UK weather: Met Office issues severe snow warning as rush-hour chaos engulfs Britain

Travellers warned to check ahead after snow hits overnight

UK weather: The latest Met Office forecast

Ice and snow has disrupted travel on Friday after the UK braced through the coldest night in seven years.

Southern England woke up to ongoing sleet and snow and the Scottish Highlands recorded a low overnight temperature of -15.4C.

More than 100 people were stranded overnight in the Jamaica Inn pub on Bodmin Moor, Cornwall, due to snow blanketing the A30.

The Met Office‘s amber warning for snow and ice – its second-highest level – was issued for London until 11am, with yellow warnings still in place across much of the rest of the UK.

Flights were cancelled at Heathrow and Bristol airports while Southeastern and Transport for Wales warned of timetable alterations. Northern Ireland and Scotland are expected to miss out on wintry showers that will persist into the evening for the rest of the country.

Follow how events unfolded throughout the day

Please allow a moment for the live blog to load

Key Points

• 100 people seek shelter in pub overnight
• Baby girl abandoned in freezing weather
• Hundreds of schools closed across England and Wales
• Flight cancellations leave Welsh rugby fans struggling to reach Paris
• Drivers urged to avoid unecessary road journeys

[1 February 2019 07:36 · Jon Sharman]

Here our travel team has detailed everything you need to know to claim back money if your train is delayed or cancelled.

[1 February 2019 07:46 · Jon Sharman]

Another one for the 'winter weather is annoying but pretty' file, this time from Cambridgeshire.

[1 February 2019 07:58 · Jon Sharman]

Some are taking a classically British approach to the cold weather by comparing the UK's dusting of snow with the havoc hitting the American midwest.

Temperatures in some places, like Chicago, have hit -50C.

It was so cold in areas trapped in the so-called polar vortex that Lake Michigan froze over.

[1 February 2019 08:07 · Jon Sharman]

Road police in Surrey are warning motorists to take it slow "clear all snow from vehicle not just from windows, wrap warm&take a hot drink".

Officers said that the M3 at junction 2 - for the M25 - was partially blocked by a van on its side.

[1 February 2019 08:17 · Jon Sharman]

A model railway enthusiast has tweeted a video of a miniature snow plough in action.

The 200ft-long Gretton Garden Railway, based on the 16mm scale, was dusted with snow overnight.

But a home-made snow plough attached to an old model carriage soon got the track clear.

[1 February 2019 08:22 · Jon Sharman]

Here's how the A30 looked last night - the road where drivers abandoned their vehicles due to snow and were put up in the Jamaica Inn pub.

[1 February 2019 08:35 · Jon Sharman]

It's still going in Berkshire, which is under the Met Office's amber warning.

Meteorologists have warned that some rural communities may be cut off with power cuts likely.

Road and rail users could be stranded as travel disruption in central southern England is also likely, they said.

[1 February 2019 08:45 · Jon Sharman]

The University of Reading - covered by the Met's amber warning - has cancelled all classes on Friday.

It warned students only to travel if it was safe to do so.

[1 February 2019 09:01 · Jon Sharman]

The Met Office has released radar imagery showing where snow is still falling across the UK.

Ice may still be a danger factor even where it is not snowing, forecasters warned.

[1 February 2019 09:11 · Jon Sharman]

Here's an in-depth look at what the UK is facing today.