UK weather - live updates: Met Office extends heavy snow warnings as band of rain and sleet moves eastwards across Britain

Latest updates as big chill takes hold

Snow begins to cover M6 in Cumbria as up to 10cm could fall on higher ground across large parts of the UK

Bitterly cold temperatures hit Britain and a blanket of snow swept across the country on Tuesday, causing schools to close and widespread travel disruption.

The Met Office put severe weather warnings for snow and ice across most of the UK into Wednesday morning. Meteorologists also extended snow and ice warnings to cover Thursday and Friday.

Many parts of the country, including northern England, Scotland and the South West, woke to thick snow and icy conditions on Tuesday morning.

It forced the Highland Council to close 13 primary schools and nurseries, while pupils in north Wales were also told to stay home.

A motorist in the Highlands was stopped by police and handed a fixed penalty notice in the early hours after they were caught driving a snow-covered car with just a small square of windscreen cleared.

Police in Cumbria also urged motorists to slow down after tweeting an image of an overturned car lying on its roof on the M6.

Forecasters warned that Britain is facing “very significant snowfall” for the rest of this week, with temperatures plummet to at least -10C in parts of Scotland on Tuesday night, while a “bitingly cold” Wednesday is set to reach highs of 2C or 3C in some places.

See below for the day's developments

Key Points

• Up to 10cm of snow falls on higher ground
• Temperatures drop to -7C in Scottish Highlands Tuesday morning
• Yellow warnings for snow and ice in place across most of the country

[29 January 2019 09:48 · Joe Sommerlad]

Hello and welcome to The Independent's coverage of today's weather, as the heaviest snowfall seen so far this winter is forecast.

[29 January 2019 10:00 · Joe Sommerlad]

You join us as the Met Office warns up to 10cm of snow could fall on higher ground this week as temperatures drop across large parts of the UK.

Weather warnings for snow and ice have been issued and flurries reported in Glasgow overnight.

Around 0.4in to 1.2in (1cm-3cm) could accumulate on lower-lying levels, with the possibility of 2in to 4in (5cm-10cm) falling on higher ground, Marco Petagna of the Met Office said.

Four separate yellow weather warnings have been issued that cover most of the UK. Mr Petagna said London could see snow showers - but added they were unlikely to settle.

[29 January 2019 10:00 · Joe Sommerlad]

Temperatures fell as low as -7C in the Scottish Highlands overnight, while the capital was at just about freezing as large parts of the country woke up to frost.

[29 January 2019 10:15 · Joe Sommerlad]

During Tuesday morning, a band of rain is set to push from west to east that could fall as rain, sleet or snow, particularly at peaks in Wales and northern England and Scotland.

As the day progresses the wintry weather will move across the Midlands and into the south east.

Snow showers could return on Wednesday and there is a risk of further disruptive snow and ice to parts of the country towards the end of the week.

The weather warning for Northern Ireland - running from 5.30am until 10.30am on Tuesday - said ice may form causing potential problems on untreated roads.

The remaining three are for snow and ice, covering the western side of Scotland and into north west England until 12pm; central regions, Wales and the north east between 12pm and 11am on Wednesday, and the south east, East Anglia and London from 9pm on Tuesday until 12pm on Wednesday

[29 January 2019 10:30 · Joe Sommerlad]

Here's the Met's latest update:

[29 January 2019 10:45 · Joe Sommerlad]

Here's The Independent's ever-intrepid great outdoorsman Jon Sharman with the latest on today's snowpocalypse.

[29 January 2019 11:00 · Joe Sommerlad]

And here's the scene on the M6 near the village of Shap in Cumbria this morning as a snowplow clears the road ahead of rush hour.

[29 January 2019 11:15 · Joe Sommerlad]

Police in Falkirk, Stirling, Clackmannanshire and Forth Valley in Scotland are warning drivers to travel with caution today as a result of the overnight snow:

[29 January 2019 11:30 · Joe Sommerlad]

​Here's the latest from Highways England:

[29 January 2019 11:45 · Joe Sommerlad]

Some attractive winter scenes from BBC Weather: