We are now going to be pausing our coverage of the snow impacting parts of the UK, but before we do let's bring you a quick recap of what we have been reporting today.

• Strong winds are set to bring "treacherous conditions" to the UK tonight and tomorrow morning, the Met Office warns
• Some parts of the country are set to be hit by 50mph winds and up to 40cm of snow, according to forecasters
• The Met Office has issued three amber warnings for northern England, the Midlands, North Wales and Northern Ireland, where "significant disruption" to transport and power supplies is expected
• Three yellow warnings for snow also cover much of the rest of the nation, with the exception of southern England and western Scotland
• Rail users are advised to check before they travel tomorrow - with Thameslink, Great Northern and Merseyrail already issuing warnings for commuters
• Plenty of road closures are also in place with authorities in South Yorkshire and Derbyshire issuing warnings while National Highways says it has shut a huge chunk of the A66 between County Durham and Cumbria

Today's coverage was brought to you by Alys Davies, Andre Rhoden-Paul, Gem O'Reilly, Tarik Habte and Jasmine Andersson. The editors were Nathan Williams, Jeremy Gahagan and Jamie Whitehead.

You can read our latest news story here, and BBC Weather will have the latest forecasts for you throughout the evening and overnight.

You've been capturing the snow around the UK today.

Here's some of our favourite shots.

Image source, Weather Watchers

Image source, Annie/Weather Watchers

Image source, Sam's House/Weather Watchers

Image source, Broomwatcher/Weather Watchers

Humans have not been the only ones sheltering indoors from the cold.

Newborn lambs at Lower Drayton Farm, Staffordshire, have been spending their first days barricaded in their barn with hay bales due to the snow.

Farmer Richard Bower told the BBC welfare of the animals was his "number one priority".

"We've barricaded the shed inside with bales and whatever, just to expect the worst," he said.

All's wool that ends wool for these little lambs.

Thomas Mackintosh
Live reporter

It's been another brisk day up in Scotland - especially up in the Highlands and off the coast!

Warnings of snow remain in place across many parts of the country and it comes after Scotland recorded its coldest March night in more than a decade.

The mercury dropped to -13°C in the Highland hamlet of Altnaharra and temperatures are predicted to be just as cold tonight.

Below is a stunning image taken from NASA by by the Aqua/MODIS satellite which shows parts of Scotland covered in a dusting of snow.

Image source, NASA

The Met Office releases different warnings associated with different colours, depending on the extremity of the weather and the impact it can have on daily life.

An amber weather warning means the following:

• Travel delays on roads are likely, stranding some vehicles and passengers
• Some delays and cancellations to rail and bus services are likely
• There is a good chance that some rural communities could become cut off
• Power cuts are likely and other services, such as mobile phone coverage, may be affected
• Injuries from slips and falls are likely on icy surfaces

Anna Murray
BBC Radio Tees

Here are some tips if you do have to travel:

• Give yourself extra time before you set off to de-ice the car, and do not pour boiling water on the windscreen and instead turn on the warm air blower and rear windscreen heater
• Clear any snow with a soft brush before using a scraper and de-icer on your car
• Expect your journeys to be taking a bit longer and plan them around major roads - these are more likely to be gritted and cleared
• Before you leave, charge your phone fully, take some food and a hot drink if you can
• Think about having a shovel with you to clear away any snow you might encounter
• Don't forget your warm clothes and sturdy shoes or boots
• Pull away in second gear, keep the right speed for the conditions - not too fast so you risk losing control but not so slow you lose vital momentum - and leave more space between you and the car in front of you
• If you get stuck don't try to keep moving, instead use a shovel to clear snow from underneath your tyres and pour gravel, sand, cat litter to help get traction. Then slowly shift from forward to reverse and back again with a light touch on the accelerator

There were no snowmen on Andy Rawbone's drive in Streetly, in the West Midlands, today. Instead his children got to ride on a snow unicorn.

And it's not his first time creating snow sculptures.

Image source, Andy Rawbone

Image source, Andy Rawbone

Image source, Andy Rawbone

Image source, Andy Rawbone

Aerial footage captured by a drone in the Yorkshire Dales show the famous hills and valleys covered in a blanket of snow.

Arctic weather has been sweeping across the UK and the Dales are expected to feel as cold as -5C tonight in some parts.

Now, let's look ahead to what the weather conditions are going to be like for rail routes across England, Scotland and Wales.

• National Rail Enquiries warn that snow and ice may affect services on the Thameslink and Great Northern networks tomorrow
• It says staff from across the whole railway industry are closely monitoring weather conditions and will continue to work hard to minimise disruption
• On Merseyside, the first trains of the day on all lines of the Merseyrail network are cancelled in order to allow the lines to be checked to ensure they are safe to carry passenger services
• All commuters are advised to check their train travel before setting off tomorrow

For those of you travelling this evening let's bring you the latest conditions on the roads tonight from around the country.

• Travel South Yorkshire said public transport is “severely disrupted across the region” and warns people should be aware that delays were likely across all services
• Derbyshire County Council says it has closed six roads, and many minor roads will be impassable - road users across the county are experiencing problems according to the council, which also advises people not to travel “unless they really need to”
• National Highways says it has closed around 13 miles of a major road in northern England
• It says it proactively closed the A66 between Bowes in County Durham and Brough in Cumbria in both directions for “safety reasons”
• The A628 Woodhead Pass in Derbyshire has also closed in both directions for about 14 miles between Flouch, South Yorkshire, and Hollingworth, Greater Manchester.

Image source, PA Media

Wondering what's in store weather-wise this evening and into the rest of the week? Here are the key things you need to know:

• Three amber weather warnings are in place for northern England, the Midlands, North Wales and Northern Ireland
• Yellow warnings for snow and ice are also in place across large parts of the UK
• Heavy snow is likely to cause "significant disruption" to transport, power supplies and phone network coverage in these areas tonight and into Friday, the Met Office warns

• The worst of the weather is expected in north-west Wales and northern England, where "gusts of easily 50mph" are on a collision course with "30 to 40cm of snow", Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill says
• Blizzards may also cause "treacherous conditions" in the Midlands and northern England
• Motorists have been told to only drive if necessary in areas covered by the Met Office's amber weather warnings

I'm sure you've all noticed by now it is very cold with plenty of ice and snow around.

But, how long will it last?

Elizabeth Rizzini has the latest long-range forecast.

With the cold weather forecast to last into the weekend in some parts of the UK, a charity for the elderly is encouraging people to lend a helping hand to older people who might struggle during the cold spell.

"Be a warm neighbour," is what Age Cymru is encouraging people to do.

“If you have an older friend, relative or neighbour, pop round to see if you can help with any errands such as clearing leaves and ice from footpaths or offering to run errands to pick up items such as food and medicines," head of policy Heather Ferguson advises.

“And if you have any concerns about an older person’s welfare, share them with a trusted family member or neighbour. If you can’t find anyone, please contact your local social services.”

All eyes will be on the weather forecasts in the coming days and you may be wondering what lies ahead for us.

Well, BBC forecaster Billy Payne says much of the snowfall should ease away later tomorrow - apart from in some areas in northern Scotland which continue to experience snow.

He warns widespread frost and ice risks will follow tomorrow night and temperatures over the snowfields of Wales and the Midlands may dip to -10°C.

"We expect more rain, sleet and snow to push north east on Saturday and Saturday night, with the snow risks mainly from north Wales through the north Midlands, North England and Scotland," Billy explains.

"Some areas are already covered by an early Met Office yellow warning for this.

"Milder air will set in for most behind this next system Sunday into Monday and a thaw will set in.

"Some colder air may try to push back south again during the early to middle part of next week, although how far south this gets is uncertain at present."

Have you ever seen a "snow tornado"?

Michael Peterson was feeding his sheep on his croft in Shetland when he spotted the rare weather event following a hailstorm on Tuesday.

He told BBC Radio Shetland he was lucky to be in the "right place at the right time".

Forecasters are warning people about the prospect of blizzards causing "treacherous conditions" tonight and into Friday morning.

It comes as the Met Office issues three amber warnings for northern England, the Midlands, North Wales and Northern Ireland, where "significant disruption" to transport and power supplies is expected.

Yellow warnings for snow also cover much of the rest of the UK, with the exception of southern England and western Scotland.

Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said the worst of the weather is expected in north-west Wales and northern England, where "gusts of easily 50mph" are on a collision course with "30 to 40cm of snow".

While Devon and Cornwall are set to be free from snow the counties are predicted to be hit by the strong winds around 60mph on Thursday evening.

Burkill added: "The combination of heavy snow and gales is why we're likely to see blizzards and drifting snow, which causes extra hazards on the roads.

"In places covered by amber warnings, there will be very difficult, treacherous conditions.

"Ideally avoid travelling in those periods - but if you have to head out then be aware that journeys could take significantly longer."

Image source, Getty Images

To cope with the challenges of the colder weather, we've compiled a guide troubleshooting your most pressing questions.

• How to de-ice your car: Don't pour boiling hot water on your window screen. Instead, the AA says you should start the engine and remain with the car - ensuring the wipers are off to avoid damage - and then turn on the warm air blower on the windscreen. You should also turn on your rear windscreen heater, plus the air con before removing snow with a soft brush then de-icing your car
• Risks with heating: Firefighters and safety managers from the charity Electrical Safety First say you should use your heater on a flat surface to ensure it won't fall over
• How to keep your baby warm: Use a number of lightweight blankets at night, and layers during the day. Importantly, babies do not need hot rooms at night - a room temperature of between 16-20C (61-68F) is ideal

• How to keep pets warm: Veterinary charity PDSA advises giving dogs and cats extra blankets for their beds over the winter months. Raised beds can keep older dogs away from draughts, while cats may like high-up dens
• How to dry your washing: Use a dehumidifier, which takes water out of the air. This can be done by running the machine for several hours next to clothes hanging on an airer

More extensive advice can be read here.

With more of the white stuff in the forecast over the next few days, Ben Rich explains how snow is forecast and the impacts of climate change on snowfall in the UK.

Image source, Reuters

It's the first day of the annual Crufts dog show in Birmingham, and these pooches are prepared for the weather.

The competition will run until Sunday, seeing dogs from across the world competing for Best in Show.

The competitors have been snapped wearing bespoke puffer jackets, balaclavas, quilted coats, and even keeping cover under parasols all in a bid to make sure their best looks are not spoilt by the snowfall.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Getty Images

Many of us will be tasked with driving in snowy and icy conditions over the coming hours.

Driving in severe winter weather poses many challenges and in very bad conditions it may be best to avoid driving unless essential.

But if you must drive, here's how to make sure you and your car are as prepared as possible and what to do if you are caught out in bad weather.

• Consider buying winter tyres, which offer extra grip, especially if you live in an area which regularly experiences snow
• Allow extra time before you set off to de-ice the car and expect journeys to take much longer
• Car batteries run down more quickly in winter. Make sure you do a regular long journey to top it up, or use a trickle-charger to keep it performing well
• Keep your fuel tank topped up - that way if you are caught out, you'll have enough fuel to make it home or run the engine to keep warm.

More information can be found in this article, which you can read here.