
Britain faces an evening of travel chaos ahead of a widespread whiteout tomorrow as a blanket of heavy snow sweeps across the country amid -11C temperatures.

Some 2,000 gritters have dug into a three million tonne salt mountain, while the RAC forecast 37,000 breakdowns tomorrow - bringing 'the worst cold weather travel chaos since last winter's Beast from the East'.

Age UK has urged people to check on vulnerable friends and families, as well as urging the elderly to stock up on medicine and ensure they have food in the cupboard or freezer amid a Public Health England cold weather alert.

Up to 4in (10cm) of snow is expected tonight and forecasters warn icy conditions could bring travel chaos and cut off some villages. There are also fears of power cuts and mobile phone masts being put out of operation.

The snow is expected to cause major disruption on Britain's roads and railways tomorrow, with dramatic photos today showing police officers holding vehicles on the A6 near Shap in Cumbria which had to be closed.

A severe weather warning is in place across the UK, with one for the South East of England for 2in (5cm) brought forward four hours to 5pm. Forecasters say London will see snow showers – although they are unlikely to settle.

Forecasters say up to 1in (2.5cm) of snow is likely across much of England and Wales, with more on higher ground. Commuters have been warned to take care tomorrow as snow turns to black ice in sub-zero temperatures.

The Met Office has warned the country faces 'very significant snowfall' this week- with the forecast for Thursday possible set could break this winter's current record low and bring up to four inches (10cm) of snow to parts of southern England.

The Met Office has warned the country faces 'very significant snowfall' this week. A driver in Manchester in the difficult snowy conditions this evening

A police car next to an overturned vehicle in Shap, Cumbria, today amid terrible conditions for driving in the county

Vehicles struggle to get up the A53 near Axe Edge as heavy snow begins to fall between Buxton and Leek in Derbyshire

The snow falling this evening in the game between Luton Town v Portsmouth. Three yellow weather warnings are currently in place

A man walks in snowy conditions at the Tan Hill Inn in North Yorkshire, as up to 10cm of snow could fall on higher ground as temperatures drop across large parts of the UK this week

Lorries and cars are held in the snow on the A6 near the village of Shap in Cumbria today

Highway workers struggle to keep the A66 across the North of England open this afternoon as heavy snow continues to fall

A crashed car this afternoon on the snowy in Royton, Greater Manchester. Snow and ice are continuing to cause disruption and incidents, with weather warnings continuing into tomorrow

A car gets pulled out a ditch on the Newmill and Canthill Road, between Shotts and Kirk of Shotts in Scotland today

Sheep huddle together in the snow whitened landscape of Offa's Dyke on the Welsh Border today

Mother Katrina and daughter Kendall Woodward enjoy the snow near Kirk of Shotts Church in Scotland today

A car is driven on a snow-covered road on Mam Tor near Castleton in the Derbyshire Peak District today

Snow storms from the west bring blizzard conditions to the Weardale moors near Stanhope in County Durham today

The wintry conditions arrived as rain moving eastwards across the country turned to snow with temperatures down to -5C (23F). In Scotland, it could drop as low as -11C (12F) - colder than St Petersburg at -4C (25F).

Police had to stop a car in Scotland which was being driven with its windows still covered in snow. Only a small area had been cleared on the front windscreen when it was stopped by detectives at Thurso in Caithness.

Three yellow weather warnings have been issued across the UK. But they might be upped to amber, and vulnerable people are warned to take extra precautions.

As the day progresses the wintry weather will move across the Midlands and into the South East. Snow showers could return tomorrow and there is a risk of further snow and ice towards the end of the week.

Some 13 schools in the Highlands were shut. Graham Madge, from the Met Office, said: 'All of England and Wales has the potential to see snow of between 1cm (0.4in) and 3cm (1.2in) in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

This #UKSnow graphic shows where people are posting on Twitter about snow falling across the UK today

A car is driven on a snow-covered road as it passes through Winnats Pass near Castleton in Derbyshire today

The M62 near Oldham in Greater Manchester is covered with snow amid warnings for motorists to take extra care today

Snow sits on top of homes in the town of Kelty in Fife as much of Scotland sees heavy snow falling this morning

Heavy snow showers in Cumbria this morning catch out a BMW motorist who skidded off the A686 near Hartside

Climbers start off on a track up to the summit of Snowdon in North Wales in the blizzard conditions this morning

A train between the village of Shap and Carlisle in the snow on the West Coast Line in Cumbria today

'The band of snow will work its way eastwards on Tuesday night and there could be up to 10cm (4in) in higher areas like the Chilterns. Temperatures will drop very dramatically and snow will turn to ice.

'It will be very cold on Wednesday – it is unlikely to be above freezing anywhere in the country. In the South East we could see lows of -3C (27F) while in rural parts of the North it will drop below -5C (23F).

'The weather will continue to be unsettled until the weekend and there is a risk of further snow and ice on Thursday and Friday.'

In the Scottish Highlands, the A9 is likely to be badly hit by snow showers. Further south, the M74 through Dumfriesshire and the M77 in Ayrshire are vulnerable because parts of the roads occupy higher ground.

Rail services are at risk because signals are unreliable in very cold conditions. The RAC was expecting 8,500 breakdowns across the UK today – 20 per cent more than usual – and has all 1,500 patrol teams available.

The weather front on Thursday will follow a band of snow, rain and sleet across the country on Tuesday night.

Mr Berkill said: 'Looking further ahead, it's what happens on Thursday that has the potential to be more disruptive.

'It does have the potential to bring some very significant snow. We have already got a warning out in force for it.

'It's currently just a yellow warning, but it's not out of the question that will be ramped up nearer the time.

'It's looking like it will be a spell of persistent snow.'

Thursday is expected to start off 'very cold' as the weather system pushes eastwards from the south west.

Drivers endure a hazardous commute to work this morning in parts of the country where snow had been falling overnight

Three of the Met Office yellow weather warnings which have been issued today cover most of the UK

Snow is forecast across much of the country today (left) - with more on the way tomorrow (centre) and on Thursday (right)

Temperatures will remain low for today and the next few days - with a maximum of just 8C (46F) in the South West expected

Angus the cocker spaniel enjoys the snow in North Wales today - even if it does get everywhere, causing him to shake it off

A snowplough clears a lane on the M6 near the village of Shap in Cumbria this morning amid forecasts for severe weather

Lorry drivers stuck on the Newby Head pass near Hawes as drivers face difficult conditions this morning in the Yorkshire Dales

Snow in the Denshaw area of Oldham, Greater Manchester, today with cars struggling to get up to the top of Rippedon Road

Heavy snow falls this morning in County Durham with the village of Nenthead having up to three inches of snow in places

A lorry struggles in the snow on the A6 near the village of Shap in Cumbria today as it faces severe weather conditions

Mandy and Mindy enjoy the snow near Kirk of Shotts Church in Scotland today as a snow storm hits the Central Belt

Snowy conditions near Thwaite in North Yorkshire today, as up to four inches could fall on higher ground

A man walks in snowy conditions at the Tan Hill Inn in North Yorkshire today amid severe weather conditions

A three-wheel Reliant Robin in the snow off the A6 near the village of Shap in Cumbria this morning

The Reliant Robin is pictured next to a police car in the snow off the A6 near Shap in Cumbria today

Cars make their way along a snowy road today in Blairforge, Fife, as motoring groups warned drivers to take extra care

Heavy snow falls this morning in St John's Chapel, County Durham, after the Met Office issued a series of weather warnings

A gritter clears the roads in St John's Chapel, County Durham, this morning as parts of Britain face up to four inches of snow

Snowy conditions at the 17th century Tan Hill Inn, Britain's highest pub, on the Pennine Way in North Yorkshire this morning

Councils have prepared for heavy snowfall, with more than 1.4 million tonnes of salt stockpiled, the Local Government Association said.

Public Health England has also warned at-risk people, including the elderly, to take precautions.

Dr Emer O'Connell, a public health consultant, said: 'If you can, check on family, friends and neighbours who are older, have heart and lung conditions or young children as all these groups are particularly vulnerable to the effects of cold.'

Rail firms plan to run empty 'ghost trains' at night to clear snow and ice, while Network Rail had 34 de-icing trains prepared. The AA told motorists to 'drive to the conditions', with parts of Scotland already under snow.

Where are the Met Office weather warnings today? Three separate yellow weather warnings have been issued today which cover most of the UK: Western Scotland Snow and ice, 3pm today until 11am tomorrow South East England Snow and ice, 5pm tonight until 12pm tomorrow England (except SE) and Wales Snow and ice, 12pm today until 11am tomorrow Advertisement

Police Scotland urged drivers to 'exercise extra caution' and check for updates online. Inspector David Hynd said: 'Make sure you have sufficient fuel and supplies such as warm clothing, food and water in the event you are delayed for several hours.'

The cold snap comes after the country was battered by winds of up to 82mph over the weekend. Terrifying photographs and videos showed planes struggling to take off at Newcastle Airport.

The top wind speed recorded on Sunday was 82mph – at Berry Head in Devon, followed by Orlock Head in County Down, Northern Ireland, at 71mph.

The coldest night in the UK so far this winter was January 18 when Braemar in Aberdeenshire plunged to -10.8C (12.6F), but that could be beaten this week as air blown 2,500 miles from near the North Pole arrives.

A temperature colder than the -14.1C (6.6F) recorded on February 14, 2016 at Braemar would be Britain's coldest for seven years, since the -15.6C (3.9F) observed on February 11, 2012 at Holbeach, Lincolnshire.

* Have you taken any photos of the snow in Britain today? Please email: pictures@mailonline.co.uk *

Police stop car on main road being driven with just a small square of windscreen cleared of snow These extraordinary photographs show how police had to stop a car in Scotland which was being driven with just a small square of windscreen cleared of snow. The car's rear windscreen and side windows were completely covered with snow while only a small area had been cleared on the front windscreen when it was stopped at Thurso in Caithness. The driver was spotted on the A9 trunk road this morning, and police issued them with a fixed penalty noticeof up to £100. Police urged motorists to clear their vehicles of snow and ice properly before beginning journeys. Officers posted pictures of the snowy car on social media and said: 'Winter has been biting for most of us this week, which means it is more important than ever that your vehicle is suitably prepared for the roads. 'Unfortunately not everyone follows this advice - officers on patrol stopped this car which was being driven on the A9 at Thurso in the early hours of this morning. 'Appropriate action has been taken against the driver in relation to road traffic offences. It is important before you set off to make sure your windows are clean, properly demisted and clear of all snow and ice before you drive.' The driver was spotted on the A9 trunk road at Thurso in Caithness this morning, and police issued them with a fixed penalty notice Advertisement

Heavy snow falls this morning in the County Durham village of St John's Chapel as an Arctic blast hits the UK this week

A Land Rover in snowy conditions near Tan Hill in North Yorkshire today, as up to four inches of snow could fall

Snow on the hills in Blairforge, Fife, this morning as the UK faces a bout of severe weather and sub-zero temperatures

Drivers near Kirk of Shotts in North Lanarkshire struggle through snow today as much of the UK faces difficult conditions

Snow covers the County Durham hamlet of Lanehead this morning as drivers and pedestrians are urged to take extra care

Chris Gunns, a railway employee from Chesterfield, tweeted this picture of the snow on a train in the Peak District today

Snow falls overnight in the Rossendale district of Lancashire, with up to four inches expected in parts of Britain today

Snow falls overnight in the High Peak market town of Glossop in Derbyshire as the severe weather sweeps in