More than 100 schools in Britain will be closed today as the wintry ‘Mini Beast From The East’ continues to wreak havoc across the country.
Commuters across the country have been warned of potential snow and ice hazards on Monday as a wintry snap dubbed the ‘mini beast from the east’ continues to cause disruption.
The A30 was hit by ‘significant snow’ overnight, Devon and Cornwall Police said, with conditions ‘changing rapidly from passable to impossible’.
Some 64 miles of road between the M5 at Exeter and the A38 at Bodmin were shut as a result while officers and Highways England cleared the route.
Snowploughs on the A30 near Okehampton in Devon today after it was hit by ‘significant snow’ overnight
The car park at the Emergency Rest Centre in at Okehampton College at the north side of Dartmoor where motorists stuck due to the weather on the A30 were moved to
Gritter spreading road salt in West London in anticipation of sub zero temperatures overnight
Teigngrace in Devon woke up to a heavy covering of snow this morning, with more continuing to fall throughout the day
This interactive tool details which schools across the UK will be closed today. Enter your local council area to find out if your child’s school is closed today.
Police tweeted: ‘A30 DevonandCornwall closed, significant snow that highways are working to clear, if you’re already on it drive with caution as conditions are variable changing rapidly from passable to impossible, if not on it DELAY YOUR JOURNEY until midmorning at the earliest’.
A total of 82 people stuck on the A30 were moved to a rest centre at Okehampton College at the north side of Dartmoor.
And more than 80 people have spent the night at a school after heavy snow shut a 64-mile stretch of a major road in south west England.
Richard White, volunteer rest centre manager, said spirits were high among the residents despite their dramatic evening.
He said: ‘We first of all provide them with something hot to drink and we’ve got blankets, duvets.
‘We make sure people get a good night’s sleep, we feed them in the morning and weather-permitting, we prepare them to get back in their cars and on their way.
‘Police want everybody off the roads to give them the opportunity to clear the roads with the snow ploughs and the gritters in time for the morning.’
Speaking of the mood inside the centre, he said: ‘It is people coming together, it’s the community working not for the benefit of each other, but for the whole community. It’s a lovely atmosphere we’ve got, it’s a fantastic atmosphere here and we make the most of it.’
Highways England has advised motorists wanting to travel on the A30 to instead use the A38 between Exeter and Bodmin.
Cardiff City footballer Greg Halford tweeted his disappointment at a game being cancelled yesterday because of snow (left). But he was quickly mocked on social media when a fan showed a picture of motorists pushing the star’s car through heavy snow (right)
Police said it was a ‘miracle’ that nobody was killed when a 40-tonne juggernaut lorry skidded off a road bridge in Oxford this morning
Meanwhile Devon County Council confirmed the closure of dozens of schools on Monday, while train services were also said to be affected.
The Met Office has issued a yellow warning of ice for England and Wales that will remain in place until 10am.
Forecasters said further snow was likely across parts of the south-west of England, with a few light snow showers for other southern counties for a time.
Met Office meteorologist John West said: ‘It’s been a very, very cold night overnight with widespread frost. A lot of the lying snow seen across the country over the weekend has created some icy stretches this morning.
‘In the South West, we’ve seen a constant flow of snow coming in from the English Channel with snow depths going up and up.
‘In Exeter, we have at least 10cm (4in) of snow lying at the moment.
‘Many routes towards Dartmoor and Exmoor have the potential to see a lot of disruption because of ice this morning.’
Forecasters painted a better picture for the rest of the day, with drier and brighter weather on the horizon for much of the country, but warned it will still feel particularly cold due to the wind chill.
Mr West said: ‘Through the course of the day today, much of the country will experience a fine and dry day. We’re sort of closing the door to the the cold easterly flow and temperatures will be less cold than we’ve seen over the weekend.
‘We could see highs of 5C (41F) or 6C (43F) but add some wind chill on there and it won’t feel very pleasant at all.
‘However there will be some decent, fine weather, plenty of sunshine around today, particularly in northern parts, and a bit of an improvement from what we’ve seen over the weekend.’
A separate yellow ice warning has been issued for parts of southern and eastern Scotland until 10am.
On Sunday, ice led to delays and cancellations at Gatwick Airport – with 37 flights axed.
The airport apologised to affected passengers and advised them to contact their airlines to be kept up to date.
‘We apologise to all passengers who have been delayed or had flights cancelled tonight, this is due to the prolonged cold snap and the essential de-icing requirements which have mounted during the afternoon and evening,’ the airport said on Twitter.
Not so tropical: Palm trees are pictured covered in snow at the beach in Torquay, Devon where an amber warning is in place
A car dug out of a snow drift on the B6270 at Birkdale, North Yorkshire
Bouncing babies and some VERY snowy walks: MailOnline readers share their fun snaps of the weather
As large parts of the UK wake up to snowy scenes this morning, MailOnline readers have been braving the cold to capture it on camera.
With over 12 inches expected on the ground in parts of Scotland and a thick blanket covering parts of the north and the midlands, getting in the car is out of the question for many.
There are winds of up to 50mph forecast for Devon, Cornwall and other parts of the south west later on today with some rural communities completely cut off.
Temperatures will fall below freezing but winds from the Mini Beast from the East will make it feel more like -8C (17.6F).
As large parts of the UK wake up to snowy scenes this morning, MailOnline readers have been braving the cold to capture it on camera. This bouncing baby was out playing with her ‘snowmobile’ in Windsor this morning
This bunny has got the right idea hiding away from the snow this morning as a thick blanket is left across most of the UK
Peter Lopeman sent in this hilarious picture of a group of groomsmen at a snowy wedding in Northfield, Birmingham
Mia from Romsey, Hampshire sent us this picture of her children playing in the snow on their sledges on Sunday
Skiing in Surrey? This man and woman skied as opposed to hiked around Clandon Golf Course in Guilford, Surrey
Clandon Golf Course in Guilford, Surrey is carpeted in thick white powder as people take selfies, sledge and walk dogs
Adi Keefe sent in this stunning snap of Portishead Marina in Bristol covered in snow against misty skies on Sunday
This adorable pooch ‘Barney the bear’ was pictured in the snow in North London today after it blanketed the capital
Sharron Smith’s dog was leaping for joy when he woke up to the sight of the snow in Leicestershire this morning
This mother sheep was pictured kissing her lamb in an adorable snap from Congresbury in Bristol this afternoon
Don’t forgot those snow boots! Katie sent in this picture of her son making snow angels in Leeds on Sunday afternoon
Lucy Collis spotted these daffodils covered in snow after the Mini Beast from the East left white across the country
Confused? These daffodils are usually associated with spring but were covered in snow in Malton, Yorkshire today
Spring or Siberia? Flowers are pictured covered in a blanket of snow in Somerset today amid the Mini Beast from the Eas
Tamsyn Hewstone sent us this stunning picture of a snow-covered scene in Devon, which has been swamped today
Trip to the garden centre anyone? Michele Fearn decided to brave conditions in Farnham, Surrey and sent us this picture
Carolyn Butler sent in this snowy snap from Devon where an Amber weather warning threatens to cut out power on Sunday
Another picture from Carolyn Butler shows miles and miles of untouched snowy fields in Devon on Sunday
Snow you see them snow you don’t! A flock of sheep are rendered almost invisible as they graze in the Peak District today
Rachel sent us this picture from Litton in the Peak District where over a foot over snow covers some fields
This picture sent in by Michele Fearn shows that snow has settled on the trees and on the ground in Farnham, Surrey