Snow blankets the North but warmer weather is coming

Britain was in the grip of the first cold snap of the year yesterday, with snow across north-east of England and eastern Scotland as bitterly cold winds sent temperatures plummeting.

A fleet of gritters and snowploughs failed to prevent hazardous conditions in areas where snow fell, with at least one road death caused by the weather.

A man was killed after his car slipped off the road and down an embankment on the A90 Brechin bypass, north of Dundee. Police said bad weather contributed to the accident. The worst affected areas were central and north-east Scotland, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. Forecasters said that snow up to 30cm deep could settle on Scottish hillsides, with drifts at lower levels.

With temperatures just above freezing, there was some snow in southern England. Despite severe weather warnings from the Me Office, most of the country saw light sleet rather than snow. Temperatures in the South are set to rise today, but more snow is forecast for parts of northern England and Northern Ireland.

Two other road accidents in the Moray area in the Scottish Highlands were also blamed on the icy conditions. In England, police briefly closed part of the A1 northbound between Gosforth and Morpeth in Northumberland. A spokesman for Northumbria Police said: "A number of vehicles became stuck in the snow and, as a result, police decided not to allow any more through until conditions improved."

Cleveland police assisted several motorists involved in minor accidents after heavy snowfall in the Saltburn area. The Highways Agency warned motorists to pack extra clothing in case of breakdowns.

Meteorologists warned that gritting the roads was not a universal remedy and care still had to be taken, particularly in snowy conditions. While salt was excellent for dealing with ice and hoar frost, it was not as effective against snow, they added. Experts also stressed that, in severe conditions, drivers should avoid road journeys if possible.

The snow has been caused by cold air from the Continent, in particular Siberia, meeting rain over the North Sea. Darren Bett of the BBC Weather Centre said: "As time goes on the risk of snow in the South diminishes. In the South, the snap will be shortlived with temperatures rising to around 7C in the Midlands."

Snow clouds crossed the Irish Sea to Northern Ireland just after nightfall last night, heading for the Co Down region.