Up to 25cm of snow is forecast in parts of England and Wales, as the Met Office issued weather alerts and warned of disruption to travel. (PA)
An Arctic blast has brought snow and rainfall to parts of the UK, with amber snow and ice warnings currently in place.
North Wales and northwest Shropshire are under amber snow and ice warnings, with the Met Office issuing guidance that some rural communities could be temporarily cut off, while travel disruption and power cuts are likely.
There is an amber snow warning in place in the southern Pennines, where up to 25cm of snow is predicted, while yellow snow and ice warnings have been issued for much of Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Across the south, a yellow weather warning is also in place, with heavy rain and potential flood threatening to bring road and rail disruption.
Met Office chief meteorologist Jason Kelly said: “Cold across most areas away from the south the UK, will be met by moisture-laden air spreading from the south. Where milder air encounters cold air, rain, sleet and snow will develop, bringing the risk of 2-5cm of snow in places, whilst some other areas see little or no snow.
“Over higher ground 5-10cm is likely, while locations above 200m within the amber warning areas could see up to 25cm of snowfall. Snow here could drift in strong to gale force easterly winds.
"As the milder air from the south gradually pushes northwards the focus for wintry hazards also shifts northward with warnings issued for Scotland.”
Yahoo News has ended live latest weather updates. For all the latest news, click here
LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER27 updates
Connor Parker
End of weather coverage for today
Yahoo News UK is ending its coverage of the Arctic blast here today, you can find more information on the latest forecast at the Met Office.
Connor Parker
Weather warnings in place across most of the UK
Weather warnings for 9-10 February as of 2.30pm on Thursday. (PA)
Snow and rain warnings are in place for much of the UK for Friday, with some remaining in Scotland on Saturday.
Connor Parker
Temperatures to return to normal by the weekend
The Met Office has said temperatures in the north of the UK will return to average for February by the weekend, with the only snow predicted in the Scottish Highlands.
It'll start to turn milder from the south through Friday, with the colder air reserved for the far north of Scotland
As we head into the weekend and next week, we'll see temperatures returning closer to average 👇 pic.twitter.com/FxGttzsjW5
Mayor candidate’s van gets stuck in snow on ‘treacherous’ road
A North Yorkshire mayor candidate had to put campaigning on hold after his van became stuck in snow.
Keane Duncan was driving his van – named Peggy – between Lofthouse and Fearby near Masham this morning (Thursday, February 8) when he got into difficulty.
“Peggy became briefly stuck in the mud between Lofthouse and Fearby during today’s snowy weather,” the Conservative candidate told The Press.
“But thanks to the heroic efforts of Lofthouse locals Stephen ‘Rambo’ Ramsden and Ashley Gatecliffe, Peggy was soon pulled to safety.”
Although the temperatures in much of the north of the UK are just above zero due to the strong easterly winds it will actually feel around -3C for most, according to the Met Office.
There's a marked contrast in temperatures this afternoon with the south seeing the highest temperatures 📈
However, it'll be feeling much colder further north, especially in the brisk easterly winds 🥶 👇 pic.twitter.com/LeZjGlk2jh
A man clears snow from the pavement in Derbyshire. (SWNS)
Buxton in the Peak District is being hit hard by the snow and this man has taken it upon himself to help clear the pavements – as much as he can.
Andy Wells
Dozens of school closures
The bad weather has forced dozens of schools across the country to close on Thursday. The vast majority of these – over 72 primary schools alone, as well as several secondary schools – are in Flintshire, Wales. Closures have also been reported in the Peak District, Bradford, Kirklees, Derbyshire and the south Pennines. Up to 25cm of snow is forecast in parts of England and Wales on Thursday as amber weather warnings have been issued for Wales and across the Pennines.
With heavy snow falling across the Peak District, Derbyshire County Council say their gritters are out in force where needed.
With some snow settling on the higher routes in the Peak District our gritter drivers are out keeping an eye on things, and gritting where needed. pic.twitter.com/ciubapdgAd
Met Office spokesman Oli Claydon said that the worst of the snow is still to come as flurries continue to accumulate. He told the PA news agency: “The worst of the snow will be later on today. Through this morning and this afternoon you’re more likely to see accumulations. The snow risk tomorrow is moving much further north, and it will be a bit of a drier day.”
Andy Wells
A view from the Peak District
The scene in Pavilion Gardens, Buxton, Peak District, after snow begun to fall this morning. There are amber and yellow warnings in place for the area, with snow expected to carry on falling until late afternoon.
Andy Wells
Motorists forced to drive carefully on icy roads
A car makes its way through an icy road in Worrall in South Yorkshire. (PA)
With snow now accumulating on the ground in Worrall in South Yorkshire, one driver attempts to navigate their car across an icy road.
Andy Wells
Flood alerts issued for parts of Bucks after heavy rainfall
Flood alerts have been issued for parts of Buckinghamshire following rainfall overnight.
The Environment Agency has warned residents in Buckinghamshire of flood risks in the county today (8 February) after rising river levels due to rainfall overnight.
Flood alerts have been issued for the River Thame and Chalgrove Brook in Buckinghamshire, with flooding of low-lying land and roads expected in the Aylesbury area.
A runner makes their way through the snow in the Peak District on Thursday morning. (PA)
Snow fell in Pavilion Gardens, Buxton, Peak District, this morning, with more expected across the UK throughout the day – but it wasn't enough to put some people off their morning run.
Harriet Sinclair
Drivers warned to plan ahead amid snow warnings
Amy Shaw, National Network Manager at National Highways, said: “Freezing conditions bring hazards such as snow and ice, so take every possible step to understand your journey in advance and allow lots of extra time when travelling to prepare for the unexpected.
“It is therefore always important to plan ahead for your journey, check the weather forecasts, and if weather conditions become challenging, adjust your driving behaviour and take extra care.”
Harriet Sinclair
Met Office warns of disruption to travel with snow forecast for Glasgow
Drivers have been warned to take care as a band of wintery weather descends across Scotland and much of the UK.
Yellow weather alerts for snow and ice have been issued, with up to 10cm forecast to fall in some areas north of the border.
The alert covers Glasgow, Southern Scotland and the central belt from 6pm tonight to 3pm on Friday, and follows an earlier alert.
"That was the moment I realized that I would never be a grandparent or watch my daughter fall in love, get married, or do anything 'normal' in society’s eyes. My daughter was asexual."
President-elect Donald Trump has promised to deport millions in an unprecedented crackdown on undocumented migrants. His MAGA billionaire lieutenant Elon Musk has said he will find unprecedented trillions to cut from federal spending. Wall Street thinks they’re delusional, projecting that the two will accomplish a fraction of what they’re threatening at best.
Large Burmese pythons are known to eat alligators in Florida’s Everglades region. But sometimes the opposite is true. The accompanying footage, captured Nov. 28, shows a large gator swimming across a pond with a giant python in its
