- .Met Office has issued yellow warnings - urging the public to be aware - for ice across the entire country today
- .Several serious crashes have already been reported including a seven-car pile up in Cornwall this morning
- .Up to four inches of snow expected in northern parts of Britain with travel disruption predicted to affect major roads
- .Sunday and Monday will be particularly cold and will feel like -6C in parts of the UK due to the northerly winds
- .Extreme weather caused travel chaos yesterday as airports cancelled flights and hundreds of schools shut doors
Britain is facing more travel chaos with blizzards, sleet and snowstorms expected to last until Tuesday while drivers are being warned to take care on dangerous icy roads.
The Met Office has issued yellow warnings - urging the public to be aware - for ice across the entire country and snow across the Midlands, northern England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
It comes after 'thundersnow' storms battered large parts of northern Britain on Thursday, with up to 9in of snow falling in some parts of the UK.
More snow to come: An Arctic blast will sweep across Britain this weekend bringing more extreme weather. Pictured, Curbar, Derbyshire today
With temperatures remaining low overnight, forecasters have warned that ice is likely to form on road surfaces and more snow is expected on high ground, especially across Scotland.
But much of the UK will be affected by the conditions, with several crashes already reoprted today, including a seven-car pile-up in Cornwall.
The Met Office have said on Sunday and Monday temperatures will drop well below freezing and will feel like -6C in parts of Scotland due to the northerly winds.
Strong winds of up to 60mph are predicted in north-west Scotland, meaning blizzard conditions are likely, experts say.
A Ryanair plane takes off from Stansted Airport in Essex this afternoon as snow and blizzards hit the region
Braving the cold: A woman shields herself with an umbrella in Banstead, Surrey today as freezing conditions spread to the south of the UK
Job commitment: A postman makes his morning rounds in Surrey today where a layer of snow has settled on the ground
MeteoGroup forecaster Chris Hogan said 'heavy snow showers' were forecast in higher areas as a band of cold weather moved south across England.
London could also see a 'dusting' of snow, although sleet and rain were more likely, he added.
The Met Office's chief forecaster Eddie Carroll said: 'Road surface temperatures will fall widely below freezing, leading to a risk of ice on untreated surfaces.
'This will be exacerbated by showers in places, more especially across Scotland, where 2-5cm of fresh snowfall may accumulate above 150m, with up to 10cm settling above 300m.
'Further south, a mixture of rain, sleet and wet snow is likely, with most of any settling snow taking place above about 200m. However, wet roads at low levels will contribute to the risk of ice formation.'
The Met Office said sleet and snow showers would affect parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland today, with snow falling to lower levels and extending further south through the day.
Longer spells of sleet and snow are also possible, especially across the high ground of Scotland and north-east England.
Another plane taxis down a runway as sleet creates extremely low visibility at Stansted Airport in Essex this afternoon
Walkers brave the chill: A pair of dogs charge across a snow-covered field on a freezing day in Queensbury, West Yorkshire
Icy roads: A minivan pictured in Derbyshire today. The county has seen heavy snow in the last two days and many school were forced to close
'Thundersnow' storms battered large parts of northern Britain on Thursday, with Derbyshire, above, one of the worst-affected regions
A dog walker strolls in Queensbury, West Yorkshire (L) and a labrador puppy sees snow for the first time ever in Cambridge today
Mr Carroll added: 'A very cold airmass will spread southwards across Scotland and Northern Ireland accompanied by strong winds, spreading southwards into northern England and north Wales later in the day.
'Frequent showers are likely to form in this airmass, and with the cold air snow is likely to accumulate, even to low levels in places.
'Periods of enhanced snowfall are possible within this general flow, perhaps more especially across the high ground of Scotland and north-east England, but these details are more uncertain.
'There is the potential for disruption throughout this period due to the accumulating snow and ice but also with temporary blizzard conditions leading to very difficult driving conditions.'
Seven vehicles have been involved in a crash on the A30 near Bodmin, Cornwall today. It happened along a 750ft stretch of the road, and several people needed treatment for their injuries, police said this morning.
Snowy outlook: Maps taken from the Met Office website show that the UK is expected to see more 'severe weather action' this weekend
The yellow 'Be Aware' warning from the Met Office continues to affect large parts of the UK until Tuesday
The Met Office has issued yellow warnings - urging the public to be aware - for ice across the entire country. Above Bretton, Derbyshire
Philip Mansfield posted this photo on Twitter today showing a deep layer of snow covering Rishworth Moor in West Yorkshire
The smash happened as snow fell again in many places during the night and forecasters warned of a weekend of wild weather, with gale force winds and more snow.
A car and lorry crash on the M6, near Cheshire, also caused problems earlier - closing all but one lane southbound.
This afternoon there was an accident on the M8 near Glasgow and a three-car smash on the M20 near Kent.
Manchester Airport, which was forced to close both of its runways for several hours on Thursday, said a total of 36 flights inbound or outbound had been cancelled yesterday.
It said on its website: 'We are fully open today, but as things get back to normal and aircraft get back to where they should be, passengers are advised to check with their airline for specific flight queries as some may be subject to delays.'
Yesterday, commuters across the UK faced nightmare delays after accidents and treacherous conditions on motorways resulted in multiple lane closures, leaving thousands of people stuck in traffic as they made their way to work.
The M4 was facing delays early this morning after a multiple car pile-up late last night.
Queues stretched along the motorway after the smash at junction 15 near Swindon, Wilts, as sleet and rain which had fallen during the day turned to black ice.
Several people needed treatment but nobody was kiled in the accident which involved at least five vehicles near the junction with the A346.
A Thames Valley Police spokesman said 'People are travelling too fast for the conditions - the road surfaces are lethal in places, like slippery glass.'
Taking the plunge: Members of the Brighton and Hove Sea Swimming Club taking part in their daily exercise in temperatures of 4C today
Freezing dip: A swimmer emerged from the sea in Brighton this morning where temperatures are expected to reach a maximum of 4C
Risk: The Met Office said 'road surface temperatures will fall widely below freezing, leading to a risk of ice on untreated surfaces'
Expected disruption: Britain is set for more travel disruption as forecasters predict more snow and blizzards in the next three days
The big freeze continues: Much of Britain can expect light or heavy snow today as seen in this accumulation forecast
A Level 3, or severe weather warning, has been issued across the North and West of England, affecting snow-hit Derbyshire, above
A well wrapped-up driver attempts to scrape snow from her car in Queensbury, West Yorkshire today
Strong winds create giant waves this afternoon at Seaham Harbour, located on the North East coast, near Durham
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