Some schools are announcing via social media whether they expect to stay shut for a second day tomorrow.

The Department for Education is urging parents to check on their local council's website for school closure updates.

So having seen Jeremy Corbyn's snowball skills (see 1710 entry), it's important to note that Labour hasn't got a monopoly on fun in the snow.

MP Mel Stride spotted Treasury minister Liz Truss crouching in the snow...

... and it was all worthwhile it seems as Ms Truss later posted a pretty impressive picture on Instagram of daffodils in the snow - which seems to combine the harsh reality of winter with the promise of spring. Political metaphor, anyone?

c2c: A special timetable with limited services is operating today, external but extra trains are being put on for rush hour. A normal service is planned for Wednesday.

Greater Anglia: After a reduced service this morning as the rail operator prepared for the worst, services are returning to normal for the rest of the day, external. A full service is planned for tomorrow.

Great Northern: Train services are returning to normal after running on a reduced service. A normal train service is expected for Wednesday.

London Overground: Today's altered timetable will run until 11pm but extra services will run, external. "We will do our best to run a frequent service," TfL said. A normal service will run on some stretches. Part of the network is suspended and delayed.

Merseyrail:All services are running as normal., external

Image source, PA

ScotRail: some services on Wednesday and Thursday, external have been cancelled or altered as Scotland's weather is expected to take a turn for the worse.

Chiltern Railways, East Midlands Trains and Grand Central Rail: Normal services are running.

Southeastern:Anyone travelling this evening is urged to check journey planners before travelling, as a normal service is running, external but there may be cancellations. A normal timetable is expected for Wednesday with a "small number" of cancellations.

Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express:A normal service is running, although trains between London Bridge and Uckfield are hourly and a shuttle train service is operating between Redhill and Tonbridge.

South Western Railway: Most trains are running on time, external and a normal timetable is set to operate on Wednesday.

TfL Rail: The amended timetable will remain in place, external but extra trains will be running for evening rush hour.

The UK is not the only country to have been hit by the cold weather from Russia - much of Europe is also experiencing the chill.

Image source, EPA

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, EPA

The Met Office has issued back-to-back weather warnings, external until Saturday night.

The current warnings were also updated today to cover a larger area.

Meanwhile, temperatures across the UK could feel as low as -9C or -10C tomorrow because of the wind chill, BBC Weather said.

With more extreme weather conditions expected over the next two days in Scotland, Police Scotland's Ch Supt Stewart Carle has urged drivers to take extra care.

He said: "Snow is already falling in some areas, and drivers should make sure they are prepared for their journey with warm clothing, food and drink, sufficient fuel and a charged mobile phone.

"There could be significant traffic delays so [for those driving tonight] please start to plan your journey now and consider if you really need to travel when conditions are poor."

The hashtag snowmuchfun has been doing well on Instagram today, mainly with pictures of dogs - but also one of a very familiar face from the world of politics.

Meanwhile the sky over Primrose Hill in north-west London turned a very dark shade of grey.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Plenty of Londoners are sharing images online of how dramatically the capital's weather has been changing this afternoon.

Martin Tooth, who works in one of those lofty buildings in the City of London so has a better vantage point than most, has tweeted a series of dramatic images, first showing the snow storm and then the grey skies suddenly turning a bright shade of blue once more.

For those of you about to set out on the roads, BBC Radio 2's Bobbie Pryor has just been on air with the latest travel updates:

In Whitby, the A171 west of Scarborough is open despite earlier very difficult snowy conditions.

There are a number of stranded or abandoned vehicles which can be passed - hopefully these will be cleared by this afternoon.

There are snowy conditions on the M40 around junction four and five but these clear up after junction six.

In Kent the A21 Lamberhurst to Tonbridge route is still blocked with a number of vehicles stuck in the snow.

There are really heavy snow showers east of Swindon around junction 14 on the M4.

You can hear regular travel updates on all BBC radio stations throughout the evening, with Bobbie doing the business every half-hour on Radio 2.

Image source, PA

Holly Haward's animals couldn't get enough of the snow in Eye, Suffolk.

Horses Pedro and Harriet enjoyed a fun run out while dogs Ruby and Stumpy were unfazed by the freeze.

Image source, Holly Haward

Image source, Holly Haward

Laura Lea
BBC News

Another question posed by the cancellation of trains is who profits from it?

A report in the Daily Telegraph has suggested there could be a financial incentive for private train operators, external, who get paid compensation from Network Rail for cancellations and delays to services caused by bad weather or engineering work.

It reports that between 2011 and 2017 rail companies were handed more than £2bn in compensation by Network Rail. Over the same period passengers received £187m in compensation from rail operators.

Image source, PA

But the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), a pan-industry body, said the payments are overseen by the rail regulator and are "completely separate from the money customers rightly receive for delays".

Network Rail provides an infrastructure upon which services can run. If it fails in those obligations, train companies are paid to cover the revenue lost, the BBC's transport correspondent, Victoria Fritz said.

"On the other side of the relationship, train operators must pay the track operator for the privilege of using the network. Track charges make up 25% of Network Rail's revenue."

"No train company wants to lose fare revenue," Victoria added. "Their forecasts are based on passenger growth and revenue growth. So it's not exactly fair to say that train companies rub their hands in glee when it gets a bit nippy."

And if you're on the trains rather than the roads, there's some positive news with rush hour coming up quickly. London Overground has said it will be running a normal service on various routes this evening.

Drivers should have warm clothes, sturdy shoes and food and drink in their cars in case they get stuck in the snow, Cleveland Police are warning.

The force said it is braced for an even colder day tomorrow and urged people to only travel if necessary.

Temporary Supt Sharon Cooney also urged people to keep their mobile phones changed and have the phone numbers of breakdown or recovery services saved.

She said: “Be prepared for prolonged delay and, in the worst case, stranding."

As Scotland's transport minister says the country is possibly on the brink of getting a red warning for snow, it seems a fair question to ask - what do the colours actually mean?

• Yellow: Severe weather expected. Yellow means you should plan ahead thinking about possible travel delays, or the disruption of your day-to-day activities.
• Amber: Be prepared for disruption. There is an increased likelihood of bad weather affecting you, which could potentially disrupt your plans and possibly cause travel delays, road and rail closures, interruption to power and the potential risk to life and property.
• Red: Extreme weather is expected. Red means you should take action now to keep yourself and others safe from the impact of the weather. Widespread damage, travel and power disruption and risk to life is likely. You must avoid dangerous areas and follow the advice of the emergency services and local authorities.

Jennifer Raynor took the opportunity of a bit of peace and quiet to go and relive her youth by making a snow angel in her back garden.

Mrs Raynor, of Stowmarket in Suffolk, said: "The hubby was out so thought I'd be a kid again."

Image source, Jennifer Rayner

Transport Scotland's fleet of road gritters are out on the roads again today.

The gritters became an internet sensation last month when people first started noticing the gritters' funny names - including Sir Andy Flurry, Gritty Gritty Bang Bang and Sir Grits-a-Lot.

Image source, Traffic Scotland

Elsewhere, Transport for London says it is sharing 100,000 tonnes of salt with London's boroughs to grit the capital this week.

It was always going to be gruelling.

BBC Radio 1's Greg James has set himself the Sport Relief challenge to climb Snowdon in Wales, Scarfell Pike in the Lake District and Ben Nevis in Scotland.

But as well as doing all that over the course of five days, he intends to cycle to every summit.

It's day two, and with snowy conditions between Snowdon and Scarfell Pike, Greg's 135-mile cycle is looking a little more treacherous, external.

The number of closed schools in Kent has risen to more than 339.

Roger Gough, for education at Kent County Council, said "every effort" was being made to keep schools open.

"However, there will be times when schools may have to close because it is no longer safe to have pupils and staff onsite," he added.

"It is down to individual headteachers to decide whether it is necessary to close their school."

Image source, Dan Kitwood/Getty Images