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| UK weather: Snow falling as Siberian blast hits UK | UK weather: Snow falling as Siberian blast hits UK |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Snow is falling across parts of the UK as very cold air sweeps in from Russia. | Snow is falling across parts of the UK as very cold air sweeps in from Russia. |
| Yellow and amber weather warnings for snow are in place for Monday in much of southern and eastern England - with warnings extending into the Midlands, Scotland and Wales on Tuesday morning. | Yellow and amber weather warnings for snow are in place for Monday in much of southern and eastern England - with warnings extending into the Midlands, Scotland and Wales on Tuesday morning. |
| Many areas have been hit by freezing temperatures, with a wind chill making it feel like -15C in some places. | Many areas have been hit by freezing temperatures, with a wind chill making it feel like -15C in some places. |
| Rail firms have warned of disruption, with South Eastern advising passengers to complete journeys by 18:00 GMT. | Rail firms have warned of disruption, with South Eastern advising passengers to complete journeys by 18:00 GMT. |
| Heavy snow is forecast for much of Yorkshire, Teesside, Durham and Newcastle in the early hours of Tuesday morning, which is likely to cause delays on the roads, the Met Office said. | |
| Wednesday and Thursday's yellow warnings will also cover Cornwall, Scotland and Northern Ireland. | Wednesday and Thursday's yellow warnings will also cover Cornwall, Scotland and Northern Ireland. |
| By Wednesday night, more than 20cm (8ins) of snow could have accumulated in some parts of eastern England and Northern Ireland, forecasters have warned. | By Wednesday night, more than 20cm (8ins) of snow could have accumulated in some parts of eastern England and Northern Ireland, forecasters have warned. |
| Scotland is expected to have between 5cm (2ins) 10and 10cm (4ins) of snow on Wednesday. | Scotland is expected to have between 5cm (2ins) 10and 10cm (4ins) of snow on Wednesday. |
| Road, rail and air travellers could face severe disruption, with BBC Weather warning of possibly hazardous conditions in southern England later in the week as a low pressure weather system moves up from the Bay of Biscay and hits the already "exceptionally cold air". | Road, rail and air travellers could face severe disruption, with BBC Weather warning of possibly hazardous conditions in southern England later in the week as a low pressure weather system moves up from the Bay of Biscay and hits the already "exceptionally cold air". |
| Train disruption: | Train disruption: |
| Meanwhile, Heathrow and Gatwick airports say they are not expecting delays today, but urged anyone flying later in the week to check the status of their flight with airlines. | |
| Alina Jenkins, from the BBC's Weather service, said: "Any precipitation will turn readily to snow, and with bitterly cold strong to gale force easterly winds, blizzards are likely." | Alina Jenkins, from the BBC's Weather service, said: "Any precipitation will turn readily to snow, and with bitterly cold strong to gale force easterly winds, blizzards are likely." |
| Met Office meteorologist Charlie Powell said: "Unusually for Britain, the snow is going to be quite dry, so it will blow around and gather in drifts and we could see some blizzard conditions." | Met Office meteorologist Charlie Powell said: "Unusually for Britain, the snow is going to be quite dry, so it will blow around and gather in drifts and we could see some blizzard conditions." |
| He added that while he did not want to alarm people, the Met Office was urging people to be prepared for the so-called "beast from the East". | He added that while he did not want to alarm people, the Met Office was urging people to be prepared for the so-called "beast from the East". |
| Parts of the UK will feel as cold as Norway and Iceland. | Parts of the UK will feel as cold as Norway and Iceland. |
| Wet vs dry snow | Wet vs dry snow |
| When surface temperatures are below freezing, snow is drier as it contains less water. | When surface temperatures are below freezing, snow is drier as it contains less water. |
| This type of snow is powdery and does not stick together, the Met Office says. | This type of snow is powdery and does not stick together, the Met Office says. |
| Wet snow however, is the result of slightly warmer, moist air, which causes the edge of snowflakes to melt and stick together. | Wet snow however, is the result of slightly warmer, moist air, which causes the edge of snowflakes to melt and stick together. |
| The Local Government Association said councils were well prepared, having stockpiled 1.5 million tonnes of salt to help keep roads clear. | The Local Government Association said councils were well prepared, having stockpiled 1.5 million tonnes of salt to help keep roads clear. |
| Council teams will also be visiting elderly and vulnerable people to deliver hot meals and carry out emergency heating repairs, the LGA said. | Council teams will also be visiting elderly and vulnerable people to deliver hot meals and carry out emergency heating repairs, the LGA said. |
| However, it urged people to check on neighbours who may struggle to cope in the cold. | However, it urged people to check on neighbours who may struggle to cope in the cold. |
| Public Health England have advised homes to be heated to at least 18C. | Public Health England have advised homes to be heated to at least 18C. |
| Emergency shelters have been opened across the country as councils offer extra accommodation to the homeless during the freezing conditions. | Emergency shelters have been opened across the country as councils offer extra accommodation to the homeless during the freezing conditions. |
| The offer of a hot shower, clean clothes, food and a bed can help save lives, homeless charity St Mungo's said. | The offer of a hot shower, clean clothes, food and a bed can help save lives, homeless charity St Mungo's said. |
| You might also be interested in: | You might also be interested in: |
| We would like to hear your experiences in the cold snap. Please send your comments and pictures to: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | We would like to hear your experiences in the cold snap. Please send your comments and pictures to: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| You can also contact us in the following ways: | You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay | Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay |
| Or please use the form below: | Or please use the form below: |