Brits are waking up to travel chaos with snow and ice warnings in force after temperatures plunged to below zero in many areas.
Snow blanketed some parts of the country, with blizzard conditions for some in Northumberland and scenes of people skiing in Aberdeenshire.
In Hexham, Northumberland, cars were pictured abandoned as roads became hazardous.
National Highways has issued a severe weather alert for heavy snowfall throughout today until 6pm.
The authority tweeted: "We have issued a severe weather alert for forecasted heavy snowfall in the North of England and the West Midlands throughout today until 6pm. Stay #WeatherAware by following @metoffice and keeping up to date with the forecast."
As much as 10cm of snow had been set to fall across higher ground - with yellow warnings for ice and snow covering Scotland reaching down into to northern England.
Met Office severe weather warnings were in place overnight and remain in force until midday on Friday.
Forecasters claim " thundersnow " could cause travel disruption and power outages as a band of sleet, hail and snow showers moves across the country.
Met Office forecaster Grahame Madge said “thundersnow” would be caused by the difference between the cold front arriving from the west, reaching the ground that has been warmed by unseasonable temperatures.
On higher ground, temperatures were set to drop to -12C.
Forecaster Clare Nasir said: "Snow warnings in place across the hills and mountains in the north as a band of rain moves across from the Atlantic you can watch out for gales across the western side of the country.
"Then the air behind it also turns cold and the cold northwesterly undercut bringing with it snow showers. So a risk of snow and ice - with a warning in place for Thursday and into Friday."
Ms Nasir continued: "Above 300m or 400m expect some accumulations and the risk of blizzard conditions but we will see some slushy deposits even at lower levels."
National Highways also warned of a "severe weather event" on it's website and issued a "severe weather" alert for snow affecting the north of England and the West Midlands until 6pm on Friday.
The Met Office has forecast milder conditions going into the weekend.
Grahame Madge said: "Friday into Saturday we have got another frontal system moving across the UK. That's more likely to deliver rain more widely.
"By Saturday and into the weekend any wintry showers are likely to be just over the higher tops and fells."
UK Weather Forecast
Today:
Blustery, heavy wintry showers affecting many areas, especially the west and northwest where the heaviest and most frequent showers, including some snow, will be. More persistent rain and hill snow for south Wales and parts of southern England. Feeling cold.
Tonight:
Early evening showers fading leaving clear spells for a time. Rain and windier conditions then spread across the UK, rain falling as hill snow in the north for a time.
Saturday:
Early cloud and rain, heavy at times, clearing eastwards, probably finally clearing the far east and southeast of England after dark. Brighter spells and showers, wintry over hills, follow. Windy.
Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday:
Sunday dry and bright for many areas, although blustery showers in the northwest. Cloud and rain reaching all areas through Monday, clearing southeast, and brightening from the northwest through Tuesday.
