Travel disruption looks set to continue today as warnings of plummeting temperatures, snow and ice have been issued for large swathes of the UK.
The mercury will drop below freezing across much of the UK later, down to a low of -7C in the Scottish glens tonight.
Hilly areas above 656ft (200m) could see 2cm to 4cm of snow, with places expected to be hit including Devon, the Chilterns, the Cotswolds, and Wales.
Cumbria and the Lake District may get 10cm to 15cm of snow in areas above 984ft (300m).
The level three severe cold weather alert issued by the Met Office
Sky News weather producer Rebecca Yussuf said: "There'll be a widespread frost each night, with icy stretches forming on untreated surfaces.
"Most places will also see a drop in day-time temperatures, with parts of Scotland remaining sub-zero over the weekend and into the first part of next week."
Video:Your Videos Of The Snow
Dr Angie Bone, of Public Health England's extreme events team, urged people to help vulnerable relatives and friends keep warm.
"Cold does kill, even in places where the temperatures aren't at their lowest. Most of our advice on keeping warm in cold weather may seem like common sense, but it's important that we make the point that people should think about how cold can affect them.
"Our advice is that when indoors, have plenty of warm food and drinks to stay warm and try to maintain indoor temperatures to at least 18C, particularly if you are not mobile, have long-term illness or are 65 or over."
Age UK urged older people to "take basic precautions" and called on the Government to "commit to improving the energy efficiency of homes across the country" in a bid to end preventable winter deaths.
Heavy snow has already caused disruption on roads, rail and at airports, and police have warned motorists to only to travel if necessary.
In Scotland on Friday, snow up to 5ft deep in parts left drivers stranded overnight on the A9 route to the Highlands.
Trains were cancelled between Perth and Inverness and there were delays at Glasgow Airport.
A van driver died when a tree fell on top of his vehicle in Co Antrim and a three-year-old child and an elderly woman were among three injured when a pallet was blown from a lorry in east Belfast during strong winds.
Winds of 101mph were reported in Great Dunsell, Cumbria - the highest in the UK - while other exposed areas also saw speeds of above 70mph.
The strong winds caused disruption on railways in Kent and Birmingham, and part of Glasgow city centre was closed off after metal sheeting fell from the roof of a hotel.
:: Send your cold snap pictures and video to news@sky.com
Fears are growing for a student who went missing after a night out with friends in Durham two days ago.
Euan Coulthard, 19, has not been seen since the early hours of Thursday and friends say he has not responded to emails, texts or online messages.
Shopkeepers in Durham have put up posters and fellow students have joined searches for the popular student, who comes from Nottingham.
Police have been searching the banks of the River Wear and mountain rescue experts have also been involved in checks of steep wooded areas.
Mr Coulthard is a member of Durham University's St Mary's College and was out on Wednesday evening, celebrating a friend's 21st birthday at an Italian restaurant.
He went to the Love Shack nightclub and was seen leaving alone. He was last spotted on CCTV crossing Framwellgate Bridge.
Mr Coulthard is 5ft 9ins tall, of average build, with light brown hair. He was wearing black skinny jeans, a denim jacket and a beige patterned shirt.
Inspector Dave Coxon said: "It is now about 39 hours since Euan was last seen and, obviously, as time gets on we are increasingly concerned for his welfare.
"Officers have been searching the area where he was last seen and have progressed along the river banks this afternoon. Searches will continue over the weekend."
Written By Unknown on Rabu, 14 Januari 2015 | 16.12
The next 48 hours could bring some difficult travelling conditions, with the risk of ice and snow and then heavy rain and severe gales.
There will be widespread showers through Tuesday night, bringing the risk of sleet and snow just about anywhere, although coastal areas will see mostly rain.
Heavy snow will fall through the Central Belt, Fife and Perth and Kinross, with 10cm (4ins) or more over the highest ground.
Elsewhere, a covering of snow is possible, even over the higher ground in southern England, whilst 2-5cm (2ins) is likely above 100m (330ft).
A widespread frost will bring the risk of icy stretches on untreated surfaces by dawn.
Video:Snow in Scotland
The showers, lying snow and ice will bring some difficult travelling conditions for the morning rush hour.
The wintry showers will largely become confined to Scotland through Wednesday morning.
Most other places will be dry and sunny by midday, but the far west of the Republic will turn increasingly wet and windy.
A deepening area of low pressure will bring wind and rain eastwards into western Britain through Wednesday afternoon, preceded by a spell of snow over the higher ground of Northern Ireland, northern England and Scotland.
The heavy rain will bring the risk of flooding, as well as standing water and spray on the roads.
During Wednesday afternoon gusts of 50-65mph will develop widely, with 70mph likely around exposed coasts and hills.
The heavy rain will spread to all parts overnight into Thursday and the winds will strengthen further.
The very strong winds will last for much of Thursday, bringing the risk of disruption to transport and power supplies, some structural damage, as well as dangerously large waves around the coasts.
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Video:Blair Sorry Over IRA Letter Blunder
Tony Blair has said the Northern Ireland peace process would have collapsed if he had not agreed to send "letters of comfort" to IRA terror suspects.
The former prime minister has told the Northern Ireland Select Committee the controversial distribution of the letters to so-called "on the runs", stating they were no longer wanted for past crimes, were not an "amnesty" and were "not secret".
He "defended completely" agreeing to the controversial letters and said an agreement on how to treat those wanted for terrorist crimes during the troubles "was critical to the peace process" and "became fundamental".
The case against John Downey collapsed
Mr Blair told MPs that had he not agreed to send the letters then Sinn Fein would have walked away from the Good Friday Agreement.
He said: "Without having done that we would not have a Northern Ireland peace process."
1/12
Gallery: Hyde Park Bombing: July 1982
A police forensic officer examines the remains of the IRA car which contained the Hyde Park bomb
Images of dead horses and wrecked cars added to the shock for people reeling from the human cost of the atrocity
]]>
Wrecked cars are removed from the scene
]]>
The flag-draped coffin carrying Lt Anthony Daly, the Blues and Royals officer killed in the bombing along with three other soldiers
]]>
A memorial stone marks the location of the 1982 bombing
]]>
The letters from the Police Service of Northern Ireland sparked uproar last year when it resulted in the collapse of the Hyde Park bomb trial at the Old Bailey.
John Downey, who denied murdering four soldiers in the 1982 bombing, had received a letter in error informing him he was no longer being pursued in Northern Ireland or elsewhere.
During his trial, it emerged that 187 people had received similar assurances - the majority of them republicans who had never been charged or who had been convicted but then escaped.
Mr Blair said the Downey letter had been a mistake and should not have been sent "if the scheme had been properly applied".
He accepted responsibility for not putting in place a proper procedure, which led to some fugitives being sent letters in error, and apologised to the people who had been affected.
Video:'Downey Letter Was A Mistake'
However, he said he would not apologise for the letters sent to those wanted terrorist suspects who it was concluded by the authorities at the time should have received them.
Under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, those convicted of terrorist offences were released from prison early but those who had gone "on the run" were not considered eligible.
In 2006, after an attempt to establish a formal scheme for "on the runs" failed, Mr Blair wrote to Gerry Adams outlining plans to resolve the issue, "expediting the existing administrative procedures".
The scheme had been reported publicly but victims' families said they felt "devastatingly let down" by the collapse of the Downey case - and Northern Ireland's First Minister threatened to resign.
MPs questioned Mr Blair's claim that had he not made the agreement "over on the runs" the peace process would have collapsed saying that Lord Mandelson, a former Northern Ireland Secretary, had told the committee the Good Friday Agreement was not at stake.
1/9
Gallery: IRA Suspect Amnesties: Key Players
Following the Good Friday Agreement and the release of 400 loyalist and republican paramilitary prisoners, the question about what to do with on-the-run IRA suspects, wanted for crimes before April 10, 1998, continued to needle the Tony Blair Government
In 2006, Mr Blair wrote to Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams telling him the Government was working on a solution for dealing with the suspects in question
]]>
Mr Blair said that he agreed with the inquiry carried out by Lady Justice Hallet, which concluded that the letters were not an amnesty and that the scheme was lawful but called Mr Downey's letter a "catastrophic mistake".
And he urged the Government to tread with care in Northern Ireland because the situation was still difficult.
He told the committee: "I am saying to the people in Government now: 'You have inherited a peace process that worked so be careful with it because it's fragile still.'"
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Blair: Sorry Over IRA Fugitive Letter Blunder
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Video:Blair Sorry Over IRA Letter Blunder
Tony Blair has said the Northern Ireland peace process would have collapsed if he had not agreed to send "letters of comfort" to IRA terror suspects.
The former prime minister has told the Northern Ireland Select Committee the controversial distribution of the letters to so-called "on the runs", stating they were no longer wanted for past crimes, were not an "amnesty" and were "not secret".
He "defended completely" agreeing to the controversial letters and said an agreement on how to treat those wanted for terrorist crimes during the troubles "was critical to the peace process" and "became fundamental".
The case against John Downey collapsed
Mr Blair told MPs that had he not agreed to send the letters then Sinn Fein would have walked away from the Good Friday Agreement.
He said: "Without having done that we would not have a Northern Ireland peace process."
1/12
Gallery: Hyde Park Bombing: July 1982
A police forensic officer examines the remains of the IRA car which contained the Hyde Park bomb
Images of dead horses and wrecked cars added to the shock for people reeling from the human cost of the atrocity
]]>
Wrecked cars are removed from the scene
]]>
The flag-draped coffin carrying Lt Anthony Daly, the Blues and Royals officer killed in the bombing along with three other soldiers
]]>
A memorial stone marks the location of the 1982 bombing
]]>
The letters from the Police Service of Northern Ireland sparked uproar last year when it resulted in the collapse of the Hyde Park bomb trial at the Old Bailey.
John Downey, who denied murdering four soldiers in the 1982 bombing, had received a letter in error informing him he was no longer being pursued in Northern Ireland or elsewhere.
During his trial, it emerged that 187 people had received similar assurances - the majority of them republicans who had never been charged or who had been convicted but then escaped.
Mr Blair said the Downey letter had been a mistake and should not have been sent "if the scheme had been properly applied".
He accepted responsibility for not putting in place a proper procedure, which led to some fugitives being sent letters in error, and apologised to the people who had been affected.
Video:'Downey Letter Was A Mistake'
However, he said he would not apologise for the letters sent to those wanted terrorist suspects who it was concluded by the authorities at the time should have received them.
Under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, those convicted of terrorist offences were released from prison early but those who had gone "on the run" were not considered eligible.
In 2006, after an attempt to establish a formal scheme for "on the runs" failed, Mr Blair wrote to Gerry Adams outlining plans to resolve the issue, "expediting the existing administrative procedures".
The scheme had been reported publicly but victims' families said they felt "devastatingly let down" by the collapse of the Downey case - and Northern Ireland's First Minister threatened to resign.
MPs questioned Mr Blair's claim that had he not made the agreement "over on the runs" the peace process would have collapsed saying that Lord Mandelson, a former Northern Ireland Secretary, had told the committee the Good Friday Agreement was not at stake.
1/9
Gallery: IRA Suspect Amnesties: Key Players
Following the Good Friday Agreement and the release of 400 loyalist and republican paramilitary prisoners, the question about what to do with on-the-run IRA suspects, wanted for crimes before April 10, 1998, continued to needle the Tony Blair Government
In 2006, Mr Blair wrote to Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams telling him the Government was working on a solution for dealing with the suspects in question
]]>
Mr Blair said that he agreed with the inquiry carried out by Lady Justice Hallet, which concluded that the letters were not an amnesty and that the scheme was lawful but called Mr Downey's letter a "catastrophic mistake".
And he urged the Government to tread with care in Northern Ireland because the situation was still difficult.
He told the committee: "I am saying to the people in Government now: 'You have inherited a peace process that worked so be careful with it because it's fragile still.'"
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Parts of the UK have woken to snow and icy conditions with gritters out in force overnight and commuters warned to expect disruption.
Forecasters have warned of heavy snow showers into Wednesday morning, after the Met Office issued an amber "be prepared" warning across central and southern Scotland, with Wales, Northern Ireland and much of England also on alert.
Network Rail suspended four train routes in advance of the snow, while the AA warned drivers to be aware of "treacherous conditions".
Sky News weather forecaster Nazaneen Ghaffar said: "The next 48 hours could see treacherous driving conditions for most of the UK and Ireland with the risk of ice and snow and then severe gales.
Snow alerts cover much of the UK on Wednesday
"Heavy snow will fall through the Central Belt, Fife and Perth and Kinross, with 10cm (4ins) or more over the highest ground.
"Elsewhere, a covering of snow is possible, even over the higher ground in southern England, whilst 2-5cm (2ins) is likely above 100m (330ft)."
Video:Sky News UK Weather Update
The amber warning, which is in place until 10am, follows fierce storms last week which left 120,000 homes without power in Scotland.
The Met Office warned of two spells of "persistent snow" across the amber warning area - on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning - which could produce "disruptive snowfall during busy travel periods".
High ground in Wales, moors in south-west England, the Mendips and Cotswolds are also at higher risk of snow.
1/12
Gallery: Amber Alert For Snow For Britain
Motorists are urged to drive with care after snow caused disruption on many roads in Northern Ireland and other parts of the UK
More falls are expected followed by severe gales in coastal areas
Written By Unknown on Minggu, 11 Januari 2015 | 16.12
Six people - including two teenagers - have been arrested in connection with the murder of a Chinese restaurant owner in Northern Ireland.
Nelson Cheung was driving home from work when his car was forced off the road by two vehicles in a rural area of County Antrim.
It is believed the 65-year-old's throat was cut, and that he was killed in front of his wife, before being robbed of cash.
Mrs Cheung, 57, suffered knife wounds but managed to escape. She was treated in hospital for her injuries and has since been discharged.
A 14-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl are among the six people detained by the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
Mr Cheung was the owner of the Double Value Chinese restaurant in Randalstown.
Investigators do not believe the attack was racially motivated.
Detective Chief Inspector Eamonn Corrigan said: "Mrs Cheung has been released from hospital but is understandably anguished following the murder of her husband.
"My thoughts - and the thoughts of my investigative team - are with the Cheung family."
As Britain's terror threat level continues to be at its highest level in several years, the UK's most senior policeman has told Sky News he believes an attack is possible - but unlikely.
In August last year, the Government raised Britain's terror threat level from "substantial" to "severe" because of the threat from militant groups in the Middle East, such as the Islamic State.
In the wake of the Paris terror attacks, Home Secretary Theresa May announced that security would be bolstered at British ports and train stations.
And just days ago M15 chief Andrew Parker warned that the UK faced a threat of "complex and ambitious plots" by extremists.
Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe speaking to Sky News
But in an exclusive interview with Sky, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said the public should remain calm.
"I don't think it's likely but I think we all know it's a possibility - the threat level is severe and so therefore that means a terrorist attack is possible.
Video:Al Qaeda Threatens More Attacks
"We do our best together with the security services to make sure the terrorists don't succeed and that we keep people safe. To date, that's broadly what we've been able to achieve."
Sir Bernard's primary concern is the hundreds of Britons who have travelled to Syria and Iraq to fight alongside extremist groups, and who could bring that fight back to the streets of Britain.
He says families need to work with the police to prevent their children leaving in the first place.
Video:Al Qaeda 'Plotting Massacre' In UK
"The task is to get in there before they go, then we can talk to them and talk to the charities who can help them and persuade them of the foolishness of what they're about to embark on.
"There's no structure in these countries. There is no law. So they only law they've got is the gun. That's the sort of country they're going to."
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