While snow has been falling in high areas of Scotland and Wales for some time, the latest cold spell has spread flurries as far south as the Isle of Wight, Southampton, Hampshire, Brighton and Devil’s Dyke in the South Downs of Sussex.
Bonnie Diamond, a Met Office spokeswoman, said yesterday: “Winter is coming in from the east. From today there is the chance of showers in the east, some of those turning into sleet or snow over higher ground.”
She said western parts would be sheltered from the worst of the wintry weather and less likely to experience snow, although the Met Office is forecasting hail and thunder in the south-west today.
Areas of higher ground in the north will continue to face a risk of snow.
Motorists were warned of hazardous driving conditions on the Pennines between Lancashire and Yorkshire, with the Snake Pass between Manchester and Sheffield among the main roads covered in a blanket of snow.
Gritters were sent out on Tuesday afternoon in Derbyshire as snow began to settle, with patrols on the roads throughout the night on other routes, including the Woodhead Pass and the Cat and Fiddle road near Macclesfield.
Elsewhere, temperatures dipped to just below freezing overnight, with millions waking up to frost and icy conditions yesterday.
In the south, motorists were warned showers and freezing temperatures meant a risk of ice on the roads. The Met Office advised people to be weather ready, tweeting a checklist that included getting the flu jab, checking tyres, packing a grab bag and making sure pipes were insulated.
More chilly weather was expected over the weekend, although Diamond said temperatures could be one or two degrees up on current levels by Sunday. The west was likely to see the best of the weather with some bright spells.
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