Motorists have been told to only drive if necessary in areas covered by the Met Office's amber weather warnings
These alerts are now in force across the UK - with heavy snow expected in a stretch from Stoke-on-Trent to Durham, as well as North Wales and some of Northern Ireland
Significant disruption to transport, power lines and phone network coverage is likely in those places
Parts of central and northern England could see up to 40cm (16in) of snow overnight
The UK recorded its coldest March night since 2010 last night, with -16C (3F) in the Scottish Highlands
Hundreds of schools have been shut in Wales, and more than 250 schools are closed across the West Midlands region
Simon King
BBC weather presenter and meteorologist
Another amber warning has been issued, this time for the east of Northern Ireland.
It's valid from 3pm today until 4am on Friday.
Some 4-8cm of snow are expected away from immediate coasts, with 10-20cm over higher ground later this afternoon and through into Friday.
Strong winds with the snow will lead to atrocious travel conditions.
Image source, BBC Weather Watchers/KimberleyAs the snowy weather takes hold, here's a recap of the latest news:
Rare 'snow tornado' spotted by crofter in Shetland
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.
He told BBC Radio Shetland he was lucky to be in the "right place at the right time".
The occurrence is said to be very rare, often appearing in mountainous areas, and nicknamed "Snow Devil".
Image source, James GallagherAs the BBC's James Gallagher discovered, there are health risks to living in a room cooler than 18C
A room that measures 10C (50F) may not sound too chilly, but such a temperature can have a profound impact on the heart, lungs and brain.
James Gallagher, the presenter of the Inside Health programme on BBC Radio 4, recently undertook an experiment which saw him trying to complete tasks while the room was gradually dropped to that temperature.
"What shocks me is the change in blood flow to the brain and how much longer it takes me to complete a shape-sorting game," he wrote.
And he discovered that living in a cold temperature doesn't just slow you down - it brings health risks, too. It's for this reason that scientists recommend you keep your home heated to at least 18C, if you can.
Many of you will be looking out on snowy landscapes today, and we would love to see what the weather is like where you are.
You can send us your photos via the Get Involved button at the top of the page or by emailing us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, external
Image source, BBC Weather Watchers/RuthyA sheep trudges through the snow in Nantmel, Powys
BBC Weather Watchers have been capturing the frosty snowscapes right on their doorstep.
We've collated some of the best snaps that have been sent to us this morning.
Image source, BBC Weather Watchers/IngridTemperatures dipped below freezing in Lochcarron, in the Scottish Highlands
Image source, BBC Weather Watchers/SueA light snowstorm is falling in Wakefield
Image source, BBC Weather Watchers/CoffeegogsSnowcapped mountaintops in Llanberis, Gwynedd in Wales
Image source, BBC Weather Watchers/cloudgazerA light sheet of sleet has fallen in Bransford, Worcestershire
Have some of your own snowy pictures that you'd like featured? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, external
An amber warning for snow and ice has this morning been issued for mid and north Wales.
Major disruption caused by the weather is expected until Friday morning, the Met Office alert says.
The warning will come into effect from 12:00 today, ending at 9:00 on Friday.
An amber warning for snow is already in place for central and northern England, coming into effect at 3pm this afternoon.
The BBC's Carol Kirkwood explains how the weather is looking across the UK today, after snow hit various areas.
As we go through to tomorrow the wind will ease and snow will clear.
Angie Phillips
BBC News NI Weather Presenter
Image source, Sharon Welby/BBCA snow warning is in place across Northern Ireland with potentially disruptive snow in Thursday and Friday’s forecast.
After a dry start, sleet and snow will spread into southern and eastern parts this morning along with a freshening wind, becoming more widespread later.
Central and eastern areas may bear the brunt of snowfall, with up to 15cm expected by the time the snow clears early Friday morning.
As the wind picks up that could lead to blizzards and some drifting snow on higher ground.
Image source, Helen Earth / BBC Weather WatchersThe inclement weather has paused flights at Birmingham airport, with workers plugging away to clear snow and ice from the runway.
There is minimal disruption to arrivals and departures according to the airport's website, external, however passengers have been advised to allow extra time for their journeys.
In Wales, hundreds of schools have closed their doors this morning due to the heavy snow.
At least 270 schools have shut so far, affecting pupils in Denbigh, Flintshire, Powys, Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen.
There is now a warning for snow and ice is in place in 19 of Wales's local authority areas - only Flintshire, Anglesey and Pembrokeshire are not included.
Heavier snowfall is expected to come later on today. As we've been telling you, there is now an amber warning for snow and ice in place for mid and north Wales from midday, with major disruption expected.
Rowan Bridge
BBC News
Mold in north Wales is in the leading edge of some of the snowy weather conditions expected to hit parts of the UK later today.
It's snowing and some of it is settling, especially on higher ground and more remote areas.
At the moment it's not causing disruption to the roads but the levels of snow have certainly increased in the last hour.
For the moment it's providing a wintery backdrop for people starting their day here.
Simon King
BBC weather presenter and meteorologist
An Amber warning for snow and ice has just been issued for mid and north Wales.
It's valid from 12:00 today until 9:00 Friday.
Major disruption is expected.
Simon King
BBC weather presenter and meteorologist
Temperatures across the UK this morning clearly show the challenges we have in forecasting snow in the UK.
There is cold Arctic air in the north and milder tropical air in the south. There was a 27C degree difference in temperature earlier.
Where these two air masses meet is the weather battleground where rain is turning to snow.
So while there’ll be significant snow across central and northern areas, in the south - where the milder air is winning out – we’ve got heavy rain and maybe even an odd thunderstorm today.
Image source, Getty ImagesHouses and gardens covered in snow in London in December 2022
No, snow will not kill your garden, assures the Royal Horticultural Society's Guy Barter.
The organisation's chief horticulturalist has told gardening enthusiasts that the recent cold snap shouldn't affect our plants, as we're still a few weeks away from the 'horticultural spring' which begins later this month.
Speaking to the BBC, Barter also advised those eager to start planting outdoors that while it's nice to get started, there's no big loss in holding off until mid-April.
Tomatoes, aubergines and peppers can be sown indoors for those keen to get their green fingers moving, ready to plant out in six weeks time.
If you do have some particularly prized plants that you are concerned about, here are Guy's top tips for keeping them safe from the cold:
Some more advice on how to stay safe in your car in these conditions.
As for the driving itself - use second gear to pull away, if you drive a manual vehicle. Maintain the right speed for the conditions - not too fast so that you risk losing control, but not so slow that you risk losing vital momentum. And leave even more space behind the car in front than you usually would.
If you get stuck, do not try to keep moving if the wheels spin - it will only dig you in deeper. Use a shovel to clear snow from under your tyres. Pour cat litter, sand or gravel in front of the wheels to help get traction.
Image source, .As always, this snowy and icy weather presents challenges and risks for drivers - and in some cases, it could be better for you to avoid the roads altogether. But if you do have to drive, here are some tips:
Prepare yourself by de-icing your car and by planning for journeys to take much longer. Stick to major roads and resist the temptation to take shortcuts on minor roads. And pack appropriately, with warm clothes along with snacks and a hot drink, along with a fully-charged phone and a shovel.
Prepare your car, too - consider buying winter tyres or at least ensuring that standard tyres are fully inflated. Make sure to keep your fuel tank and screenwash topped up - and use antifreeze at the right temperature. Clear all snow and ice from the windscreen, windows and roof before driving off.
As the chilly weather swept in yesterday, people around the country sent us images capturing the scenes as they (and their animals) spent a March day in the snow.
Image source, Caro WilliamsStarting in the Scottish Highlands, snow covers the hills in Invergorden
Image source, Chloe JonesLottie had a great time chasing snowballs
Image source, David MayMore snow covered hills in the Scottish Highlands, this time in Lairg.
Image source, Rachel ChoiAnd another dog. Odie keeps his eye on the sheep in Somerset
Image source, Sarah McCowanAnd finally, back to Scotland. Applecross on the west coast bathed in sunshine and covered in snow
Simon King
BBC weather presenter and meteorologist
Image source, WEATHER WATCHERS / PAULA MARIASome across Wales and the Midlands will be waking up to a covering of snow this morning.
However, conditions are expected to get worse as Thursday goes on for parts of north Wales and then especially so, hills of northern England where an amber weather warning is force from 3pm this afternoon.
Snow will continue to accumulate through into Friday morning with the potential for 30-40cm in the Peak District and Pennines and risk of communities being cut off.
Even to lower levels in north Wales, the north Midlands, northern England, southern Scotland and to the east of Northern Ireland, 2-10cm of snow is possible by Friday morning causing fresh disruption.
It was the coldest night of the year - again - as temperatures plummeted to -16C in Altnaharra in Scotland.
This is the second time in a row the hamlet in the Highlands has broken this year's record, with the area reaching a low of -15C on Tuesday night.