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UK weather - live updates: Met Office issues red severe weather warning amid travel disruption as heavy snow hits Britain UK weather - live updates: Met Office issues red severe weather warning amid travel disruption as heavy snow hits Britain
(about 4 hours later)
Heavy snow and freezing temperatures have blighted Britain's roads, railways and airports with delays and cancellations as the “Beast from the East” tightens its grip on the UK.  Severe weather is causing major travel disruption across the UK and Ireland as the “Beast from the East” tightens its grip.
The highest level of weather warning has been issued for Scotland and Ireland as forecasters warn of "blizzard-like" conditions. Road closures, stranded vehicles and cancellations are widespread due to snow and ice.
Hundreds of schools across Britain were closed for a second day. Services on trains and planes are disrupted, with travellers urged to check with their transport provider before setting off on their journeys.
The highest level of weather warning has been issued for Scotland and Ireland as forecasters warn of “blizzard-like” conditions.
Rail passengers have been warned to avoid travelling to or from Scotland for the rest of Wednesday or Thursday.
Meanwhile, hundreds of schools across Britain have been closed for a second day.
Follow along for live updatesFollow along for live updates
Forecasters predict the snow and freezing temperatures will continue, prompting the Met Office to extend some of its weather warnings.
Temperatures plummeted again overnight, with Benson in Oxfordshire recording a low of minus 10C (14F).
For most places the mercury hovered at between minus 4C (25F) and minus 7C (19F).
  
Forecasters predict the snow and freezing temperatures will not be letting up any time soon, prompting the Met Office to extend some of its weather warnings.Forecasters predict the snow and freezing temperatures will not be letting up any time soon, prompting the Met Office to extend some of its weather warnings.
An amber warning for much of the north of England and Scotland is in place until 6pm, while another covering London, the East Midlands and the east of England is in force until 10am. Rail companies warned delays may continue into Friday.
A yellow warning covering vast swathes of the UK runs until just before midnight.
Long delays on bus, rail and air travel, plus disruption to phone networks, are likely occur throughout the day, with the strong winds also leading to the drifting of snow.
Dozens of schools in Scotland will remain closed on Wednesday, including all schools in East Renfrewshire, East Dunbartonshire, Fife, Stirling and Fulbrick.
Rail companies have warned delays may continue into Friday.
Southeastern said it was planning to run a normal service but that some rush-hour services would be altered and it would look to introduce an emergency timetable “if conditions deteriorate significantly”.
British Airways said the weather was likely to continue disrupting flights throughout the week.British Airways said the weather was likely to continue disrupting flights throughout the week.
It will proactively reduce flight schedules at Heathrow Airport “for several hours during the worst of the weather” on Wednesday.
Flights for later on in the week are “under regular review”.
It is expected that the mercury could plummet to minus 15C (5F) by midweek where there is snow on the ground, rivalling temperatures forecast for parts of northern Norway and Iceland.
From Thursday, forecasters predict that another weather system, Storm Emma, will bring blizzards, gales and sleet as it meets the chilly “Beast from the East” later this week.From Thursday, forecasters predict that another weather system, Storm Emma, will bring blizzards, gales and sleet as it meets the chilly “Beast from the East” later this week.
The storm, named by the Portuguese Met Service, will move north through Europe and is due to hit the UK on Thursday and Friday, and will be “significantly disruptive”, bringing the risk of power cuts and transport delays.The storm, named by the Portuguese Met Service, will move north through Europe and is due to hit the UK on Thursday and Friday, and will be “significantly disruptive”, bringing the risk of power cuts and transport delays.
Additional reporting by agenciesAdditional reporting by agencies