
Thousands of families have been forced to flee their homes as life a threatening storm surge hits the UK with severe flooding set to cause chaos.

Emergency services had to evacuate 7,000 homes in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, while evacuations also took place in the seaside villages of Jaywick, Mistley and West Mersea in Essex, and along the Suffolk coast.

Huge waves battered Scarborough and Whitby, in North Yorkshire, and smashed into the lighthouse at Seaham, County Durham. Last night there were 180 flood warnings in place, including 17 of severe flooding where there is a danger to life.

In London, the Thames Barrier was closed, for the 177th time in its history, ahead of concerns that the river may burst its banks.

On the Yorkshire coast, the Hull tidal barrier, the second largest flood defence in the UK, was also closed.

The second day of the Big Chill also brought travel chaos on the roads and rail networks, as heavy snow and hurricane-force winds of 80mph battered Britain.

After the temperature plummeted as low as -9C in some areas overnight, snow turned to ice, creating treacherous and dangerous conditions for rush hour drivers.

A number of crashes on the roads brought major routes to a standstill, as commuters struggled to get to work.

Norwich Airport was forced to close due to 'unsafe levels' of snow and Cross-Channel rail operator Eurostar cancelled two trains between London and Paris due to 'weather conditions' in south-east England and northern France.

The Big Chill swept in from Arctic Canada yon Thursday and forecasters are predicting another cold snap, from the Baltic region, to hit the South East next week.

Huge waves crash against Seaham Harbour today, as the North Sea is whipped up by a low pressure system sending a storm surge down the North Sea coastline of England

Streets close to the harbour and slipway are flooded by sea water as a tidal surge causes flooding in the coastal town of Whitby in Yorkshire

A man clears foam covered sea water away from drains as a tidal surge causes flooding in Whitby, Yorkshire

A lady makes her way through the snow on a mobility scooter in Filey, in Yorkshire, the North of England was covered in a blanket of snow

In London, the Thames Barrier has been closed this evening ahead of concerns that the river may burst its banks

Waves crash into the sea wall at Seaham Harbour as the east coast was braced for a storm surge this afternoon

Rough seas batter Walcott as dawn brakes on the Norfolk coast as spring tides, high winds and winter weather combine to cause flood warnings

Flooding precautions were taken along a footpath on Newcastle Quayside with barriers erected earlier this afternoon

Mountain rescue services arrive on the harbour at Whitby as flooding is caused by stormy conditions on the Yorkshire coast

The interactive graphic below is a great way to check the weather in your area. Click on the tabs to the left to change the weather aspects. This will only work for desktop users.

Members of the Household Cavalry wait for the changing of the guard as snow falls in London this afternoon

Huge waves crash over the lighthouse at an area known as South Gare in Redcar, in North Yorkshire, this afternoon

People fill sandbags on the seafront in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, as Norfolk Police said the risk of flooding in the area is expected to peak at 9.30pm

Firms in Great Yarmouth stack sandbags around doorways in the town centre amid warnings of flooding later this evening

One man took his life into his own hands when he tried to surf the waves along the coast at Skegness, in Lincolnshire

Pedestrians struggle to cross the Millennium Bridge in London today. The severe weather threatens winter chaos across Britain, as snow, wind and ice continues to cause problems for transportation and pedestrians

Snowy conditions on Hampstead Heath, North London, as arctic conditions hit the British capital this afternoon

People barricade themselves in a hotel with sandbags as the coastal town of Whitby in Yorkshire, is hit by tidal flooding

More than 100 people have been watching the waters rise in Skegness, in Lincolnshire, this evening and pictured, police officers survey the scene while on patrol

A Met Office spokesman told MailOnline: 'It's going to be damp on Sunday and Monday, but on Tuesday we will see a North West - South East divide.

'The South East will see wintry weather come in from Scandinavia and the Baltic region on the continent, while the North West will have clouds coming in from the Atlantic which will raise the temperature.

'Areas, such as Kent, will be particularly affected, whereas Scotland could see up to 10C in place like Aberdeen.'

Night temperatures in the South East will remain in the negatives - similar to what most of the country has seen from the Big Chill this week.

PC'S SELFIE WARNING A Great Yarmouth policeman took a selfie at the scene of a crash to highlight the dangers of driving in snowy condition. The had come off the road on the A663, where snow had fallen overnight and throughout today. Great Yarmouth Police's Twitter account posted the picture, saying: 'Drive to the conditions of the road #A663' A Great Yarmouth policeman took a selfie at the scene of a crash Advertisement

Mark Sitton-Kent, of the Environment Agency, said: ‘We ask anyone tempted to go to the coast for a thrill or to take pictures to stay away, you would be putting yourself in unnecessary danger. The combination of gale-force winds, high tides, dangerous waves and a coastal surge means parts of the East Coast are extremely dangerous.’

A storm surge occurs at high tide when a low pressure weather system makes the sea level rise, and high winds push the water towards the coast, making it ‘pile up’.

A surge caused widespread flooding on the East Coast in December 2013, while in 1953, 307 died when one was triggered by a storm in the North Sea.

The Environment Agency yesterday moved almost five miles of temporary barriers and 25 pumps to protect towns. Among the towns most at risk were Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft, where evacuation notices were posted through doors ‘strongly advising’ people to leave and stay with family or go to one of a number of rest centres set up.

In other parts of the country emergency services dealt with accidents as snow and sleet that fell on Thursday turned to ice when temperatures plummeted overnight, bringing treacherous driving conditions. Some roads were closed and flights delayed or cancelled.

In Stoke-on-Trent, a baby girl was born in the back of a police car after her parents’ vehicle broke down in a snow storm as they were en route to the hospital. Mother and baby were doing well last night.

The bad weather is now expected to ease over the weekend. But extremely cold conditions will return on Tuesday, particularly in the South East where wintry weather will blow in from Scandinavia and the Baltics.

Yesterday morning rescue teams were putting an evacuation plan into action in Jaywick, near Clacton-on-Sea, with police officers going door-to-door informing residents of the evacuation.

However, some are refused to leave their homes. Only 80 agreed to be evacuated, as many vowed to stay put despite warnings that a storm surge threatened to flood their properties.

Matthew Woolston, who lives close to the seafront, says: 'My friends say they are going to stay in their houses and see it out.

'They say they have been evacuated so many times they don't believe it mass flooding is going to happen.

'I am not going anywhere, I don't think there's a danger and the sea looks too calm.'

Local police chiefs also urged residents to leave.

'We're not crying wolf,' says the district policing commander for Tendring, Ch Insp Russ Cole, who admitted that reaction to the evacuation plea had been 'mixed.'

He added: 'We have been looking at the forecast for the last week and the best information we have from all of the agencies involved are that we are facing a perfect storm of a spring tide of 4.2m (14ft), a storm surge coming down the North Sea, truly inclement weather of snow and rain and winds of between 40 and 50mph (64 and 80kph)

Members of the coastguard help clear debris off a street after flooding in the coastal town of Whitby in Yorkshire

Police patrol the scene at Skegness in Lincolnshire, as people have been warned to stay away from Britain's beaches as storm conditions batter our coastline

The police and army were due to begin evacuating 2,500 homes from the deprived seaside village of Jaywick on the coast of Essex at 10am

Authorities have issued a red alert for flooding and residents have been advised to leave there homes until the alert is over

A firefighter gives information on flood risks to a resident in Jaywick, in Essex, as severe flood warning have been issued

Emergency services gather at Jaywick as efforts are made by the police and army to evacuate 2,500 homes

An elderly woman, in Jaywick, Essex, strokes her cat after being evacuated to endring education centre - which is being used as a temporary refuge for those moved out of their homes

A woman prepares for a night away from her home as she carries an inflatable mattress at Tendring education centre in Jaywick, Essex

A boy beds down for the night on an inflatable mattress in a Tendring education centre, as families are evacuated from their homes in the coastal town of Jaywick, Essex

A lorry has come off the road near the Drumochter Pass on the A9 in the Scottish Highlands. Pictured is a recovery truck at the scene

Heavy snow on the roads brings traffic to a standstill on the northbound A19 in Peterlee, County Durham, this morning

Lives could be at risk as severe flood warnings are in place for parts of the east coast with residents urged to evacuate their homes

Stubborn residents in the storm-threatened village dubbed 'Benefits on Sea' are refusing to leave their homes

A woman attempts to jog in snowy conditions as wintry showers fall over Hampstead Heath in North London today

A transporter lorry jack-knifed near Maidstone on the A249 northbound between the M20 junction 7 and the M2 junction 5 early this morning due to black ice and poor weather conditions

Drivers faced disruption on the A1, near Brownieside, after a lorry jacknifed in Northumberland on Friday morning

A farmer inspects a taxi after it crashed onto his land in icy conditions near Coalville in Britain

A lorry has come off the road near the Drumochter Pass on the A9 in the Scottish Highlands as heavy snow affected the area

Traffic gets stuck on the A515 after heavy snow between Buxton and Ashbourne in the Derbyshire Peak District

EX-ARMY OFFICER WHOSE CAR FLIPPED IN SNOW HAD EQUIPMENT STOLEN WHILE HE CALLED FOR HELP A retired Army officer, whose car flipped in the snow storms battering Scotland, had £3,500-worth of equipment stolen when he went to phone for help. Duncan Francis could not get a mobile signal following the crash so he left his Land Rover on its side in a ditch and walked to get help. But in the 20 minutes Duncan was away from his stricken vehicle, belongings including his laptop, camera and a top-of-the-range mountaineering jacket he received for Christmas were stolen. A retired Army officer, whose car flipped in the snow storms battering Scotland, had £3,500-worth of equipment stolen when he went to phone for help The 57-year-old from Balquhidder, Stirling, said: 'I can't believe how unlucky I've been that some scrot came past on a rarely-travelled road in the short time I was away and felt free to lift my gear.' The climber was on his way to climb in the Aviemore area where he planned to try out his brand new Crux Shok mountaineering jacket worth £190. Advertisement

'There is a really strong chance of water coming in over the top of the sea wall and round the back of Jaywick from the St Osyth end.

'I need residents in Jaywick, Mistley and West Mersea to comply with police instruction and evacuate immediately.

'Latest forecasting tells us that risk has moved to the next high tide expected just after midnight.

'The threat has led to a severe flood warning being put in place for tonight's high tide.

'Keeping residents safe is our only priority and we will be evacuating residents from Jaywick, Mistley and West Mersea and need people to comply with our instructions. That evacuation is most safely executed in daylight hours.

'We are activating our evacuation plans and are working closely with other partners including the other emergency services, local authorities, health and social care.'

The warnings take in Clacton to Lee Wick, West Mersea, The Strood and adjacent marshland, and Tidal River Stour at Mistley, including the Quay and The Walls, all in Essex.

Coastal communities in Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex have been told they should be prepared for large waves and possible flooding.

Nine schools in Lincolnshire, including five in Skegness, were shut yesterday, according to the county council.

The Ministry of Defence said about 100 soldiers from the Catterick army base were deployed to Skegness on the Lincolnshire coast where about 3,000 residents were urged to leave their homes or move upstairs.

Minister for the Armed Forces Mike Penning praised troops who were deployed to areas which are at risk.

'We like to be in front of the problems, but traditionally we have always waited for the problems to come,' he said.

'Now we have tried to get in first - to be there alongside the other emergency services and I'm really proud of what our troops are doing today.'

Norfolk Police said residents in around 5,000 properties had been urged to evacuate their homes, a figure which could rise to 7,000, while Suffolk police had identified around 1,880 properties at risk.

The Environment Agency anticipates severe flooding in Felixstowe Ferry and Bawdsey Quay, Felixstowe Ferry Hamlet and the Deben Marshes, isolated riverside properties on the Deben Estuary, and Tidal Orwell at Ipswich Quay.

Residents in approximately 5,000 properties in Norfolk have been told to leave their homes. Depending on risk, this could rise to 7,000 later in the day.

Snow and ice covers the hill tops in the Lake District, in Keswick. The Met Office has issued a yellow be aware warning for much of the country, as snow, flooding and high winds are expected to cause disruption

The Angel of the North surrounded by a blanket of fresh snow in Gateshead this morning following a spell of overnight snow

Pictured is a snow-covered Stonehenge this morning. Around eight inches of snow has fallen in some parts of Britain overnight

A blizzard of snow sweeps across Clapham Common with an icy Northerly wind. Even so, it does not deter dog walkers, joggers and cyclists

Walkers brave the snow and wind close to the summit of Pen Y Fan on January 13, 2017, in the Brecon Beacons, Wales

An umbrella helps this person brave the light snowfall in Cambridge this afternoon. The area was largely unaffected yesterday

A tractor with a snow plough attached clears the A93 in Spital of Glenshee, in Scotland, this afternoon. Police closed the road

Two snowboarders walk beside the A93 in Spital of Glenshee, Scotland. The Met Office has issued a yellow be aware warning for much of the UK, as snow, ice and winds are expected to cause disruption until late on Friday.

This afternoon snow covered Blickling Hall, part of the National Trust's Blickling Hall Estate, near Aylsham

FAMILIES SCRAMBLE TO SAFETY FROM FALLING TREE Families scrambled for their lives when a huge 50-ton tree smashed down on their homes in Kent last night. The 30ft tree was blown over on to the houses in Stanley Road, Cheriton, as snowstorm winds of more than 50mph blasted the area. Families were evacuated from three terraced homes after the tree, growing at the roadside, toppled on to their roofs just after 9pm. Three terraced homes had to be evacuated last night as winds sent a large tree crashing down onto the properties. The 30ft tree was blown over on to the houses in Stanley Road, Cheriton, as snowstorm winds of more than 50mph blasted the area It fell crossways, its massive boughs blocking the doorways of two of the houses. Neighbours said a couple walking up the road towards Cheriton High Street had a lucky escape - the ground shook 'like an explosion' behind them as the tree came down. A new Kia Rio, parked on the driveway of one of the houses, was battered and dented when part of the tree crunched on to its roof. Neighbours helped to move the debris so that one woman trapped in her home could get out. It is understood that she has gone to stay with her daughter who lives in Folkestone. The crashing tree also brought down telephone cables. Folkestone fire station watch manager Giles Parker said 'Most of the people could get out but one lady couldn't so we cut the branches back and we made sure they all had somewhere safe to stay for the night.' Kent Fire and Rescue Service said it was called to the scene at around 9pm to reports that the 30ft tall tree had fallen on to three homes and a car, also bringing three telephone cables down as it fell. Firefighters cut away branches to allow the residents to leave their homes before handing the scene back to Kent Highways. Contractors worked overnight and into this morning to cut the tree away from the homes. Firefighters remained at the scene for an hour and 30 minutes. Work has now begun to cut up and remove the fallen tree. Neighbours have been out this morning trying to clear the remaining logs that are blocking the pathway between the houses. Advertisement

Superintendent Dave Buckley said: 'A multi-agency co-ordinating group has been convened twice to ensure appropriate plans and resources are in place.

'The group is planning for potential disruption for a prolonged period of up to 12 hours and households in those affected areas should be mindful of this.

'I would also urge members of the public not to put themselves at risk by gathering near to the water's edge to watch the waves - while I accept they may be impressive, you are putting yourself in danger's way. We would ask people to keep away from the seafront and flood water.'

Speaking yesterday, a spokesman for Norfolk County Council said three schools were closed. Two were being used in the flood effort - Caister Academy has been turned into an emergency flood evacuation centre and Cliff Park Ormiston Academy into a rest centre.

JAYWICK FEARS REPEAT OF 1953 WHICH KILLED 35 Jaywick was last at the centre of an evacuation during a storm surge in 2013 which did not lead to severe flooding. Residents of the infamous village are braced for disaster ahead of a planned evacuation sparked by a brutal 'danger to life' storm. Locals in the deprived seaside settlement in Essex - which starred in the 'poverty porn' TV show Benefits by the Sea - fear their homes could be destroyed. People thought the sea surge - sparked by gale-force winds and heavy rain - could be a repeat of a 1953 tragedy where 35 people died in a horrific North Sea Flood Biggest flood disaster to hit the holiday bungalow town of Jaywick, near Clacton, Essex, was in 1953 where 35 people drowned And others thought the sea surge - sparked by gale-force winds and heavy rain - could be a repeat of a 1953 tragedy where 35 people died in a horrific North Sea Flood. The Environment Agency has issued a warning that today's flood could pose danger to life when it hits at lunchtime. Ahead of a planning evacuation of 2,500 homes some thought they could be leaving their properties for the last time. Despite the warning no one has headed to an emergency shelter set up in nearby Clacton-on-Sea, which has been kitted out by worried officials. 'There's not a lot you can do it's nature,' said James Teer, 52. 'There were emergency services round last night warning us about it asking if we wanted to go to the shelter. 'I'm just going to work, hopefully when I come back it's not under water. 'I'm just praying everything will be alright.' Another thought the windswept beach and relative quiet could be the 'calm before the storm' and worried the sea surge could be a repeat of 1953's tragedy Another thought the windswept beach and relative quiet could be the 'calm before the storm' and worried the sea surge could be a repeat of 1953's tragedy. Retired tiler Geoff Hibbert, 58, said: 'I know a pilot who has looked at some maps and he says it might be really bad from the satellite. 'He said actually the wind is going the same way as it was in 1953. 'At the moment all we have had is the police knocking on our doors and the siren annoyed our dog.' However one man who did not want to be named said: 'It ain't going to happen, it's a load of old bollocks. They have said this all before.' Advertisement

A winter scene greeted residents in Bristol this morning as the West Country gets its first snowfall for 2017

A number of crashes on the roads have brought major routes to a standstill, as commuters struggle to get to work

Snow hit Manchester (pictured) as it did across the country, which made driving and walking conditions bad

Incredible moon this morning - just before sunrise. Taken at Cowdray Golf Course in Easebourne, West Sussex

A ROUGH NIGHT FOR THE HOMELESS WHO SLEPT IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES AND HEAVY SNOW It was a rough night for homeless people across the country as the Big Chill sweeped in, bringing heavy snow and freezing temperatures. Pictures emerged of people sleeping rough on the streets of Manchester last night, which experienced an extremely cold snap. A man was seen sitting cross-legged, covered in a blanket and wearing a blue jacket. He was given a hot drink from a passer-by on the street. Another image showed a woman sitting at a building entrance, wearing only a jacket and jeans as she tried to sleep in the cold. A man was seen sitting cross-legged, covered in a blanket and wearing a blue jacket. He was given a hot drink from a passer-by on the street Pictures emerged of people sleeping rough on the streets of Manchester last night, which experienced an extremely cold snap Another image showed a woman sitting at a building entrance, wearing only a jacket and jeans as she tried to sleep in the cold It was a rough night for homeless people across the country as the Big Chill sweeped in, bringing heavy snow and freezing temperatures Advertisement

Inspector Mark Hilson briefs soldiers from Alma Company, 2nd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, who are supporting local authorities in Skegness

One social media user made a video of this heavy goods vehicle being towed from a motorway in Kent

Following the first evacuation in Jaywick, neighbouring towns and villages of Mistley, Manningtree and Colchester followed suit

Mark Sitton-Kent, national duty manager at the Environment Agency, said: 'Gale-force winds and high tides are likely to create large and dangerous waves along parts of the east coast on Friday and Saturday.

'These conditions could also cause flooding to coastal roads and could impact properties.

'We understand that powerful tides can be dramatic, but please do not put yourself at unnecessary risk by going to the coast for a thrill or to take pictures. Please do not drive through flood water: just 30cm of flowing water is enough to move your car.

'We are prepared to take action wherever it is needed. We have moved resources and equipment to the coast and the Army is on standby to assist if needed.'

Tidal gates on the east coast have been closed ahead of the high tides.

POLICE ADVICE TO EVACUATED TOWNS Work with local officers to ensure they follow advice and direction given about evacuations

Pack a bag of clothes and have any essential medical items ready for when you need to leave home

Ensure any valuables and or expensive electrical items such as televisions are stored in higher areas in your home should there be a flood

Contact friends or relatives who live outside of the area to see if there is somewhere else you can stay Advertisement

The weather proved too much for one lorry driver whose vehicle jacknifed in the middle of the road in the early hours of this morning.

Sussex Police closed the A23 between Handcross and Pease Pottage at 2.30am before reopening it at 5.30am following the incident.

Sussex officers were also forced to close the A27 at Clapham, near Worthing, for around two hours due to severe flooding.

Police dealt with said 10 fallen trees in Sussex and two busses in Brighton and Hove buses crashed - bringing traffic to a standstill.

Snow also settled on the ground in Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Surrey, and Oxfordshire.

Bedfordshire Police issued a warning to drivers about the conditions. Inspector Jamie Langwith, of the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Hertfordshire Roads Policing Unit, said: 'Poor weather conditions can lead to an increased risk of crashing, so it's important that people respect the roads and take additional care when driving.

'It's important to prepare for a journey in adverse weather conditions and avoid minor roads which may not be gritted where possible.'

On the A1 after a lorry jacknifed in Northumberland on Friday morning. It happened during rush hour on the northbound stretch of the A1 at Brownieside, near the B6347 junction.

Emergency services arrived at the scene and the road was blocked until the vehicle was cleared away from the carriageway.

Northumbria Police said there was heavy snow across the region and drivers were being advised to take care on the roads.

A spokesman said: 'Make sure you leave extra time for your journey and drive responsibly when you do get behind the wheel.

'The roads across the region are passable with care but some minor roads will be badly affected, particularly in Northumberland, so make sure you reduce your speed.

'Our officers will be working with the local authorities to ensure roads are safe and assist anyone who gets into difficulty.'

A man clears snow from the forecourt of a petrol station in Ballater, Aberdeenshire. Up to eight inches of snow was recorded in Scotland

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT A STORM SURGE What is a storm surge? A storm surge is a change in sea levels. A low pressure system, moving north to south down the North Sea, has caused sea levels to rise while strong winds around that system have caused water to pile up. This has created a concentrated 'bulge of water' which is moving towards Britain. Met Office forecaster Craig Snell compared the phenomenon to the traffic on a motorway when one of the lanes has been closed. Are storm surges common? Storm surges are relatively rare, with the last major one reported in December 2013. But it is the combination of the storm surge with the highest tides of the month and strong winds which is putting the east coast at risk of flooding. Craig Woolhouse, deputy director of flood incident management at the Environment Agency, said: 'That bulge of water is coinciding with high tides in places, creating high sea levels and a potential risk. 'On top of that there are very strong north to north-westerly winds and those are creating high waves which have the potential to break over the top of coastal defences.' Where is most at risk of flooding? The coast of Norfolk is particularly vulnerable because of the direction of the wind, and severe Environment Agency warnings have been issued on the coast of Suffolk. While tides on Friday morning were lower than forecast, the danger was not over as higher tides were expected in the afternoon. Mr Woolhouse said: 'You can take a breath - but then you've got to prepare for the next tide.' How long will the storm surge pose a threat? It is expected that the greatest risk would pass after the second high tide - around 6pm in the North on Friday through to 7am on Saturday on the south-east coast. Mr Snell said the band of sleet and snow moving down the east coast would ease on Friday evening and the lighter winds would reduce the threat. Advertisement

Elsewhere, 16 vehicles were involved in an accident on the northbound A19 in the Easington area of County Durham, causing rush-hour delays for commuters.

And around 50 vehicles were stuck on the northbound A1 Western Bypass, on the slip road for Etal Lane, at the Kenton Lane junction, due to bad weather. The area was cleared by around 7.15am.

Commuters in Kent were left stranded on a train for more than three hours - down to a 'heavy collection of ice' according to rail bosses.

Around 80 passengers were stuck on an early morning London-bound train between St Mary Cray and Chislehurst on the Kent, south east London border, due to the icy conditions.

Despite hours of waiting, rail operators Southeastern have still not managed to get rescuers to retrieve travellers.

A spokesman for the train company said a rescue train had attempted to come to their aid, but also lost power due to 'heavy ice and wintry conditions'.

Buses were sent to collect the passengers who have been trapped since the train broke down at 6.15am yesterday.

A Southeastern spokesman said: 'Passengers are being taken off a train and transferred to buses after the train stopped between St Mary Cray and Chislehurst this morning due to lack of power.

'The passengers are being taken to a nearby station. The train stopped at 6.15am due to a heavy collection of ice on the third rail in that area resulting in a loss of power.

Severe warnings of ice, strong winds and snow have been issued by the Met Office for today and tomorrow

Floods minister Therese Coffey said: 'Our absolute priority is protecting lives, homes and businesses from the threat of coastal flooding currently facing the east coast.

'That is why we have soldiers on the ground helping to warn and evacuate people alongside the emergency services and Environment Agency teams, who are putting up temporary defences.

'We're working closely across government to monitor the situation as it develops and I ask people to check their flood risk, keep a close eye on updates and follow any advice from the Environment Agency and the emergency services.'

There are fears that the weather conditions may also badly affect Tube and train services.

Mick Cash, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union, said: 'A combination of staffing and maintenance cuts means that rail and Tube services are running on a knife edge at the best of times.

'Any adverse weather conditions are almost guaranteed to tip us over that edge.'

Heathrow Airport has been forced to cancel 80 flights as the adverse weather reached the South East. Pictured is an infographic from the airport on the winter policy

This graphic from Ventusky shows the current winds over Britain and can be altered to show snow cover and thunderstorms

I survived the blizzard of 2017! Warnings about the 'snow storm' in London are met with a flurry of hilarious tweets mocking meltdown in the capital

By Anthony Joseph and Siofra Brennan for MailOnline

Warnings of a 'snow storm' in London have been met with a flurry of hilarious online posts mocking the meltdown in the capital.

The Met Office issued severe weather warnings for snow in the capital for yesterday and today.

Heathrow Airport even cancelled 80 flights in anticipation of the storm which was forecast.

A mere sprinkling was seen in London last night and people took to Twitter to mock what they believe was an overreaction.

Rantmedia was also braced for Snowmageddon, but the closest they got was this bear

Bexhill College tweeted a meme which read 'I survived the blizzard of 2017' and wrote: 'Hope you've all made it in today. Good luck to anyone taking their exams! #snowmageddon #bexhill'

Des Kelly posted a picture of patches of the white stuff on a road and said: 'Complete shutdown in Bristol today. Incredible scenes. #Snowmageddon'

Another user posted a picture of a road passage in Norway with two walls of snow at either side, and said: 'UK is reeling under #Snowmageddon (i.e. More than an inch of snow). Meanwhile in Norway'

Funchickgem shared a 'step by step guide on how to build a snowman out of all the snow we've had today' showing a puddle with two sticks, and a carrot nose with eyes made from stones.

Emily Knott poked fun at 'half of the UK' rushing to the supermarket to bulk buy bread and milk after spotting a single snowflake.

And a dejected Izaaz shared a sorry looking picture of a pavement with the merest sprinkle of melting flakes.

RobMcGill2 joked that London had been evacuated after a few flakes fell from the sky

Adamfidler joked about building a snowman with a light dusting of white, powdery flakes

Georgina Diaz had been looking forward to icy conditions but her fantasies of a wintry day were left unfulfilled

CarSnapped saw more of the white stuff in his snow globe than outside the window

A dejected Izaaz shared a sorry looking picture of a pavement with the merest sprinkle of melting flakes

The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for combinations of high winds, snow and ice - and the freezing temperatures are set to last for another week.

After the temperature plummeted as low as -9C in some areas overnight, snow has turned to ice, creating treacherous and dangerous conditions for rush hour drivers.

A number of crashes on the roads have brought major routes to a standstill, as commuters struggle to get to work.

Brian couldn't hide his disappointment after his hopes for a snow day were dashed

Lixwm joked that the predicted 10cm of snow had falled in North Wales, but not quite in the way that was expected

MrFuji used a scene from The Simpsons to descriv