Ben Rich
BBC Weather

This map shows the area covered by the Met Office’s upgraded amber warning. It affects much of the Peak District and Pennines, where up to 40 centimetres of snow could accumulate over high ground during tomorrow and Friday.

That’s the sort of snowfall that could bring major disruption – with the chance that cars and lorries could be stranded and the risk of significant delays to planes and trains.

What’s worse, strong easterly winds will accompany the snow, creating blizzards and snowdrifts.

Amber is the second highest tier of warning the Met Office issues. It means an increased likelihood of impacts due to severe weather and a potential risk to life and property.

Colette Hume
Reporting from Caerphilly mountain

I've been out on Caerphilly mountain, located in Wales between Caerphilly and the capital Cardiff, speaking to some people who are experiencing snow for the first time today.

Two I came across were Yan and Ivy, who are from Hong Kong but now live in Cardiff.

"It’s very cold here but beautiful," they said.

Another two to have experienced their first ever snow day are one-year-old Payton and three-year-old Ashton, also from Cardiff.

The two "woke their dad up screaming" this morning when they saw the snow, mum Amy Dolbear said.

Tomasz Schafernaker leads you through what you can expect from this latest cold snap.

Image source, BBC Weather Watchers/niknak1970

We've seen plenty of pictures of dogs frolicking in the snow - but like humans, animals can be at risk of hypothermia if they become too cold.

Veterinary charity PDSA, external 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.

The charity also recommends extra playtime for pets to make sure they keep active. New indoor toys can help. Providing cats with indoor litter trays also means less need to go outside. You should consider keeping them inside overnight.

You should check your pet's paws if they have been in snow and ice, as cold temperatures, grit and salt can make pads very sore, the PDSA says.

Meanwhile the RSPCA, external advises buying a winter coat or jumper for sick or elderly dogs, or those with thinner hair. If you have to walk in the dark, make sure you and your dog can be seen with hi-vis leads, coats, and LED collars.

A sudden drop in temperature can also have a big impact on outside pets, such as rabbits and guinea pigs.

They should be given extra bedding for warmth, but the PDSA recommends moving them to a more sheltered space or bringing them inside. But they should have enough indoor space to exercise safely.

Following the amber alert issued by the Met Office (see our 15:02 entry) for parts of central and northern England, motoring organisation the RAC has urged drivers to take the weather warning seriously.

Breakdown spokesman Rod Dennis said people in affected areas should work from home if possible - and those who had no choice but to drive should only do so if properly prepared.

"They should make sure their vehicles are ready for the conditions - with properly inflated tyres as well as oil, coolant and screenwash all topped up," he said.

"Packing an emergency winter kit is also a must, to avoid getting caught out. A waterproof coat and gloves, sturdy boots, as well as a warm blanket, food, drink and a mobile phone charger (power bank) are all absolute necessities in this weather."

Image source, KEVB/BBC WEATHER WATCHERS

A series of yellow "be aware" warnings for later this week have been updated since first being issued.

The heaviest snowfalls are expected on Thursday and Friday, but with Friday's warning now covering central and southern Scotland.

A new warning has been issued for Edinburgh, Lothian and the Scottish Borders covering from 17:00 on Wednesday to 07:00 on Thursday. Forecasters said snow could accumulate to 5cm.

Parts of the Highlands had heavy snow overnight, with up to 10cm falling over Sutherland, according to Highland Council.

Read more here.

Families - and dogs - have been enjoying the snow as wintry showers hit parts of the south of England.

These people in Hampshire were throwing snowballs, building snowmen and sledging.

Image source, PA Media

Pictures have come in of the Princess of Wales taking part in an army casualty drill in the snow.

The princess was dressed in army camouflaged combat jacket as she visited members of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards at Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire.

She is royal colonel of the battalion.

Kate took part in a battlefield casualty drill where she learnt how to give aid to injured soldiers during a simulation.

She was also given a demonstration of a weapon systems used by the Irish Guards.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

The Met Office has just issued an amber snow warning for central and northern England in the coming days as the cold snap continues.

The weather service upgraded the snow alert, which covers an area from the south of the Peak District up to the North Pennines. It will be in place from 15:00 GMT on Thursday to 12:00 on Friday.

About 10-20cm of snow is likely to fall across much of the area, with 30-40cm in some places, and will be accompanied by strong winds, the Met Office said., external

Met Office Chief Meteorologist Matthew Lehnert said: “The boundary between milder and colder air will slowly move north through Wednesday and overnight, moving the chances of snow further north with it.

"Snow will have settled quite widely in central parts of the UK as we move into Thursday morning leaving tricky conditions for the morning travel period. It will be another very cold night, especially under clear skies in Scotland where temperatures could get down to -15°C again tonight.

“An amber warning for snow has been issued for the high ground running north in the centre of northern England as snow redevelops through the course of Thursday and persist until early Friday. Here we could see up to 40cm of snow accompanied by strong winds causing blizzard conditions.”

Travel disruption is likely to continue this afternoon as treacherous weather conditions affect parts of England, Wales and Scotland, the Met Office says.

In north-east England and south-west Scotland, snow showers will feed in from the coast over the course of the rest of Wednesday, the national weather service says. A few places are likely to see snowfall of 2-5cm (0.7-1.9in).

In parts of southern England, the sleet and snow will continue to ease. But elsewhere the sleet and snow are expected to spread northeast across a larger part of Wales and central England this afternoon, before gradually easing overnight, the Met Office adds.

In northern Scotland, snow and hail showers will continue, with 1-3cm (0.7-1.1in) possible in some places.

Snowfall could cause icy stretches in some areas of the UK, which could lead to longer journey times by road, bus and rail.

Images show parts of the M5 near Taunton, Somerset covered in snow a bit earlier.

Drivers were left navigating the motorway in treacherous conditions.

The AA has some tips on how to remain safe while driving in the snow here, external.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Simon King from BBC Weather explains why it is difficult to forecast snow in the UK accurately.

He says there are lots variables that affect when snow will fall here, like the sea and air temperature, the amount of rain in the atmosphere and the basic geographical position.

Image source, DAN HOLLAND

If you are just joining us, the UK has recorded its coldest March night since 2010 after temperatures in the Highlands fell to -15.4C.

Forecasters said an Arctic blast was responsible for the record lows in Kinbrace.

All schools in Shetland have been shut for the third day in a row due to the wintry weather and there are further closures in Aberdeenshire, external and Highland, external.

The Met Office warned snow and ice could cause travel disruption in Scotland through to Friday night.

It also warned the weather could cut off rural communities.

Read more here.

The Arctic blast has brought snow to much of south, mid and west Wales, with up to 10cm (4in) falling in some areas.

Here are some snaps to take a look at.

Image source, Amanda Grey

Image source, Annita Nitsaidou

Image source, Jade McFarland

Image source, Paul Campbell/PA Wire

Scotland's ski slopes are hoping to rescue their season this week, after a disappointing start to the year.

It's hoped the current blast of Arctic weather we've been seeing will deliver their biggest week so far.

Annette Coburn, the general manager at the Lecht Ski Centre tells BBC Scotland's Lunchtime Live: "Currently it's looking absolutely stunning."

There's blue sky and the hill is white, "it looks great" says Coburn.

She says the snow is a little bit thin, but they never get as much as she would like.

"We hope to be quite busy this weekend, it looks like we can open a few of our bigger lifts."

Simon King
BBC weather presenter and meteorologist

Image source, BBC Weather Watchers/Timba

I often hear the phrase "it’s too cold to snow". This holds some truth but probably not for the reason you think.

While temperature is linked, it is actually about the amount of moisture in the air needed for it to snow.

Cold air cannot hold as much moisture as warmer air so if temperatures fall well below freezing there simply is not enough moisture to create snowflakes

In the UK, some of the heaviest snowfall can occur when the temperature is 0-2C.

This is because the edges of a snowflake will start to melt which enables them to be able to stick to surrounding snowflakes, making them larger.

The UK has recorded its coldest March night since 2010 after temperatures in the Highlands fell to -15.4C.

Here's how it looks in Scotland today, with some people refusing to allow the weather to halt their fun.

Image source, Louis fae Whiteness/BBC Weather Watchers

Image source, susiedirizhor/BBC Weather Watchers

Image source, Jane Barlow/PA Wire

Image source, cyclingdave/BBC Weather Watchers

A series of yellow "be aware" warnings in Scotland have been updated since first being issued earlier this week.

The heaviest snowfalls are expected on Thursday and Friday, but with Friday's warning now covering central and southern Scotland.

National Highways are warning, external road users to check their journeys and plan for disruption with a severe weather alert for snow in place across parts of England.

National Highways - which looks after motorways and main A roads in England - says there could be travel delays on roads as well as stranded vehicles and passengers.

Some rural communities could become temporarily cut off, it says.

A small chance of power cuts could also lead to disruption to mobile phone coverage.

Weather warnings are also in affect in parts of Wales and Scotland.

The BBC's weather presenter Carol Kirkwood explains why it is snowing at this time of year and the reason behind plummeting temperatures.

Carol also warns there's more to come this week.