to ‘be prepared’.
More than 150 schools have already been confirmed as having closed, with more to follow, as motorists were warned of lengthy disruptions during the morning rush hour.
Last night’s conditions led to widespread reports of vehicles getting trapped in icy conditions, with one video showing passers-by desperately pushing to help a stranded ambulance in Halifax, West Yorkshire.
Ireland’s national meteorological service has already designated the arrival of Storm Fionn, the sixth of the year, with the Met Office expected to follow sometime today.
A passer-by attempts to tow a stuck ambulance in Halifax, West Yorkshire, after snow and ice fell in the area, causing widespread disruption
An overturned car in Crag Lane, Halifax. The photo was posted by West Yorkshire Police, who warned commuters of icy conditions
A cyclist attempts to make it home in treacherous conditions as snow and ice hit Manchester city centre on Tuesday night
Thundersnow has wrecked havoc across northern Britain as hundreds of schools were shut and commuters were warned of treacherous conditions following the arrival of Storm Fionn
Parts of Britain (pictured: Edinburgh) are under a white blanket today after three inches of snow fell overnight, causing travel chaos and school closures – with more on the way as Storm Fionn sweeps in
Forecasters warned of ‘heavy squally showers of snow’ which may cause power cuts and disruption on the roads, with sixth to ten inches of snow possible on high ground, and two to four inches more typical at lower levels.
A spokesman for the Met Office said: ‘It’s looking pretty unsettled, there’s a lot of weather to come.
‘Through the night there will be some heavy showers which bring the risk of several centimetres of snow and risk of ice.’
‘Be prepared’ warnings, which cover Central Scotland, Tayside, Fife, southern Scotland, Lothian and Borders, Strathclyde and Northern Ireland, are valid until 8am on Wednesday.
Yellow ‘be aware’ warnings of snow and ice across much of Scotland and Northern Ireland are in force until 6pm on Wednesday.
Similar warnings are also in place for parts of Wales, the Midlands and southern England until 11am on Wednesday.
In areas that saw snow overnight on Tuesday, temperatures dropped to -2C.
The Met Office has issued these weather warnings covering almost the whole country today (Wednesday), while temperatures are also expected to be low (right)
A Swansea road is covered in snow as a large swathe of freezing weather has rolls over the United Kingdom on Tuesday night
More than 150 schools have already been confirmed as having closed, with more to follow, as motorists were warned of lengthy disruptions during the morning rush hour (pictured: Saddleworth, Greater Manchester)
Heavy snow falls during the game between Sheffield Wednesday and Carlisle United at Hillsborough in the FA Cup
Frequent wintry showers have pushed in overnight. In areas which saw snow, temperatures dropped to between 0C (32F) to 2C (36F). Tulloch Bridge in Scotland, had the largest snowfall overnight with 8cm (3.1in) coming down.
Gritters are out in force across Scotland with particularly difficult driving conditions on the M8 near Easterhouse. Drivers were asked to avoid the M8 after long delays were reported during rush hour.
The gritters out on duty in Scotland today have a variety of imaginative names, including Gritty Gritty Bang Bang, Sir Andy Flurry, Sir Salter Scott, Ready Spready Go, Ice Destroyer, Gritallica and Grittie McVittie.
Snow and sleet affected many roads in Scotland including the A9, M9, M80, A720, M77, A7 and M73. The southern uplands of Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland have also seen flurries of snow.
Gritters were out in force across Scotland, with pictures on social media showing particularly difficult driving conditions on the M8 near Easterhouse.
Drivers were asked to avoid the M8 after long delays were reported during rush hour. Snow and sleet affected many other roads in Scotland including the A74, A9, M9, M80, A720, M77, A7 and M73.
Ireland’s national meteorological service has already designated the arrival of Storm Fionn, the sixth of the year, with the Met Office expected to follow sometime today (pictured: wintry conditions in Manchester)
Snow gathers on the top of cars in a residential street in Sheffield, south Yorkshire, as snow settled across the city once again
The A9 at Dalwhinnie was closed for two hours after a lorry jack-knifed close to the snow gates.
Showers are expected to continue into the early hours with wintry falls on Wednesday, especially across the north.
RAC spokesman Pete Williams said: ‘With the weather having deteriorated quickly this evening a lot of motorists are running into difficulty.
‘Our patrols are working extremely hard to keep people moving in snowy conditions from Scotland down to West Yorkshire. We strongly recommend drivers delay non-essential journeys.’
A mountain rescue team was called to help with motorists who were trapped on a motorway in wintry conditions.
Moffat Mountain Rescue Team were asked to attend and check on drivers stuck in their vehicles on the M74, after heavy snow showers hit Scotland on Tuesday evening.
Traffic Scotland closed parts of the motorway in Lanarkshire in both directions, due to wintry conditions, for a number of hours – with tailbacks said to be stretching back for six miles.
Scotland wakes to heavy snow showers on Tuesday morning as commuters make their way to work in Kirkliston, West Lothian