Blizzard conditions hit the South

The big chill finally took hold this morning as temperatures plummeted and snow enveloped the country.

Forecasters warn the worst is yet to come for the South-East.

Although Londoners awoke to only a light dusting of snow and temperatures as low as -2C, a second snowfall was set to hit the capital this afternoon - with temperatures tonight expected to drop to -8C.

Blizzard conditions affected most of the Home Counties early today, with visibility down to less than 50 metres in some areas. Hertfordshire and Peterborough, in Cambridgeshire, were particularly badly hit, with around 13cm of snowfall.

A severe weather warning for the South-East was issued by the Met Office at 3.04am as temperatures sank to -2C. It warned melting and compacting snow could lead to widespread ice, and driving conditions were described as "dangerous".

A Met Office forecaster said: "It got really nasty out there at one point very early on, but now it's actually incredibly picturesque - it's a classic winter morning, very crisp and clear.

"We're not expecting any more problems this morning, but there is another snowstorm on the way later, so we'll have to wait and see."

Hertfordshire police said heavy snow in the north of the county made early driving conditions treacherous, but by 7am they reported all major routes running "quite well".

In Essex, police reported major routes and motorways clear. Minor roads were passable "with care".

Kent police said early gritting had kept major routes clear despite substantial snowfalls, but ungritted minor routes were treacherous. Motorists were advised to avoid them if possible.

The Met Office is expecting the second fall of snow to be less of a problem for the capital. Bob Wilderspin, the Met Office's chief forecaster, said: "The heat of the city is just too much, so London will be stuck with ice and sleet today, rather than lying snow.

"However, I think we will see a few 'cm' falling and sticking in the outskirts, and we've already seen fields in Oxford covered with snow sticking, so we would expect that to worsen this afternoon."

Mr Wilderspin added: "We've seen this second flurry take hold in Scotland already, and it will move down through to the South-East."

He said: "Tonight will be bitterly

cold. It's going to carry on until at least the weekend."

However, the South-East was getting off relatively lightly compared with the rest of the country.

The Met Office said: "Almost everywhere north of London is
suffering with at least 10cm of snow."

Some areas report 15cm of snow, and much of the North has been hit by traffic chaos, with 10mph speed limits in force on most motorways. In Scotland, temperatures of -15C are predicted. Gales and blizzards are expected to take hold later today.

The Met Office issued a series of severe weather warnings across the UK as the Arctic wind arrived in Scotland yesterday.